Opening weekend – Kiruna

How to get here

You could arrive 9.14 by train to Kiruna railway station, or by plane to Kiruna airport 9.50

The City hall, Kristallen, Stadshustorget 1, Kiruna

12.30–13.00 – Opening of the biennial and introductory speeches (in Swedish and English)

Maria Ragnestam, Director Konstfrämjandet Norrbotten, welcomes you to the opening of Luleåbiennalen 2024 in Kiruna (in Swedish).

Henrik Ygge from Norrbottens Museum, will provide insight into their involvement with the biennial and their activities in the region, during the museum's closure for renovation in Luleå (in Swedish).

Aude Christel Mgba and Bruno Alves de Almeida, Artistic Directors Luleåbiennalen 2024, introduce the 2024 edition of the biennial and the works commissioned for Kiruna (in English).

Markus Forsberg, Head of Culture at Kiruna Municipality, contextualizes the biennial within Kiruna’s past, present and future developments (in Swedish).

13.00–14.30 – Activation of Jenny Nordmark’s work FOLKMAKT (in Swedish)
The first part of the activation of Jenny Nordmarks piece FOLKMAKT comes to life outside in Kiruna’s new City Hall Square and the second part takes place inside Kristallen’s entrance foyer.

FOLKMAKT is a temporary and site-specific installation made for Kiruna's new civic square, incorporating 12 doors kept from Kiruna’s initial City Hall, demolished in 2019. During the Luleåbiennalen’s opening event, citizens are invited to gather in the installation, hear speeches from the artist and invited guests, and exchange impressions on relevant issues of Kiruna.

Kiruna City Library, Aurora, Stadshustorget 10

14.30–15.00 – Presentation of Daniel de Paula’s work (in English)
Brazilian artist Daniel de Paula discusses the research process behind his new public artwork, which will be installed during the closing days of the biennial and will inhabit Kiruna's public spaces for posterity. The artist will also offer insight into the connection between this new piece and the artworks exhibited at Luleå Konsthall, which further explore themes of time - spanning from human lifespans to geological eras - work - ranging from individual labor to broader structures of capitalism - and the interplay between institutional and individual agency in shaping global processes such as resource extraction and circulation.

15.00–16.00 – Conversation between Aude Christel Mgba, Bruno Alves de Almeida, Jenny Nordmark and Daniel de Paula. (in English)
The dialogue delves into the intersections between the artists' works and their diverse perspectives on Kiruna's social and spatial context. Audience engagement will be encouraged through an open Q&A session, enriching the discussion with additional viewpoints and insights.

How to get to the next stop

You could leave by train for Luleå 18.30 on Friday or stay overnight and take the morning train on Saturday 05.51 if you are an early riser.

Read more about the Saturday programme in Luleå here and the Sunday programme in Boden here.

Opening hours during the Luleå Biennial Opening Weekend

Galleri Syster: Saturday 16.00–19.30 and Sunday 10.00–13.00
Konsthallen Kulturens hus: Saturday 12.00-16.00 and Sunday closed
Havremagasinet: Saturday 12.00–16.00 and Sunday 12.00–17.30