Synnøve Persen's Exhibition at Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum Explores Sámi Identity Through Abstract Landscapes

Synnøve Persen's solo exhibition 'Havet gynger, himmelen hvisker' is on view at Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum in Tromsø through 2026. The presentation features landscape paintings from the 1990s to the present, alongside her 1977 Sámi flag design created during protests against the Alta River development. Persen, co-founder of the influential Mázejoavku collective and recipient of the 2023 John Savio Prize, uses abstraction to challenge expectations of traditional Sámi representation. The exhibition includes oil and acrylic works, a triptych from 1993, and newer pieces from 2025, examining how landscape intersects with identity and cultural expression in Northern Norway.