20 July

Just after my arrival on Tromsø Airport I was picked-up by the curator Anja Lückenkemper and artist colleague Larisa Crunțeanu and went on a trip by car, to explore the nature along the fjord. Thanks to Inga Bårdsen Tøllefsen, research fellow at the Department of History and Religious Studies, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, who was so generous to give as a guided tour in the area, we had a fantastic research trip.

The first stop was at Tromsø villmarkssenter, a shelter for Husky dogs. It is owened by one of the biggest adventure companies in Norway, located on Kvaløya (the whale island) 25 minutes from Tromsø. They have aprox. 200 Alaskan huskies and offer dog sledding trips and northern lights tours in the winter and in the summer they focus on puppy training and husky hikes.

The next stop was at Straumhella, about 30 km outside the centre of Tromsø. There is a popular summer destination for locals and tourists. Hella resort is currently owned by Tromsø municipality. She told us the history of the place, as in the 1950s, Tromsø Labour Association bought up land at Straumhella, and later several buildings from “Old Tromsø” that were threatened with demolition were moved to the site so that they could be preserved for future generations. The houses are located in a street called “Tromsøgata“, which we visited in our way to the beautiful panorama from Straumhella. The last part of our trip was in Straumsbukta, where we did a long walk along the beach and visited some farms and meadows in the area, as our host was born and still has her family farming there. It was amazing and so energizing to discover these places!

On our way back to Tromsø we stopped at a local grocery Eine Handel Norway, recommended by Inga as a local store which focus on local food and fresh ingredients. It is an example of success small bussineses founded on the 50s, which now is at the 4^th generation and is in continous expansion.

21 July 

Inga Bårdsen Tøllefsen recommended us to hike to Sherpatrappa in Tromsø, which we did. I cannot forget the crossing on the very long Tromsø Bridge with a vibrating structure that we walked from one side of the city to the mountain we were going to explore and back. “The Sherpa steps” are a very popular attraction for the local population. As I am not trained in hiking, I admit that it was a huge effort, especially the first half of the way. The Tromsø Sherpa Ladder follows the route of the Aksla Trail, which zigzags up the corner of the mountain where Tromsdalen meets Tromsøysundet. The ladder was built by Nepalese mountain road workers. In 2016, 315 steps were built, in 2017 607 steps were built. When completed in 2019, there were 1203 steps. The stone was brought from Skibotn and climbed by helicopter, but local limestone was also used. The purpose of building Sherpatrappa was to minimize erosion and wear of the path and to take better care of nature and vegetation.

The physical challenge was rewarded on top by a wonderful panorama, and various local flora discoveries. I did several photographs and checked various plants for the project. On the way down, we stopped at the Arctic Cathedral. The church was designed by architect Jan Inge Hovig and is built mainly of concrete. The church is one of the most notable churches in Tromsø due to its design.

22 July

Anja had the initiative to experiencing a sound walk along the coast. We started in the western part of the island, in the harbour area, but also crossing on various modern apartments districts built along the beach. The background noise was always mixed with the cries of the seagulls and of the waves, from time to time. The aspect that I really liked about Tromsø was how close it was to be in nature or enjoy different natural elements while being in the city at the same time. For example, along the sound tour, we explored the beach, seaweed and rocks of countless types, shells. Under the structure of one of the decks I discovered hundreds of starfish and sea urchins, truly impressive.

I followed the site-specific plants, but also discovered adapted invasive plants such as the huge giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum).  I visited together with Anetta Mona Chissa the exhibition I …. Seagulls! at Tromsø Kunstforening / Romssa Dáiddasiida. An exhibition about living together – an assembly of observations, interactions, dreams and fantasies where the artists investigate the past, the present and possible future.

I enjoyed very much the spaced of the art center, an old traditional wooden house, the exhibition, but also the book-shop and the tea I had at the end of the visit. Tromsø Kunstforening is the oldest art institution in Northern Norway and is still a vital space for contemporary art in the region. The installation in front of the building was impressive, with a structure specifically designed by Lawrence Malstaf, AT Arkitektur / Kjeld Nash to be inhabited by kittiwakes. I had a walk along the cliff until late evening, taking advantage of the midnight sun. 

23 July

Busy morning working session with Anja Lückenkemper, Anetta Mona Chisa  Larisa Crunțeanu, Iulian Bisericaru and by Zoom with Anca Poterașu. Discussing and negociating and about the project, the works and the exhibition. In the afternoon I went together with Anetta Mona Chisa to the Nord Norsk Kunst Museum to visit 2 exhibitions: “28%” presents women in the collection born before 1913 (when women obtained the vote in Norway) and Gába (Female Resilience) which shows works by sámi and northerners artists.

Among the works which I liked are: a wonderful tapestry by Nina Hansen (the Blue Rose, 1898), the installation of Aslaug Magdalena Juliussen – Re: Frozen Flowers and Solveigs Ovanger – Hemisphere.

24 July

Wonderful weather allowing us to visit Tromsø Arctic-Alpine Botanical Garden and to check a variety of plants and flowers. I walked there together with my colleague enjoying the neighbourhood, the wooden cottages and villas, the flora and invasive plants. The weather was great and the light so strong. At the botanical garden I did several photographs and I also staged one for the project, which I captured with the help of Anetta. The way to the Northern Norway Science Centre was through a forrest and a cranberry field – amazing! We went to the Northern Norway Science Centre to see a documentary on the Aurora Borealis at the Planetarium together with all my colleagues from the Blue Sun project.

After the documentary we enjoyed various kinds of scientific educational devices and last but not least, I was able to check how the Aurora Borealis was like on the date of my birth.

25 July

The complete exhibition tour of the Arctic University Museum of Norway, visiting the permanent and temporary exhibitions, enjoying the wonderful display with multimedia interactive elements for a better understanding. Among the temporary exhibition I found one “Who Are You in a World of Fire?”, about the Norwegians in the World War II, with a very interesting concept and display.

Walk along the island’s western coast, enjoying the rocks, algae, flora, the most diverse colours, structures and textures, you cannot stop to look, breath, touch, smell. Visit of the Mini Skansen and open-air museum in Folkeparken in Tromso, Norway.

26 July

Walk around Prestvannet Lake, amazing nature, with a variety of plants and birds, taking documentary photographs but also trying to complete my ideas for the project. Analising the photographs done during the previous days, making notes.

27 July

Another visit at Prestvannet Lake. Working mood, analising and working on the photographs done during the previous days, making notes.

28 July

Departure day