Elina Waage Mikalsen
Borealis Artist in Residence
2022–24
Sea Sámi and Norwegian artist and musician Elina Waage Mikalsen is our Artist in Residence between 2022–2024. Supported by the festival, Elina is developing a research, engagement and performance programme that explores the interaction of Sámi history, identity and erasure with experimental sound, music and listening practices. Asking the question “What is Sámi sonic experimentalism?” together we will explore who defines experimentalism, who is listening and how, and what frames define how we take part in listening? Far from building a definitive answer to these research questions, as a young Sámi woman with roots in Norway too, Elina will lead the discussion from her viewpoint and work collaboratively to invite different voices into our discussions, curation and audience engagement. Inspired by the legacy of the seminal Sámi artist, poet and musician Nils-Aslak Valkeapää / Áillohaš, Elina has begun mapping the different possibilities of sonic experimentation across Sápmi and will draw inspiration from global indigenous performance, listening and organising traditions.
If this is your first encounter with Sámi culture, we’ve made a list to familiarise you with some basics.
Elina at Borealis 2024
2024’s festival programme was developed together with Elina, which marks the first time the festival was programmed in collaboration with an artist. Together with her, Borealis presented a whole programme of experimental Sámi artists in a way that has never been done in Bergen before! Birgon Bierge – Gula! Márra! at Bergen Kjøtt was a whole evening of new sounds and performance rooted in Sámi culture, language an ways of being together. During daytime, the talks on the programme explored elements of indigenous Sámi listening cultures. Throughout the festival you could experience sound installations, both by Margrethe Pettersen at Jiennagoahti (Lyttegammen), and by Ánndaris Rimpi at Lydgalleriet. On the last day of the festival, Sámi artist Viktor Bomstad performed his concert for a swimming audience in Nordnes Sjøbad.
Sámi artists presented at the festival:
Elina Waage Mikalsen
Viktor Bomstad
Johan Sara Jr.
Ánndaris Rimpi
Margrethe Pettersen
Jalvvi Niillas Holmberg
Niilas
Márja Karlsen
Liisa–Rávná Finbog
Jakop Janssønn
Leagus
Gangere (Marita Isobel Solberg & Charlotte Bendiks)
Wimme Saari and Tapani Rinne
Issát Sámmol Hætta
Rádio-JusSunná
Ellen Marie Bråthen Steen
Additionally, Elina world premiered her commission piece Stáinnarbánit – Wolffish teeth during Borealis 2024, together with weaver Márjá Karlsen and joiker Jalvvi Niillas Holmberg.
Read on for more…
Elina Waage Mikalsen – Stáinnarbánit – Wolffish teeth at Bergen Kjøtt
Thursday 24 March 2024, 21:00–22:00
Elina Waage Mikalsen – composer, vocals, electronics
Márjá Karlsen – weaving/rátnugođđit
Jalvvi Niillas Holmberg – joik, voice & objects
Repetition, circles and weaving characterised Elina’s new performance commission Stáinnarbánit – Wolffish teeth. Taking as its starting point the very short and possibly endless form of the luohti (joik) Elina combines electronics, vocal performance and weaving to allow small repetitions to tell bigger stories, including that of the rátnu. A weaving tradition once practised all over Sápmi, today rátnu is a living tradition surviving only in the sea-Sámi village Olmmáivággi of Elina’s mother. Stáinnarbánit, reffering to the name of one of the patterns used in the weaving tradition, will be a performance about soft and repetitive work and how all objects speak, if we just listen closely. Following the concert, they told more about the connections between the three artistic practices that through collaboration melted into one.
Birgon Biergu – Gula! Márrá! at Bergen Kjøtt
Saturday 16 March 2024
Birgon Biergu – Gula! Márrá! brought together experimental musical voices from across Sápmi for an evening of new sounds and performance rooted in Sámi culture, language and ways of being together. Co-curated by Elina Waage Mikalsen, the evening weaved together eating, film and live performances from Wimme&Rinne, Leagus, Issát Sámmol, Rádio-JusSunná and Gangere, topped off with a special DJ set from Niilas. Gula! Márrá! is a call in Northern Sámi to listen to the roaring, surging of the water, and Birgon Biergu is the Northern Sámi translation of tonight’s venue Bergen Kjøtt.
Borealis Conversation
Thursday 14–Saturday 16 March 2024, Bergen Public Library
Together with Elina, Borealis programmed three talks exploring elements of indigenous Sámi listening cultures. Elina also participated in the conversation with Liisa-Rávná Finbog and Jalvvi Niillas Holmberg to discuss Sámi listening practices. Additionally, Jakop Janssønn questioned how we categorise Sámi experimental music together with festival artist Ánndaris Rimpi and Musicologist Ellen Marie Bråthen Steen. Sámi experimental musician and joiker Viktor Bomstad was joined by fellow joiker Johan Sara Jr. to discuss how joik can and can’t be reinvented today.
Šuvva – workshopping Sámi Experimental Music, Sonic Practices, and Listening in Tromsø 19 & 20 October 2023
What: Two days of workshopping Sámi experimental music, sound art, and listening
When: Thursday 19 & Friday 20 October 2023
Where: Small Projects, Tromsø (Grønnegata 23)
Who: Sámi artists and musicians working with and interested in Sámi experimental music and sound art
Languages: Norwegian, English, and Sámi
Over two days, the participants presented their practices, listened to music, and discussed how they relate to sound in different ways. What is a Sámi way of listening? How can we work experimentally in a Sámi context? Are there similarities between how Sámi culture engages with sound and how other indigenous cultures do it? With a rich history of sound to look back on, from Aillohaš’ field recordings and music to Bongo-laika, Mari Boine’s vocal techniques, and Jon Persen’s compositions, the workshop days acted as a platform and meeting point to empower Sámi artists who continue this work in various ways. The programme consisted of presentations, listening sessions, discussions, and shared lunch.
Šuvva in Tromsø was part of Elina Waage Mikalsen’s guest Artist in Residence project with Borealis. The event was part of New Perspectives for Action – a project by Re-Imagine Europe, co-funded by the European Union.
Elina at Borealis 2023
For Borealis 2023, Elina presented a day of live performances, food and discussions exploring Sámi experimental music, sound, culture and listening practice in Østre in Bergen. She also presented the sound piece Rođu Govkkit/Glenner i Vier in the very special listening goáhti on top of Mount Fløyen. Read on for more…
The sounds from in between – a talkshow collage
Saturday 18 March 2023, 11.00–14.00, Østre
The sounds from in between – a talkshow collage took place Saturday of the festival in Østre in Bergen and reflected around what Sámi and indigenous experimental music, sonic practices and listening is, and how to approach it. In a relaxed atmosphere Elina acted as the talkshow host and led the audience through musical archive material from Sápmi, a conversation via Zoom with Oglala Lakota performance artist, visual artist, composer and researcher Susanne Kite and groundbreaking live sets and conversations with Sámi artists Viktor Bomstad and Katarina Barruk. A delicious stew was provided by local foodies Hallaisen , and the Sámi bread gáhkku was made by Britt Waag from the Bergen Sámi Association.
WHAT WAS LISTENED TO:
Sválla – Cecilia Persson (Davvi Jienat – Northern Voices)
Domná – Wimme
Goase dušše (The bird symphony) – Nils-Aslak Valkeapää
Jeg leter etter fremtiden (I’m searching for the future) – Jakop Janssønn
Guvttiin Soppiin (Two Sticks) – Johan Sara Jr.
Hálden – Per Mikkel P Siri
Fonotentisk – FRVLDZ
Muohttagis čallime (Writing in Snow) – Geir Tore Holm
Rođu Govkkit/Glenner i Vier in Jiennagoahti
Wed 15–Sun 19 March 2023, Mount Fløyen
Built from wood, and covered in turf, a goáhti is a traditional Sámi home construction. The Jiennagoahti (Listening goáhti) was the 2023 festival’s most unique listening space. High up on Mount Fløyen surrounding the city of Bergen Jiennagoahti is an artwork dedicated to listening – an outdoor and indoor space for the dissemination and learning of indigenous Sámi culture, architecture and language as well as ecology for residents of all ages. The project was initiated by artist Elin Már Øyen Vister in dialogue with Sámi architect and artist Joar Nango. For the festival Jiennagoahti hosted a sound work by Elina. Rođu Govkkit/Glenner i Vier, is a work built on field recordings and voice, exploring our relations with the world we see, and the world we don’t – exploring how nature opens her secrets and forgotten places, if we just listen.
Radio programmes with Elina
Press on the project and Elina
The Wire Magazine: On Location – Borealis
Issue 472, June 2023
Seismograf: Erfaringer, ikke værker – Borealis 2023
Jan Topolski, 15.05.2023
Morgenbladet: Et sjeldent arkitektonisk kunstverk: Som å bade i skogens atmosfære
Justine Nguyen, 05.05.2023
The New York Times: For This Experimental Festival, Bring Your Swimsuit and Dancing Shoes
Jennifer Gersten, 22.03.2023
Bergens Tidende: Dette var den raskeste halvtimen i mitt liv (anmeldelse: 5/6)
Renate Synnes Handal, 24.03.2023
Studvest: Borealis er for deg som vil utfordre deg selv – og for kultureliten
Lone Sivertsen Devik, 22.03.2023 (nett)
Avvir: Eksperimentála talkshow Bergenis
Nils Gjerstad, 18.03.2023
Bergensavisen: Det mystiske lytterommet
Johanne Hoel, 17.03.2023
Klassekampen: Lytting som tidsmaskin
Frida Fliflet, 17.03.2023
Ballade.no: Historia vår er ein vev fulle av hol
Read the interview with Elina Waage Mikalsen in Norwegian
Read the interview with Elina in Samí
Siri Storheim, 27.02.2023
Plans ahead for the project
MAY 2023
- Conversation with indigenous artists and organisers
- Working session with the Borealis administration, site visits in Bergen
JUNE 2023
- Field trip to Tromsø
- Conversations with indigenous artists and organisers
SEPTEMBER 2023
- Travel with Katarina Barruk to Ume Sámi area in Sápmi/Sweden
OCTOBER 2023
- Sámi Experimental symposium hosted by Elina in Romsa/Tromsø
MARCH 2024
- Elina presents her new commissioned work at Borealis 2024
- Extensive experimental Sámi programme co-curated by Borealis and Elina for Borealis 2024
Follow the project on Instagram
Further listening on Elina’s Soundcloud or Bandcamp
