The project GREENLAND SPIRIT "West Meets East" is a project that came to life through a collaboration with Katuaq, the Cultural Center in Nuuk. The project presents the poet Ole Kristiansen and his bass player Jorsi Sørensen together with the well-known choirs from Tasiilaq, Ingeratsiler, in Tasiilaq’s sports hall on Friday evening, July 8. The musicians received a standing ovation for their outstanding and historic performance.
Around 500 people from the town itself and the surrounding settlements attended Ole’s performance, where the singer performed lyrics written by a teacher and author who had spent time in Tasiilaq, Villads Villadsen. Ole’s classical piece is usually performed with vocals by Nukaaka Coster-Waldau, Karina Møller, and Miké Thompsen. The choir had only 1.5 days to learn and rehearse the songs. Ole stated that he was impressed by how quickly the choirs learned the songs. Later, Ole and Jorsi performed an acoustic set of their more well-known songs.
The concert was decorated with banners created by a photographer from Paris, MARTI, featuring portraits of Greenlandic artists, including Ole, Nukaaka, Karina, Nuka Alice Lund, Gaz Zaa Lung, Nukaq Lyberth, and more.
MARTI, along with the East Greenlandic politician Iddimanngiu Bianco, gave a presentation on behalf of GREENLAND SPIRIT, focusing on community-building, strengthening Greenlandic identity, preserving language and culture in light of climate change, and exploring the role of art and culture in fostering social awareness.
"West Meets East" is now in its third week in Tasiilaq. The well-known drum dancer Anda Kuitse and actor and mask dancer Varste Berndtsson performed at the nursing home and the children's home, and Varste also did a street performance with the children.
MARTI is currently working on a portrait video series, "VOICES of EAST GREENLAND," with technical support from Anders Berthelsen (Made in Nuuk) as the cameraman. Local musicians, teachers, craftsmen, politicians, hunters, young people, and elders have been interviewed.
The film "VOICE OF GREENLAND," which was made in Nuuk in 2015, was screened at the East Greenlandic museum, Ammassalik Museum. The film is known for its extraordinary collection of Inuit artifacts. It features Nukaaka, Angu Motzfeldt, Miki Jensen, Upaluk Poppel, Kimmernaq Kjeldsen, Pivinnguaq Mørch, Varna Nielsen, and Lu Aqqalu.
If everything goes according to plan, the project is set to continue to Ittoqqortoormiit in the fall of 2016 in collaboration with Ann Andreassen and the children's home in Uummannaq.
Many thanks to all East Greenlanders for their warm welcome.