Inspiring a new generation of artists in South Greenland

Image © Sanasa Art Route

Life in South Greenland is full of contrasts. The breathtaking natural beauty can also be harsh and forbidding. And, the enduring presence of Inuit traditions exists alongside a desire to be part of a modern, global society.

Along Greenland’s southern coast, efforts to engage and inspire young people to explore their creativity, learn new technical skills, paint murals that visually improve their communities, and create links with the wider world, are ongoing. In the cities of Narsaq, Qaqortoq, and Nanortalik, Sanasa, a community organisation dedicated to creating public works of art, is in collaboration with professional artists, leading workshops to develop a series of large-scale murals.

“Sanasa is an experience that transcends words,” says Heidi Zilmer, the founder of Sanasa, which is Greenlandic for ‘Let’s build something together’. “It must be felt through visuals and, ideally, live engagement.”

Sanasa’s new website showcases these murals. It hopes to attract global attention to South Greenland, drawing both local and international tourism. Available in English, Danish, and Greenlandic, the website provides interactive maps to help visitors locate each mural and read about their history.

For young people in South Greenland, it can be a challenge to find opportunities for education and employment, or even a sense of purpose. And that is exactly what Sanasa hopes to address. Since 2018, the organisation has worked with over 200 young people to produce public artworks throughout their hometowns. Together with local craftspeople and artisans, it has installed 16 murals throughout South Greenland, which together comprise the Sanasa Art Route.

“Participants in the Sanasa projects take great pride in their involvement, and their families share in this pride, which is exceptional in Kalaallit Nunaat,” says Heidi. “The sense of accomplishment extends beyond the participants to the local community, including teachers, organisations, and the municipality. This collective pride fosters self-confidence, self-esteem, and belief in one’s abilities. Many participants, educators, collaborators and artists connected to Sanasa have begun to pursue their creative talents with newfound seriousness.”

In Nanortalik, the mural Imaqaaq (A Lot of Sea) by local artist Gerhardt Kleist, depicts a whale’s tail descending into the sea with a splash. Hidden within the black and white patterns of the tail are depictions of other Greenlandic animals. 75 kilometres away in Qaqortoq, the mural Arferup Pania (The Whale’s Daughter) offers a bold and contemporary interpretation of the traditional Greenlandic myth of a girl abducted by a whale. Hollie Kielsen Olsen, the artist behind Arferup Pania, felt a boost of confidence after her mural was installed: “Seeing my work in a large format is incredibly unreal. It feels like a dream you can’t wake up from.”

Heidi’s goal is to make sure that dream continues. She plans to continue her work in South Greenland, collaborating with established artists, sculptors, and artisans to teach more young people and find new ways to connect the creative vitality of Inuit culture with social initiatives that benefit the wider community.

This project falls under Oak Foundation Denmark, which seeks to support innovative solutions that improve the daily lives and future prospects of socially vulnerable and marginalised groups. For information about the programme in Danish, please visit its website here. You can find more information about Sanasa here.