Spirits

A cameraless animation by visual artist and filmmaker Marja Viitahuhta brings to life the 1839 drawings of northern lights by French illustrator Louis Bévalet, drawn in the Alta region in Sápmi. This digital space is filled by the sound of the indigenous Sámi musician Ánnámáret yoiking the homeless spirits – Vuoiŋŋat – and her luohti is accompanied by Ilkka Heinonen's jouhikko aka carelian bowed lyre and electronic music by Turkka Inkilä.

The work is dedicated to the memory of the Sámi ancestors who were exhumed from their graves in burial grounds in Sápmi approximately 100–150 years ago in the name of research carried out for racist reasons. Some of the remains have only recently been reburied in Sápmi. 

Vuoiŋŋat is part of a long-term collaboration by the four-member team, which has produced a series of moving image works, two music albums, and performs live concerts together. The group is initiated and convened by Ánnámáret.

Image source for the archive drawings: Nordlys nord for Bossekop, 6 January 1839, 6:27 p.m. / Northern Lights by Alta, observation 16 January 1839, 10:05 p.m. / Northern Lights by Alta, observation 19 January 1839, 7:40 p.m. / Drawings: Louis Bevalet, Prints: Sigismond Himely, Publisher: Arthus-Bertrand & Co, Photos: Nasjonalmuseet / Ivarsøy, Dag Andre