
Rise of the Sunken Sun
DANISH PAVILION, 60TH INTERNATIONAL ART EXHIBITION, BIENNALE DI VENEZIA 2024
curated by Louise Wolthers
Artist: Inuuteq Storch
Commissioned by Danish Arts Foundation
Production and Installation
The Danish Pavilion presents Rise of the Sunken Sun, a photography exhibition by Greenlandic artist Inuuteq Storch, curated by Louise Wolthers. This marks the first time that the Danish Pavilion has showcased a major exhibition by an artist from Greenland, as well as its first presentation dedicated to photography. Aligned with the curatorial theme of the Biennale Arte 2024, Stranieri Ovunque – Foreigners Everywhere, Storch’s exhibition for the Danish Pavilion Rise of the Sunken Sun delves into the concept of engaging in a decolonial process, emphasising the pursuit of visibility, with a sensitive awareness of the complexities within national, cultural, and personal identities.
INUUTEQ STORCH’S OVERALL ARTISTIC PROJECT
In the artist’s own words, the essence of his project for the Biennale Arte 2024 is to “to tell the Greenlanders’ visual history, not seen through the visitors’ eyes, but through the Greenlanders’ own.” In the exhibition, Storch corrects and extends the prevailing vision of Greenland, a self-governing, autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark. His work examines the expansiveness of Greenlandic identity, seamlessly merging historical and family photographs with contemporary snapshots of everyday life.
Rise of the Sunken Sun presents an extensive selection of photographic works by the artist, in new, site-specific formats, re-contextualising historical and contemporary works through juxtaposition. Complemented by musical compositions and soundscapes, the exhibition also includes a sculptural element resembling a red, glowing halved disk. The work symbolises the Arctic sunset over the white icy landscape, with allusions to the Greenlandic flag, traditional Inuit beliefs, and the exhibition title.
Storch’s presentation consists of hundreds of photographs taken on various cameras. Each image uniquely tells a story about Greenlandic life and identity, both historically and today. Works include Storch’s raw, intimate, and poetic photographs of his life in his hometown of Sisimiut; images from his family’s photo archives; as well as a digitised compilation of historical photographs by John Møller, the first professional Greenlandic photographer. The Danish Pavilion thus transforms into a kaleidoscope, offering an ever-changing visual narrative that remains steadfastly rooted in the Greenlandic experience, life, and identity.
FROM DANMARK TO KALAALLIT NUNAAT
Rise of the Sunken Sun centres on conveying personal stories on one’s own terms. In line with this ethos, Storch has mounted a transparent sign on top of the pavilion’s DANMARK sign, bearing the words, “Kalaallit Nunaat”, which translates to “Greenland” and literally means “land of the people” in Greenlandic. This subtle act skilfully articulates the intertwined bonds between the two countries, underscoring Storch’s commitment to showcase and celebrate Greenland through a visual narrative of daily life.
Website: kunst.dk/danish-pavilion
Photo Credits:
Danish Pavilion, Installation views, Ph: Ugo Carmeni
Explore the latest exhibitions at the Danish Pavilion and the ongoing collaboration with M+B Studio: 2023 – 2022 – 2021 […]