A major exhibition of Sámi art and duodji opens the European Capital of Culture year of Oulu Art Museum
The exhibition features around 70 artists and duojárs from Sápmi. Its themes focus on ancestors, between worlds, land, green colonialism and the ornaments of life. Exhibition visitors will experience multi-media contemporary art, and art historical pieces, duodji Sámi handicrafts from different generations, as well as soundscapes. As part of the exhibition, the Sápmi Triennale touring exhibition will also be shown, which will be intertwined alongside the rest of exhibition.
The exhibition is curated by Sámi artists Inga-Wiktoria Påve, Fredrik Prost, and Áilu Valle. The name of the exhibition, Eanangiella – Voice of the Land refers to the nature, as majority of the materials used in duodji come from nature.
’’This exhibition highlights the beauty and resilience of Sámi culture. The culture, the Sámi languages and spirituality are still alive after 400 years of colonialism. Strong ties connect people to their own culture and, in the case of indigenous people, to their lands”, the curators say.
During the exhibition, the richness of Sámi culture will also be conveyed through a rich programme of accompanying events of for example workshops, multilingual guided tours and music. The exhibition will close in stages, with the upper floor closing on 19 April and the ground floor on 3 May 2026.
The Eanangiella – Voice of the Earth exhibition is part of the program for Oulu 2026 European Capital of Culture Year. The preparations of the exhibition began in 2021, and it’s produced by the Oulu Culture Foundation in collaboration with the Oulu Art Museum. The partners of the exhibition are Giellagas Institute (University of Oulu) and Oulu Sámit Association.
The scale of the exhibition has been enabled by support from a wide network of Northern and Sápmi-based art and culture organisations: Siida Sámi Museum, Museum-Gallery Andreas Alariesto, Ájtte Sámi Museum in Sweden, Sámi Dáiddamagasiidna/Samisk Kunstmagasin – RiddoDuottarMuseat (Kaarasjoki), Sámi Dáiddaguovddáš SDG (Kaarasjoki), Nordlandsmuseet and Bodø2024, Kin Museum of Contemporary art (Kiruna) and Rovaniemi Art Museum. The exhibition has been supported by the Finnish Cultural Foundation,the Finnish-Norwegian Cultural Institute FINNO and the Finnish Heritage Agency.
The exhibition opening held on 16th of January between 5–8 p.m. is open for everyone and free of charge.