LAYERS OF TIME - EVERYDAY LIFE IN SVALBARD

Photo / re-photo / music exhibition at NordNorsk Kunstmuseum, Tromsø 25.01.25 — 05.10.25

Three generations with different connections to Svalbard meet through their different artistic expressions. Can we learn anything from the old photographs?

Historical photos from daily life on Svalbard taken by Herta and Leif Grøndal from the mid-50s until the late 90's meet selected motifs re-photographed by daughter and photographer Eva Grøndal.

Photography meets music through third generation, Aggie Grøndal Peterson, composes new music based on memories, interviews and stories incorporated into the exhibition.

How are the photographs relevant today? Constant change of the population of Longyearbyen requires efforts to continue and preserve the local history. What memories, experiences and experiences overlap from generation to generation? What sticks, what do we take with us? How have roles and expectations changed — from the 1950s to the present? What is quite common here, but unusual elsewhere? How has nature changed, and building, working life, roles, power and positions.

Layers of Time – Everydaylife in Svalbard gives us through photography, re‐photos and music — a unique insight into people's life situations, and the changes that have taken place in Svalbard through the ages.

Curated by Nordnorsk Kunstmuseums curator dr. Charis Gullickson

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Listen to Aggie’s music for Tidslag (Layers of time)

The music composed for Tidslag, is based on field recordings from many different locations in Svalbard. Aggie brought her to kids with her, and together with mum/grandma Eva, they explored Svalbard and collected sounds for the project. In the studio, later, Aggie used these recordings as a foundation for creating the songs and composition for the exhibition. There are sounds from inside of the last Norwegian coal mine, Gruve 7, from the abandoned Russian settlement Pyrmiden and from inside the swimming pool and the public library on Longyearbyen. Aggie also sung inside a large ice-cave, that gave her voice a natural icy reverb (!) - and you can hear sounds from a snowmobile and from the dog-yard of eager huskies, and from inside Taubanesentralen….and from the boat Polargirl….as well as voices from interviews of people who have a history from their life, in Svalbard.