Jenni Laiti and Ann Mirjam Vaikla’s curator’s tour of the exhibition “no beginning, no end: Decolonial Gestures in Sámi Worldbuilding”
As part of the opening programme of the recently opened international group exhibition “no beginnig no end. Decolonial gestures in Sámi Worldbuilding ” at Kumu Art Museum, curator Ann Mirjam Vaikla and Jenni Laiti along with artists Lada Suomenrinne ja Carola Grahn will lead a guided tour to introduce the central themes and exhibited artworks of the exhibition. This tour is held in English.
An Estonian language curator’s tour is held at 12:00 where artists Ketlin Kuusing, Kalli Kalde and Alo Paistik will participate.
This international exhibition examines the complex journey being taken by the Sámi people as they strive for Indigenous justice and self-determination through decolonial worldbuilding. The politicization of Sámi art that began in the 1960s and 1970s, developing in parallel with the Sámi self-determination movement, has received widespread attention over the last decade. Today, Sámi art has become one of the most visible and dynamic parts of the Nordic contemporary art scene, and is increasingly prominent in the global artistic arena. This exhibition presents works by artists from different generations, including figures who prepared the ground for the vigorous developments currently being seen in Sámi art, as well as younger artists.
No beginning, no end stands in dialogue with the exhibition Expedition: Finno-Ugrians and the Power of Images (2 October 2026–21 February 2027), curated by Linda Kaljundi. Both are contributions to Expedition, a joint multi-year research project undertaken by the Art Museum of Estonia, the Estonian Academy of Arts, and the Estonian National Museum that has been investigating our relationships with Indigenous peoples and the impact these relationships have had on Estonians’ own self-image.
Participation is free of charge with an annual pass to the Art Museum of Estonia.
