Meet Norwegian-Sámi artist and architect Joar Nango for an introduction to his research on Indigenous approaches to design and architecture, as well as alternative models of social space at Anchorage Design Week 2021. Joar’s film series Post-Capitalist Architecture is featured in the Anchorage Museum exhibition Counter Cartographies: Living the Land and opening on Friday, October 8th as part of Anchorage Design Week.

Nango’s research challenges western-based definitions of Indigeneity in the design process. He investigates how the self-sufficiency, resourcefulness and improvisational competence of Indigenous approaches to living off the land creates a new way of understanding space. Through his research and international collaborative projects, he illustrates how architecture as a framework of living has played a role in the complex narrative of the colonization of the North

Nango lives and works in Tromsø, Norway. He trained as an architect and co-founded the architectural collective Felleskapsprosjektet å Fortette Byen (FFB) together with Eystein Talleraas and Håvard Arnhoff. His work has been featured in several national and international exhibitions and biennales.

In 1993, Ken Are Bongo sneaked into the cinema in his home village Guovdageaidnu, twice to see "Jurassic Park". This was the start of his dedication to telling stories with film as a medium. Ken Are grew up in Guovdageaidnu and has his background from reindeer husbandry. He has his education from Nordland Art and Film School in Kabelvåg and since 2006 he has worked full time with film, TV production, visual art for concerts and installations.

Anchorage Design Week Speaker Series: Joar Nango + Ken Are Bongo