Real. Arctic. began with a large-scale wall installation, titled Arctic Armpit – version 1, commissioned by Nuuk Art Museum, Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) for the Nuuk Nordic Culture Festival (May – October 2023). This was followed by the first major manifestation of the project: a fully operational souvenir shop called Arctic [Un]Limited, centrally located in the main pedestrian street of downtown Romsa / Tromsø, Norway (January – June 2024). Funded in part by Kulturrådet – Arts Council Norway and KORO – Public Art Norway, this 75m2 shop was open for four and a half months, attracting over 2,000 visitors. It had an array of products for sale, an extensive program of seminars, concerts, performances and other events, and was an arena for a continuous meet the artist / artist talk situation with its visitors – including locals, international guests, art audiences, and souvenir-shopping tourists.
A second iteration of the souvenir shop, eponymously re-branded as Real. Arctic., was commissioned by Pikene på Broen and Barents Spektakel 2025 for Terminal B in Kirkenes, Norway (February – April 2025). A third iteration of the Real. Arctic. souvenir shop was then further developed as a commissioned installation for Nordnorsk Kunstnersenter in Svolvær, Norway (June – September 2025).
Always dynamic and always moving, Real. Arctic. is currently on show as a major installation at The Anchorage Museum, Alaska, USA (February – August 2026), and will be appearing again in a new iteration at the Arctic Arts Summit in Umeå, Sweden this summer (June 2026).
Jérémie McGowan is a designer, artist and punk rock bass player based in Romsa/Tromsø, Sápmi/Norway. He makes "things", ranging from objects to ideas, provocations and, even, museums. Originally from Wilmington, NC, USA, he exhibits, curates and teaches internationally. Together with Anne May Olli and RiddoDuottarMuseat in Kárášjohka, he is co-creator of the internationally acclaimed museum performance, Sámi Dáiddamuseax.
Amund Sjølie Sveen is a North-Norwegian artist, writer and researcher, and the artistic and political director of NORDTING. He played his first drum rolls in a marching band above the Arctic Circle. His work has for many years focused on the narratives and power struggles in and of the north, taking the North as a starting point for investigating both local and international political questions in our globalized world of market economy. He is a regular participant in the public debate in Norway, and is associated with the Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø as an artistic researcher.
