Halfway between Norway and the North Pole, not far from Father Christmas territory, lies an archipelago of four islands called Svalbard. Home to a vault containing an extensive variety of the world’s seeds, preserving them in the event of natural catastrophe, the remote Arctic setting might seem an unlikely place to establish and grow a contemporary art scene. But the Norwegian ministry of culture is launching an art foundation and artist residency in the capital of Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town, where the sun permanently sets during winter.
Given the dominance of the glacial landscape and the number of scientific research stations in Svalbard, it is perhaps unsurprising that the purpose of the new Art in Svalbard Foundation is to focus on environmental and ecological issues—topics that artists are increasingly…
You're reading a preview of
Tatler Hong Kong (Digital) - 1 Issue, February 2017