Sea Behind the Wall | Electric Lies | Performance Intervention, Filmscreenings and Discussion | ČSV

Listening to the Land / Sea Behind the Wall presents:
Performance Intervention, Discussions and Film Screening with a.o. Asta Mitkijá Balto, Elisabeth Heilman Blind, Liv Aira, Asta Mitkijá Balto, Marika Renhuvud, Luis Bogado, Lars Henrik

:: 13:30-15:30 Performance Intervention ČSV* at Hasenheide (Meeting place at Oyoun)

The performance intervention ČSV is the result of the residency of Nordic and German artists at Oyoun. In this unique performance, traditional Joik singing, poetry, mask dance and contemporary dance are combined to create an impressive work. The aim is to educate the audience about the socio-political situation in Sápmi and at the same time to make them think. This performance intervention combines artistic expression with an important social concern and conveys the important message about the challenges and resilience of the Sámi community.

*These letters have many meanings, one of which is "čájet sámi vuoiŋŋa", which translates as "showing the Sami spirit" and is often used to promote Sami identity and activism.

:: 16:30-19:00 Talks and Film Screening at Oyoun

16:30-17:20 Panel Talk: “Power Production's Impact on Indigenous Way of Life” with Asta Mitkijá Balto, Elisabeth Heilman Blind and Liv Aira
This panel talk focuses on the impact of modern energy generation on indigenous lifestyles, culture and connection to nature. It addresses noise pollution from power generation and its impact on natural sounds in nature. Special attention is given to Germany, which buys electricity from Norwegian and Swedish Sápmi.
The discussion will highlight the destruction of traditional nature by wind turbines, changes in wildlife behaviour and their impact on reindeer herders. Likewise, the coal and mineral mines in Gallock and controversial construction projects in Finnmark that threaten traditional Sámi land and nature will be addressed in order to improve Norway's carbon footprint instead of using existing technologies to remove CO2.

17:30-18:20 Presentation: “Indigenizing the Arts” by Asta Mitkijá Balto with Q&A
In her lecture, Asta Mitkijá Balto gives a concise overview of the situation of the indigenous Sámi in Norway, with a special focus on Sámi art and its important role in the preservation of Sámi society. Through images and examples of Sámi art, she illustrates the journey of liberation from colonisation by showing how Sámi art serves as a reflection and critique of social issues, evoking emotions that politics and science often cannot reach. This artistic expression offers new insights, understanding and meaningful experiences for both Sámi and non-Sámi and sheds light on Sámi rights and their survival as a people.

18:30-19:00 Film Screening: "Faamoe" by Marika Renhuvud 
"Faamoe" is a captivating screen dance film by filmmaker and choreographer Marika Reinhuvud. The film explores the deep source of power inherent in indigenous women and draws inspiration from the harmonious connection between nature and the Sámi goddess Saaraahka.

Tickets: Free admission | No registration needed
Language: English 

Biographies: 

Camilla Therese Karlsen

Elisabeth Heilmann Blind

Lars Henrik Blind
Lars Henrik Blind is a reindeer herder, yoiker and storyteller and has worked as a cultural worker in Sápmi for more than 40 years. As a young yoiker, he toured with well-known yoikers such as Nils Aslak Valkeapää at home and abroad. He has worked on various cultural projects, including the Sámi theatre in Kiruna and film productions, and has travelled the Nordic countries as a storyteller.

Marika Renhuvud
Marika Renhuvud is a dancer and choreographer from Sweden's southernmost Sámi community, Idre Sameby, and now lives in Funäsdalen. She has trained at the New Education for Contemporary Dance and the Ballet Academy in Stockholm, and has a diploma in didactics from the University of Dance and Circus.  Marika has been working as a dancer and choreographer since 2018 and founded the company RenhuvudDans AB in 2023. Marika's dream is to spread knowledge and understanding of Sámi culture through dance, and is committed to spreading knowledge of her Sámi heritage.  All her dance pieces are based on or contain thoughts and ideas that originate from Sámi culture.

Liv Aira 
Liv Aira is a dancer and choreographer who often refers to her Sámi heritage in her art. Since 2017, she has been the founder and artistic director of Invisible People Contemporary Dance Company, with whom she is currently touring with Ájttega and Akti Lij. She is the initiator of the Låvda - Sápmi Screendance Festival and the indigenous cultural festival Skájdde in the Storforsen nature reserve. She is currently establishing the world's first Sámi dance centre in northern Sweden outside Jokkmokk. She has a BA degree in dance and an MA degree in choreography from the Institute of Arts in Barcelona.

Luis Bogado
Luis Bogado, known as "Enano," is a versatile artist who has seamlessly merged his 14 years of karate expertise with a passion for hip-hop dance, notably Breaking. This fusion has birthed his distinctive Latin-Style dance. Over two decades, Enano has mastered various dance forms, taught internationally, and represented Venezuela in numerous competitions and cultural festivals. He's also a co-founder of the Foundation "Manzanoarte," promoting social circus and the performing arts in Venezuela. Enano's commitment to innovation led him to pursue a master's degree in physical and applied theater from the prestigious Dimitri Theater Academy in Switzerland, marking a remarkable journey of dedication and artistic exploration.

Asta Mitkijá Balto

Electric Lies is a project curated by Camilla Therese Karlsen as part of Oyoun's overarching initiative Listening to the Land and its participatory outdoor chapter Sea behind the Wall.The three day long participatory programme focuses on the social political activism by the Sámi who are facing forced displacement from their land (Sápmi) in northern Europe, due to state-driven “renewable energy” production.

What happens to the land when indigenous peoples are forced to abandon their traditional way of life in, of and with nature to make way for modern energy production for the masses?  What lies are used to convince the majority that this is the right thing to do?

Electric Lies explore these questions with an interactive programme composed of workshops, discussions and film screenings, ultimately culminating in the performance intervention ČSV*. 

Photo Credit: © Camilla Therese Karlsen

The project “Sea Behind the Wall” is part of the initiative DRAUSSENSTADT funded by Berliner Projektfonds Urbane Praxis as well as Senatsverwaltung für Kultur und Gesellschaflichen Zusammenhalt. Further funded by the Globus Opstart Programm of Nordisk Kulturfond

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