Pan-Barentz in Murmansk

Exhibition PAN-BARENTZ is a part of the III Barents Art Triennale produced by Pikene på Broen (Kirkenes) in cooperation with 0047 (Oslo), the University of Lapland (Rovaniemi), Koncentrat (Kiruna) and Anadolu Kultur (Istanbul). 

Pan Barentz is not a typical museum exhibition. Firstly, it comprises art in all its multitudinous forms. It invites you to explore Barents identity at the crossroads of art, architecture, urbanism, research and politics. Pan Barentz creates the image of multifaceted Region, the importance of which grows in the context of ‘oil and gas fairy-tale’, global warming and cross-border issues.

The prefix PAN stands for spatial dimension of a project, while the letter Z standing in the end of the title means that Pan-Barentz exhibition is the latest word on life in the Region and its future.

Secondly, the guests at Pan Barentz exhibition are not only viewers but also co-creators. Together with artists they can make their own future of the Barents Region. The major part of exhibited items requires visitors’ participation. For example, there is an interactive board game “Barents at Risk - Resources at Play”, the game about the future of the Barents Region. Each player can choose his/her own way of development and cooperation with neighbors.  (see photo below)

Another peculiar installation titled “Games of Barents minds” was made by Blue Noses, a group of artist from Moscow. The authors want Barents people to be active and solve problems with a smile. Basketball baskets fixed on two-meter high portraits of famous personalities from Barents Region have a symbolic meaning. Everyone can make a difference and contribute to the development of their Region. One doesn’t have necessarily to be a genius or a famous politician.

The exhibition was already held in Oslo and Tromsø, next stops are Rovaniemi and Moscow.

The Pan Barentz exhibition was funded by the European Union, Norsk Kultur råd, Fritt Ord and Kulturkontakt Nord. Also it was supported by the Norwegian Barents Secretariat and through BarentsKult programme.