2021-2022
Location: Svalbard, Norway
Collaborator: Spectra

Performer: Stein Henningsen (NO)
AV Installation: Illuminos
Music: Ailie Robertson (UK)
Research: Zdenka Sokolíčková (CZ)

The Archipelago of Svalbard is defrosting. According to Polarinstituttet, Svalbard and the Arctic is warming up twice the speed than the rest of the world. The narrative presented to the world is that of a climate change crisis. However, Svalbard might be melting down in more than one sense. Things are changing fast and people feel they live in an unpredictable world.

Coal mining has been the dominant industry, providing jobs and the main source of energy on Svalbard for over 100 years. The Norwegian government decided to close down the industry as a part of the strategy to become a greener nation. At the same time, central decisions regarding tourism, housing or environmental management are being imposed on the residents who sometimes feel as puppets in a geopolitical theater.

Political changes and the issue of climate change have a polarising effect. There are many different opinions and contrasting feelings. Some people feel a fundamental, deep dilemma living here, the simple life close to nature, but at the same time being an environmental burden because of the ecological footprint. Is it sustainable for people to live in Svalbard at all?

Political control from mainland Norway is heavily influencing life on Svalbard, while the average temperatures keep rising and the environment is not as old timers remember it. Do the people here experience a sense of disempowerment and displacement as a result of this? Do they feel their local knowledge, experiences, ideas and voices are being heard?

Scottish Composer Ailie Robertson has written a new music piece inspired by discussions about Svalbard, Climate and displacement. This piece will be set to AV installation by artists Illuminos and will be premiered at Spectra: Scottish Festival of Light in February 2023.

This Collaborative Art Project aims to explore how people living on Svalbard feel about climate change, but also about the past, present and future of their society, jobs and way of life on the Archipelago of Svalbard. Artists, producers and partners from Norway and Great Britain will work together to explore this topic, and the team will aim to create an audio-visual experience inspired by personal stories and the unique mood of Svalbard.

This project aim is to let the voices of people on Svalbard be heard.