“ … look at this landscape. I’d like you to buy this view for your collection, I am begging you to buy this view for your collection. Buy our art not our land … “
Matriarchy is a collective performance of healing and renewal, conceived as a process of rematriation to return to a world of kinship between people, land, waters, spirits, and other-than human beings.
“Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples have never properly greeted each other”, as director Pauliina Feodoroff explains when describing the first part of the performance, titled First Contact. In this first section, the performance contrasts colonized and Indigenous gesturality. Part two, Auction, presents images of Sámi landscapes currently under threat from commercial logging. These land(person)scapes, portraying the land and related guardians, are ‘auctioned off’ as artworks during the performance, setting the scene for the actual sale of the works that is happening in real time, as a parallel process of the project. In part three, Matriarchy, Indigenous female bodies converge in actions that ask us to be aware of our responsibilities in a world of relations. The performance centers matriarchal values of care and collective models of existence to restore sovereign forms of living in Sámi society.
Matriarchy was created for and premiered at The Sámi Pavilion, as part of the Venice Biennale 2022 and is now being shown at the Oslo International Theater festival.
Pauliina Feodoroff: Matriarchy
8 March / 21.00
Black Box teater, Store scene
Language: Finnish, Sami, English
Duration: 90 minutes
Buy tickets at the Oslo International Theaterfestival website.
Direction, performers: Biret Haarla Pieski, Gáddjá Haarla Pieski, Satu Herrala, Outi Pieski, Eséte Eshetu Sutinen, Hanna Parry, Pauliina Feodoroff.
Forrest work: Osuuskunta Lumimuutos, Miltä Sopu Näyttää, Marja Helander.
Camera: Kevin Francett, Petri Mentu, Markus Moshnikoff, Susanna Rauno, Hanna Parry, Terike Haapoja, Pauliina Feodoroff, Stina Aletta Aikio.
Sound design, live sound, performance: Lehmus Murtomaa.
Lighting design: Jenni Pystynen. Music: Anna Morottaja, 169, Mari Boine.
Mixing, operating of sound, light: Johannes Vartola.
Language planning: Christoph Parry. Sámi Elder: Asta Mitkijá Balto.
Spatial and costume design, objects: Outi Pieski, Hanna Parry, Ulyana Yulina.
Biret Haarla’s costume: Ramona Irene Salo. Sculptor: Teuri Haarla.
Co-producers: Sámi Pavilion / Venice Biennale 2022, Zodiak – Center for New Dance; What Form(s) Can an Atonement Take / Miltä Sopu Näyttää Project.
Funded by: Kone Foundation.
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Matriarchy by Pauliina Feodoroff at the Oslo International Theater Festival is supported by the Finnish-Norwegian Cultural Institute (FINNO).