Carola Grahn (b. 1982) is a South Sámi artist. Her practice critically examines human estrangement from nature and the destructive legacy of colonialism, which continues to inflict suffering on natural and human communities.
Interweaving dark humour with warm invocations of community, Grahn embeds references to Western popular culture and art history as a foil to the Sámi worldview and holistic understanding of nature that forms the enduring core of her art.
Her installation on Vallisaari Island is interpreted by pictorial motifs decorating the drumskins of Sámi ceremonial drums. Grahn also appears at HAM Helsinki Art Museum with a selection of new works.
The artwork production is supported by the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Foundation.
Artwork locations: Vallisaari Island and HAM Helsinki Art Museum
Photo: Martin Lang