Joar Nango is an architect and artist based in Romsa, Norway. One of only a few Sámi architects, he makes collaborative, site-specific art installations and publications that cross the boundaries between architecture, design and visual art – exploring ideas relating to indigenous contemporary architecture and traditional building customs is integral to his work.
For close to two decades, Nango has collected books and materials relevant to Sámi architecture and worldviews. In 2018, Nango created Girjegumpi – a nomadic Sámi architectural library that has since travelled across Sápmi – the traditional Sámi territory covering the northern regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola Peninsula in Russia – into Europe and Canada, and to the Nordic Countries pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale.
Named for the Northern Sámi terms ‘gumpi’ (a mobile cabin on runners) and ‘girji’ (book), Girjegumpi is a space for education and dialogue, addressing issues relevant to Indigenous architecture and resistance and Indigenisation. Girjegumpi is a gathering space, a reading room for study and a dreaming place for Indigenous imagination.
Until March 16, Girjegumpi can be seen at Objectspace – new territory for Nango and his team, who visited Aotearoa in November for two weeks. Through wānanga and consideration of Māori architecture with those practising here, the project manifests Indigenous knowledge sharing across the hemispheres.
Publications offered by local architects join textiles, books, moving-image works and ephemera to create an archive emblematic of the collaborative ground of Nango’s practice. It’s a complex, fascinating work: immersive and provoking – in a good way.
Building an archive of Indigenous architecture: Joar Nango and collaborators
Until 16 March 2025
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