View from the exhibition Art and Truth-Telling © The artists, Courtesy of Bildmuseet
View from the exhibition Art and Truth-Telling © The artists, Courtesy of Bildmuseet
View from the exhibition Art and Truth-Telling © The artists, Courtesy of Bildmuseet
View from the exhibition Art and Truth-Telling © The artists, Courtesy of Bildmuseet
What counts as truth? In what ways can art expand the language of truth and the process of truth-telling? Art and Truth-Telling marks the process of the Truth Commission for the Sámi people on the Swedish side of Sábmie. Through vuöllie [joik], duöjjie [Sámi crafts], drawing, installation, architecture and glasswork, the exhibition highlights the role of art in shaping personal and collective truths.
Avant Joik (Matti Aikio, Katarina Barruk and Maja Solveig Kjelstrup Ratkje), Sissel M Bergh, Niklas Blindh, Monica L Edmondson, Mats Jonsson, Johanna Minde, Per Elof Nilsson Ricklund, Lisa Nyberg, Julia Rensberg, Birgitta Ricklund, Risfjells Sameslöjd (Doris Risfjell and Sven-Åke Risfjell) and Elme Ämting.
The exhibition Art and Truth-Telling is produced by Bildmuseet and Gaaltije Saemien Museume, and grounded in southern Sábmie. This is the first chapter of a year-long collaborative project. ]. Read more about the collaboration here. Ume Sámi, a critically endangered language from this region, is used in our translation of this text. Curators: Anneli Bäckman and Anca Rujoiu.
With thanks to the Aejlies Sámi Centre in Deärnná [Tärnaby], Arctic Arts Summit 2026, Norrlandsoperan, Såhkie – Umeå Sámi Association, Umeå Film Festival, Várdduo – Centre for Sámi Research, Umeå Academy of Fine Arts and UmArts at Umeå University, and Accelerator at Stockholm University.
Birgitta Ricklund, one of the participating artists, talks about her work.
