From 1st July, you will be able to start your visit to Nordiska museet via a new entrance! As well as the main entrance, the ‘Two Directions’ entrance is located in the backyard, which was closed previously. It was designed by Finnish artist Outi Pieski and inspired by objects from the museum’s Sami collections. Through ‘Two Directions’, an important part of Nordic and Sami culture has been given permanent visibility in the museum building.
‘Two Directions/Guokte Bálga’ was commissioned by Nordiska museet and Sweden’s Public Art Agency. The artwork is part of the building and made up of several parts in and around the new western entrance. Two of these can be found along the protruding glass section of the entrance building and along the beams, in different patterns made of weathering steel. The patterns create a play of light and shadow, which alters with the time of day and the changing of the seasons.
“The old Sami decorative tradition is a language in which every individual element is its own word. Together we are putting together an ornate story of Sami philosophy, cosmology and life. The artwork reflects the museum’s collections, which include objects from several different Sami regions. The wall’s decoration draws inspiration from the southern Sami decorative ribbons, whose diagonal structure is an expression of flexibility and community, while the vertical/horizontal structure stands for stability”, says Outi Pieski.
The pattern design for Two Directions is inspired by a decorated spoon made of elk antler. Within Sami culture, the spoon is a very personal item. The carvings signs and patterns on the spoon bear cultural heritage and identity, as well as magic and mythology.
“Two Directions is a conscious, contemporary addition to our iconic museum building, which is highly decorated with sculptures and engravings which represent Nordic history and mythology. For us, therefore, it is important that any updates to the museum building are done in a cautious, contemporary and respectful way. With her artwork, Outi Pieski brings Nordic cultural heritage to the fore and broadens attitudes and perspectives”, says Sanne Houby-Nielsen, Director of Nordiska museet.
The Curator of Sweden’s Public Art Agency, Peter Hagdahl, echoes these sentiments: “In ‘Two Directions’, Outi Pieski combines her experience and knowledge of the Sami culture in a deeply idiosyncratic and poetic way”.
The new entrance is located on the museum’s ground floor and is an important part of the museum’s long-term work to improve the museum’s accessibility. By creating a new way into the museum, areas that were previously closed are now open for new learning experiences. The extension of the building was designed by the architect Lone-Pia Bach. As you make your way further through the entrance, you can see the newly-acquired film ‘Birds in the Earth’ by the Finnish artist Marja Helander.
If you want to read more about our work with sustainability, visit sustainable.royaldjurgarden.se/en .
Two Directions increases the visibility of Nordic and Sami culture (10.2)
The new entrance is an important part of Nordiska museet’s accessibility work (11.3)
