Art and activism are often entwined in the practice of Jenni Laiti (b. 1981), a Sámi artist, environmental and Indigenous rights activist and duojár (Sámi artisan).
Laiti voices a cry for justice for nature and Indigenous communities through her art, which defies Western tradition in being rooted in Sámi duodji collective culture and its multi-generational continuum.
The meaning of ‘duodji’ embraces not only art and handicrafts, but a holistic life philosophy that views art not as an isolated phenomenon but as integral to every aspect of existence – art is the way one chooses to live one’s life.
Carl-Johan Utsi (b. 1978) is a self-taught Sámi photographer and reindeer herder from Jåhkåmåhkke, Sápmi.
His camera always comes along while herding, allowing him to capture the daily life of reindeer and the ever-changing landscapes of Sápmi. His goal is to create images that capture the vibrant natural colours and light of the sub-arctic, as well as the beauty and essence of the land and its people.
Laiti and Utsi’s video work in Helsinki Biennial is a poetic meditation on the importance of environmental justice for Sámi and other indigenous communities.
The artwork production is supported by the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Foundation.
Artwork location: HAM Helsinki Art Museum
Photos: Carl-Johan Utsi