An Introduction to the Art and Culture of Kalaallit Nunaat

Spotlight

Seven dancers in traditional clothing perform outside of Katuaq, Greenland’s Culture House.

This is a spotlight on Greenlandic art and culture. Kalaallit Nunaat, Greenland, is the world’s biggest island, in the middle of the Arctic, with a population of 56,562.

Kalaallit, the people of Greenland, have a strong sense of identity rooted in the traditional Inuit culture—a traditional hunting culture with a lot of spirituality. Greenland is also part of the Nordic countries and has historic relations to other Nordic countries. All of this is apparent in Greenlandic art and culture.

In this spotlight, visitors can experience different examples of art and culture from Greenland and get some inspiration to experience even more.

Seven dancers in traditional clothing perform outside of Katuaq, Greenland’s Culture House.
COURTESY KATUAQ.

 

Katuarpalaaq Drum Dancing Festival
A festival in Nuuk brings together Inuit drum dancers across borders.

Inuit Tattoo Traditions
An Instagram account by a tattoo artist and researcher shares knowledge about traditional tattoo practices, cultural preservation and contemporary approaches to tattooing.

Ilisimasat nalituut (Valuable Knowledge)
A podcast series shines light on a new generation of scholars from Greenland.

A drawing shows three men standing on the shores of a sea looking out at the water and ice. The sky is coloured with blue tones with streaks of yellow and orange.
Alibak Johansen, Untitled (1996). COURTESY NUUK ART MUSEUM.

 

Artist spotlight: Alibak Johansen
A look at portraits and landscapes by the popular Greenlandic artist in the Nuuk Art Museum collection.

Artist spotlight: Anne-Birthe Hove
Works in the Nuuk Art Museum Collection document an iconic mountain and the relationships between humans and the landscape it represents.

Artist spotlight: Lisbeth Karline Poulsen
Works exhibited at the Nuuk Art Museum question the expectations associated with the Greenlandic national costume.

A digital photo collage shows a figure from behind, driving a sled in an arctic landscape. Instead of dogs pulling the sled, five zebras are pictured.
Ivínguak’ Stork Høegh, Qimusseq (Zebra Sledge), 2021. COURTESY THE ARTIST.

Pia Arke’s Blue
A pinhole photograph by the renowned Kalaaleq and Danish artist in the Nuuk Art Museum collection visualizes the ocean as connective tissue between territories.

From Where We View the World
Thoughts on a film completed as Vivi Vold’s MA thesis, reflecting on the experiences of Kalaallit in western-led research.

Artist spotlight: Jessie Kleemann
Kalaaleq performance artist and poet Jesse Kleemann activates language, land and body as material.

Ivínguak’ Stork Høegh
Worlds collide in vivid colour in works by Kalaaleq artist and graphic designer Ivínguak’ Stork Høegh.

Each week, the Arctic Arts Summit Digital Platform spotlights an important region of the circumpolar North or organization working to support Arctic artists and their practices. Spotlights are an exciting introduction to the variety of perspectives across the circumpolar world and we invite you to learn more across the platform.