Duddjot – Institut Finlandais
This small and rich exhibition of the Institut Finlandais offers a panorama of the craftsmanship of the Sami indigenous people. Divided between Russia, Norway, Sweden and Finland, the Sami people seek to preserve their culture and know-how.
Duddjot means ‘to do artisanally’ in northern Sami. Close to nature and the resources it offers, Sami handicrafts are almost entirely made with local natural materials and environmentally friendly techniques, such as vegetable tanning of leather. The varieties of handmade embroidery, weaving and sewing stitches attest to the meticulous skills that have been passed on.
The skin tones and bright red accents are presented in a place with a Nordic spirit and contemporary and refined lines.
Outi Pieski’s Ruossalas Balagat installation links artisanal tradition with the modernity of the space. The fringes of the ‘gakti’ shawls (traditional Sami costume) are tied around pearl rowan shoots. The Sami artist was inspired by encounters and methods of making his ancestors to create this contemporary work.
