Cecilia Vicuña
Minga for the Sea
Minga for the Sea is an ambitious exhibition by the internationally acclaimed artist Cecilia Vicuña, developed specifically for Kunstnernes Hus. The project builds bridges between Indigenous groups in the southern and northern regions of the globe who stand at the frontline against resource extraction and pollution in their local marine environments. Through an exhibition centered on a large horizontal quipu, which incorporates elements from various local struggles, connections and solidarity are forged between South and North – in a shared defense of the sea, the foundation of all life on Earth.
When
29.05.26 – 09.08.26
Where
Skylight halls
Opening hours
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Price
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Minga (Quechua): collective work for a shared purpose
Quipu (Quechua): knot; a pre-literate communication system developed in Andean regions, in which information was encoded in knots
About the artist
Cecilia Vicuña is a Chilean poet, artist, activist, and filmmaker whose work addresses ecological destruction, human rights, and cultural erasure. Exiled since the 1970s, she co-founded Artists for Democracy in London. She coined “Arte Precario” (precarious art) for her ephemeral works made from debris, including her spatial quipus that reinvent an ancient Andean knot-based system. Blending art, poetry, and ritual, her practice fosters awareness of interconnectedness. Vicuña has exhibited at major institutions worldwide, including Tate Modern and the Guggenheim, and participated in documenta 14 and the Venice Biennale. She has published over 30 books and received the 2022 Golden Lion at the Venice Biennial and Chile’s 2023 National Visual Arts Award.
Credits & Support
Minga for the Sea is curated by Sarah Lookofsky, Director of Kunstnernes Hus. The exhibition is a collaboration with Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum, initiated and produced by Kunstnernes Hus. Following its presentation at Kunstnernes Hus, Minga for the Sea will travel to the North Norwegian Art Museum’s Bodø branch in 2027.
The exhibition is kindly supported by the Savings Bank Foundation, the Nordic Culture Fund and Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk.
