THINKING AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD 12–13 June 2016 Longyearbyen, Svalbard Dear Guests, Welcome to Svalbard and ‘Thinking at the Edge of the World’, an international cross-disciplinary conference organ- ized by Northern Norway Art Museum (NNKM) and Office for Contemporary Art Norway (OCA). We are delighted that you have joined us for what we hope will be a truly 12—13 engaging, thought-provoking and rewarding experience together. This is a moment to reflect upon, and perhaps even begin refashioning, some of the central debates of our day – within the arts and beyond. 2016 June June Our programme aims to engage all of you in creative, critical dialogue – forging a collective momentum with which to push, test and extend disciplinary boundaries. Your participation in the debates and discussions we hope to unfold here in Longyearbyen and its surroundings is crucial to this event, which advocates a sharing of perspectives and the genuine exchange – and cross-fertilisation – of multiple and productively disparate points of view. We hope that you will experience as many aspects as possible of the unique environment that is Svalbard today – a landscape of multiple layers and meanings, criss- crossed and shaped by a complex blend of increasingly interconnected geological, biological, technological and political-economic factors. Our schedule and the locations with which we will be engaging attempt to respond to and activate some of these variations in context, scale, time, typology and space. Svalbard and its future are sites of on-going experiment and negotiation. It is precisely this joint spirit of curious investigation and creative mediation that we wish to harness and foster, now and moving forwards, with you. Thank you again for joining us! — Katya García-Antón Director, Office for Contemporary Art Norway (OCA) — Jérémie Michael McGowan Director, Northern Norway Art Museum SATURDAY 11 JUNE / PRE-PROGRAMME VENUE Kunsthall Svalbard 8.30pm Exhibition opening ‘Olav Christopher Jenssen: The Expedition’ SUNDAY 12 JUNE / PROGRAMME MONDAY 13 JUNE / PROGRAMME VENUE VENUE VENUE VENUE VENUE Cinema Kulturhuset Lecture hall, Gruve 3 (mine) Cinema Kulturhuset Huset Longyeabyen University of Svalbard Longyeabyen (UNIS), Entry through Museum of Svalbard OCEANS, FOOD, LANDS, WINDS, STREAMS, LANDS, OCEANS, FOOD, LANDS, WINDS, STREAMS, OCEANS, FOOD, MYTHS, AND SEA SETTLEMENTS, SKIES & AURORAS SETTLEMENTS, MYTHS, AND SEA SETTLEMENTS, SKIES & AURORAS MYTHS, AND SEA MONSTERS PEAKS, BONES AND PEAKS, BONES AND MONSTERS PEAKS, BONES AND MONSTERS APPROPRIATION APPROPRIATION APPROPRIATION 12am 9.50–10am 12.30–12.35pm 2.30–3.15pm 10–11.15am 2.35–2.50pm 4.30pm 10.30pm Film screening Welcome by Katya Introduction Conversation Panel discussion Introduction Sensory interventions: Music Leviathan (2012, 1h García-Antón and Emily King Lisa Philips with Panellists: Lucien Janike Kampevold Feedbacks DJ-set by Frost 27m), dir. Lucien Jérémie Michael Edwina van Gal and Castaing-Taylor, Larsen Emily King with (Aggie Peterson and Castaing-Taylor and McGowan 12.35–12.50pm Adam Kleinman Véréna Paravel, Nadjib Achaibou Per Martinsen) and Véréna Paravel Sensory interventions Camilla Svensen 2.50-4pm Mental Overdrive 10–10.45am Duration: 24 hours 3.20pm and Julie Decker. Tour of Gruve 3 4.50–5pm (Per Martinsen) with Conversation Emily King and Nadjib Screening Moderated by Francis Organized by Gruve 3 Closing Remarks by live visuals by Petra Candice Hopkins and Achaibou In Girum Imus Nocte McKee Katya García-Antón Hermanova featur- Niillas Somby (2016, 13m), dir. and Jérémie Michael ing historical photo- 2–2.30pm Giorgio Andreotta 11.15am–12pm McGowan graphs of Spitsbergen 11am–12pm Tour of Svalbard Calò Conversation by Herta Grøndal Panel discussion Museum AK Dolven with Kim Panellists: Robert with Director Tora 3.45–4.30pm Holmén OCEANS, FOOD, 11pm–late Templer, Lutz Hultgreen Comments and in- MYTHS, AND SEA Music Henke, Elena Isayev, terventions by Nabil 12.15–1pm MONSTERS DJ-set by Mental and Alberto Altés. Ahmed, Synnøve Comments and in- Overdrive Moderated by Katya Persen, Elin Øyen terventions by Luba 5pm García-Antón Vistner and Leif Kuzovnikova, Charis Film screening Magne Tangen, mod- Gullickson, and Jan Leviathan (2012, 1h 12–12.30pm erated by Antonio Martin Berg, moderat- 27m), dir. Lucien Conversation Cataldo ed by Ute Meta Bauer Castaing-Taylor and Olav Christopher Véréna Paravel Jenssen 4.30–4.45pm 2pm with Jérémie Michael Words by the Minister Screening McGowan of Culture, Linda Gáddegánddat – Hofstad Helleland Who’s Left on the Shore? (2003, 33 min.), dir. Niillas Somby CLOTHING IN SVALBARD SVALBARD The word Arctic comes from the Greek Arctic’s annual precipitation is low, with GUIDELINES word ἀρκτικός (arktikos), “near the Bear, most of the area receiving less than 50 cm Although the average temperature is below northern” and that from the word ἄρκτος (20 in). High winds often stir up snow, freezing, Svalbard has a relatively clement The local tourist business and the Governor (arktos), meaning bear. It also refers either creating the illusion of continuous snowfall. climate compared to other areas at the same have established a set of Svalbard Guide- to the constellation Ursa Major, the “Great Average winter temperatures can be as latitude. Average June temperatures range lines to describe how visitors should Bear”, which is prominent in the northern low as −40 °C (−40 °F), and the coldest from 1° to 4°C (34° and 39°F). Please dress behave. portion of the celestial sphere, or to the recorded temperature is approximately and pack for the weather. A warm, water- 1. Don’t be an Arctic litterbug! Leave no constellation Ursa Minor the “Little Bear”, −68 °C (−90 °F). Coastal Arctic climates and windproof jacket, extra jumpers and lasting signs of your visit. which contains Polaris, the Pole star, also are moderated by oceanic influences, hiking shoes are advisable. Most inside loca- 2. Birds and other animals are not to known as the North Star. having generally warmer temperatures and tions are heated unless otherwise stated. be disturbed. Remember, you are the Arctic countries are those that hold heavier snowfalls than the colder and drier guest. territories on or above the Arctic Circle. interior areas. The Arctic is affected by LIGHT CONDITIONS 3. Help take care of the biodiversity. In turn the Arctic region consists of an global warming, leading to Arctic sea ice 4. Do not pick flowers. ocean and adjacent seas with a seasonally shrinkage and Arctic methane release. The midnight sun and the polar night 5. Leave old cultural remains alone. The varying ice cover, surrounded by treeless Due to the pole-ward migration of the charaterise much of the year. In Longyear- law protects all traces of humans from permafrost. The area can be defined as planet’s isotherms (about 35 mi (56 km) byen, the midnight sun lasts from 20 April before 1946. north of the Arctic Circle (66° 33’N), the per decade during the past 30 years as a till 23 August. In mid-summer, the sun is 6. It is prohibited to lure, pursue or other- approximate limit of the midnight sun and consequence of global warming), the Arctic 35 degrees over the horizon during the day, wise seek out polar bears in such a the polar night. Alternatively, it can be region (as defined by tree line and temper- and 11 degrees at night. way as to disturb them or expose either defined as the region where the average ature) is currently contracting. Perhaps the bears or humans to danger. temperature for the warmest month (July) most spectacular result is the retreating SETTLEMENTS 7. Don’t leave settlements without a suit- is below 10 °C (50 °F); the northernmost glaciers. There is a large variance in the able gun, and experience in using it. tree line roughly follows the isotherm at the predictions of Arctic sea ice loss; some Longyearbyen is the largest settlement in 8. Be considerate to others. boundary of this region. models show near-complete to complete Svalbard, and is the archipelago’s admin- 9. Contact the Governor’s office Socially and politically, the Arctic region loss in 2040, while some estimate this will istrative centre. The other settlements are (Sysselmannen) if planning a longer currently includes the northern territories of happen well beyond 2100. About half of in Barentsburg, Ny-Ålesund, Hornsund, field excursion. A mandatory registra- the eight Arctic states, Canada, Denmark, the analyzed models show near-complete to Hopen and Bjørnøya. tion applies for travel to large parts of Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, complete sea ice loss in September by the Longyearbyen is a community of Svalbard. and the United States, although by natural year 2100. families with schools, kindergartens, a 10. Acquaint yourself with the rules and science definitions, much of this territory is university campus, a local newspaper, regulations pertaining to travel and considered subarctic in climate. INDIGENOUS shops, restaurants, a hospital, a church other tourist activities in Svalbard. The Arctic region is a unique area POPULATIONS and cultural activities of various kinds. The 11. For the sake of both the environment among Earth’s ecosystems. For example, settlement was founded by the American and yourself, we recommend organised the cultures in the region and the Arctic Ancestral Circumpolar North indigenous John Munroe Longyear in 1906 and is tour arrangements. It is impossible to indigenous peoples have adapted to its peoples include the Buryat, Chukchi, inhabited by some 2,100 people, most be an invisible tourist, but we do appre- cold and extreme conditions. In recent Evenks, Inupiat, Khanty, Nenets, Sami, of them of Norwegian nationality, though ciate your trying. years, the extent of the sea ice has Yukaghir , and Yupik. The Sami people more than 40 nationalities are represented declined as a result of average tempera- constitute the largest indigenous commu- in the town.