Cover photo: Johan Rova: Awakening of Sleeping Beauty, 2025, Machine embroidery.
The exhibition Observation of Change reflects and communicates ecological restoration that helps nature to become more natural: decolonize birch forests from planted spruce trees. Artists have engaged in residencies in Nordland’s Junkerdal Nature Reserve, and worked with park managers to explore ecological restoration, raising questions about environmental ethics and the human role. The project included art workshops for school pupils, further enhancing its educational aspect.
The Observation of Change exhibition is touring exhibition, shown in the Adde Zetterquist Art Gallery (Norway), Havremagasinet in Boden (Sweden) and University of Lapland (Finland). The exhibition is based on a Nordic art project in collaboration with the nature restoration project Observation – An Observation of Change in the Junkerdal area, Saltdal municipality, Norway.
This art-science exhibition on forest restoration highlights the growing recognition that collaboration between the arts and sciences is vital for addressing complex environmental, social, and cultural challenges. By bringing together creative and scientific perspectives, the exhibition presents narratives that highlight different aspects of forest restoration. Artists foster empathy and a deeper understanding in support of ecological restoration and the conservation of forest ecosystems.
The artworks on display are created by artists, scientists, and school pupils as a result of diverse collaborations within the initiative. The artistic response harnesses the power of art and art education interventions to reflect on the ethics of ecological restoration and communicate biodiversity research. This approach allows participants to document nature, conceptualise environmental changes, and broaden awareness of conservation in the Arctic. The project, through its several artistic productions, serves as an example of art’s inspiring role in addressing environmental issues.
Artists of the exhibition are: Anja Kath. Lande, Birgitta Linhart, Esa Pekka Isomursu, Johannes Pekonen, Johan Rova, Karin Stoll, Laila Ingvaldsen, Maria Huhmarniemi, Mette Gårdvik, Tommi Yläjoki, Wenche Sørmo
Institutional partners of the project include the Adde Zetterquist Art Gallery, Nordland National Park Centre, Midtre Nordland nasjonalparkstyre, the Norwegian Institute of Nature Research (NINA), the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, the University of Lapland, Nord University, and the Arctic Sustainable Arts and Design network. The exhibition is supported by the Nordic Culture Fund.
More information on this project:
Huhmarniemi, M. (2024). Observation of Change. In T. Jokela, A. Manninen & P. Berliner (Eds.), Mapping the new genre Arctic art education (pp. 126–129). University of Lapland. www.urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi-fe2024120599977
Huhmarniemi, M., & Lande, A. K. (2025). Observation of change as a new genre Arctic art. In A. Sohns (Ed.), Artistic dialogues with the Arctic North: Environmental change and identity in transition. Routledge.
Yläjoki, T., & Huhmarniemi, M. (2025). Observation of change in pedagogical performance. International Journal of Education Through Art, 21(2), 321–331, https://doi.org/10.1386/eta_00203_7