Norges museumsforbund

Din interesseorganisasjon for museumspolitisk arbeid og faglig utvikling

Duojárs in Berlin

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Saernieprieve – Dávvirat Duiskkas – tsïengelen/ goevten 2024   

Imagine being able to touch and examine minutely a hat that once may have belonged to your great grandmother or cultural heritage from your own area but of a kind that you have never before seen until it comes into view at a museum in Berlin, where it has been kept in the deposit – as in a time capsule – for generations? This was the rare opportunity presented to the seven duojárs[i] or craft artists from the Norwegian, Swedish, and Finnish side of the Sámi land, who were recently gathered in Berlin for Museum Europäischer Kulturen’s third and second last workshop of their provenance research project (2022-2024). [ii]

Lova Isabelle Lundberg, a South Sámi craft artist from the Swedish side of the Sámi land, measures the visor of a South Sámi snijpetjohpe (Inv. Nr. II C 735) from Jämtland. The cap has entered MEK’s collection through Johan Adrian Jacobsen (1853-1947) and may very well be a hundred years old, if not more. Berlin, February 2024. Photo: C. Baglo.

In the last days of February 2024, I visited MEK’s workshop. While I was interested in learning more about the methods of this pioneering project, I also wanted to follow up the contributions of “our” duojárs, Ellinor Guttorm Utsi from Deatnu/Tana and Ellen Berit Dalbakk from Skániek/Evenskjer. In October 2023, all the duojárs had visited MEK for a week in order to get to know the Sámi collection of almost a thousand objects. With inspiration from the historical collection, the duojárs will make a new product. The product will be presented in an exhibition taking place at MEK later this year.

MEK’s workroom «Ámmuin» with a photo station and working tables. In the background the large cabinet with mainly wood, horn, and bone objects, or hard duodji. To the right Eeva-Kristiina Nylander, who is in charge of this part of MEK’s provenance research project. Berlin, February 2024. Photo: C. Baglo.

From February 19 to March 1, 2024, the duojárs were again gathered in Berlin, this time to work in the temporary workroom – “Ámmuin” – MEK has installed for this purpose. In addition to being cleansed, most of MEK’s Sámi collection had been brought up from the deposit in the basement to the workroom on the second floor and re-organized in new cabinets in ways that are practical to the duojárs. Three large cabinets – one with shelves for textiles – provide easy access to the objects. The room also contained workstations, a station for photo documentation, and a station for literature, photos, and archival material. A custom-made catalogue of the collection was provided to all the duojárs.

Eeva-Kristiina Nylander with the cabinet with Sámi textiles or soft duodji prepared for the duojárs to examine and work with. Berlin, February 2024. Photo: C. Baglo.
MEK’s employee, Christian Krug, photographs duojár Ellen Berit Dalbakk’s and two hats for men that have caught her interest. The hats are from Talma in Norrbotten in Sweden, but this area is culturally and genealogically connected to Gratangen in Troms in Norway where Dalbakk has her family roots. In the background the cabinet the Sámi drum (other side) surrounded by MEK’s collection of Sámi hats. Berlin, February 2024. Photo: C. Baglo.
Duojár Ellinor Guttorm Utsi from Deatnu/Tana making a pattern of a hat in MEK’s Sámi collection. Like most of the duojárs, the encounter with MEK’s Sámi collection has inspired Guttorm Utsi to start several projects. She has not yet decided which one she will focus on in MEK’s exhibition. Berlin, February 2024. Photo: C. Baglo.

Most of the duojárs are working on several projects. The motivations may differ from project to project. Some duojárs may have received requests or wishes from their local communities to document particular objects or seek particular knowledge in need. The projects are of course also conditioned by the duojár’s expertise and background. Other times the historical objects themselves call for attention and for various reasons. Some objects may speak directly to the duojár’s heart. The wide range of emotions triggered by the objects were revealed in the workshop. The MEK project management and the duojárs discussed various projects, which ones to choose, and how to develop them for the exhibition. The discussion was educational and moving. We are looking forward to seeing the new objects in MEK’s exhibition and learn about their coming into being.

Jïjnjh heelsegh

Cathrine Baglo

MEK has restored Inv. Nr. II C978a in its Carl Hagenbeck collection for the provenance research project. The fragile “Fischer-Sámi male costume” from northern Norway has been cleansed and lined with silk. In Bååstede (2012-2019), the restitution project from the Norwegian Folk Museum in Oslo to the country’s six Sámi museums, such cleansing proved too difficult. It will be interesting to exchange knowledge and experience with MEK and other museums and learn about ways objects can be cleansed. Photo: C. Baglo.
Same as above. Photo: C. Baglo.

[i] An anglification of the North Sámi word duojarát (plur.) – duojár (sing.).

[ii] The Sámi Collection at the Museum Europäischer Kulturen – A multi-perspective approach to provenance research (pressemelding) – Norges museumsforbund (museumsforbundet.no) (Press release);

https://museumsforbundet.no/nyheter/vare-vytnesjaejjah/ (Dávvirat Duiskkas’ Newsletter 10).

 

 

[i] The Sámi Collection at the Museum Europäischer Kulturen – A multi-perspective approach to provenance research (pressemelding) – Norges museumsforbund (museumsforbundet.no) (Press release);

https://museumsforbundet.no/nyheter/vare-vytnesjaejjah/ (Dávvirat Duiskkas’ Newsletter 10).