Real. Arctic.
Real. Arctic. is an art and archival project by Jérémie McGowan and Amund Sjølie Sveen that takes many forms. It surfaces across the Arctic as a pop-up tourist shop, an exhibition, a site-specific installation, a performance, and/or a physical and digital archive. Collectively and individually, these projects question, represent and (re)imagine the Arctic.
Real. Arctic. switches between and blurs together original artworks, archival documentation, mass-produced collectibles, and off-the-shelf consumer products. This eclectic collection highlights and interrogates a range of aspects and issues related to the Arctic today – from self-determination, identity politics and ownership of natural resources to power, marketing, geopolitics and self-exoticization.
Real. Arctic. is driven by a genuine interest in and commitment to the complexity found in contemporary Arctic societies. Stereotypes exist for reasons deeply rooted in history, politics, and changing socio-economic dynamics. In the Arctic – perhaps more than other places in the world – not everything is as it seems, and it's not always so clear who has power over what. Some things may seem very disconnected from the 'true north' yet are created and valued by 'true northerners', while other things may appear authentically local but have little or nothing to do with northern places and communities.
Real. Arctic. embraces these conflicting tendencies, aiming for both critical clarity and necessary confusion.