PRESS RELEASE (IN ENGLISH)

Luleå Biennial 2020: Time on Earth
21.11 2020~14.2 2021

The Luleå Biennal is an international biennial for contemporary art situated in Norrbotten, the northernmost region in Sweden. In the exhibitions global and hyperlocal perspectives meet. In addition to about a dozen exhibitions spread across the entire region, the 2020 edition will also include a program related to literature, drama and choreography, as well as an online journal.

The 2020 Luleå Biennial takes hold of the speculative question what ’realism’, as notion, artistic expression and paradigm, could mean today. Through their work, the invited artists tell us of realities relating to societal systems: bureaucracy, logics of the mass media, and industrial infrastructure; but they also suggest means of disruption that could challenge and invalidate the current order: the strike, magic and not least art itself.

In a time marked by crisis, what does the allegation that a desire for a different, more equal reality is ’unrealistic’? Art makes reality visible to us, it subverts our way of thinking. It enables the possibility of reinventing what is realistic.

In collaboration with Sweden’s Public Art Agency and the curator Edi Muka, the biennial presents Woven Songs, a series of existing and newly commissioned works that are integrated into the exhibitions or appear in public spaces in Norrbotten.

Participating artists: Dimen Abdulla, Linnea Axelsson, Chto Delat?, Elisabete Finger & Manuela Eichner, Giorgi Gago Gagoshidze, Aage Gaup, Beatrice Gibson, Apostolos Georgiou, Maria W Horn, Thomas Hämén, Susanna Jablonski, Ingela Johansson, Kapwani Kiwanga, Birgitta Linhart, Hanna Ljungh, Michele Masucci & Karl Sjölund, Fathia Mohidin, Santiago Mostyn, Christian Nyampeta, Ingrid Ogenstedt, Didem Pekün with KHORA, Charlotte Posenenske, Sofia Restorp, Iris Smeds, Augusta Strömberg, Cara Tolmie, Isak Sundström, Erik Thörnqvist, Tommy Tommie, Danae Valenza, Ana Vaz, Mats Wikström, Peter Weiss & Hans Nordenström, Måns Wrange, Markus Öhrn & David Väyrynen.

Curators: Karin Bähler Lavér, Emily Fahlén, and Asrin Haidari.

Venues: Luleå Art Center, the former prison Vita Duvan, Luleå University of Technology, the Storforsen waterfall, the Museum of Norrbotten, Galleri Syster, Havremagasinet Regional Art Center in Boden, the Arjeplog Silver Museum, Välkomma High School in Malmberget, and the Korpilombolo Night Festival.

The Luleå biennial is a project by Konstfrämjandet. With generous support from the Luleå Municipality, Region Norrbotten, The Swedish Arts Council, Nordic Culture Fund, Sparbanken Nord, SAHA Association Turkey.

Opening weekend Thursday November 19–Sunday November 22. Official inauguration in Luleå Saturday 21 November. RSVP: osa@luleabiennial.se