A CULTURAL ENCOUNTER ABOVE THE ARCTIC CIRCLE 20 MARCH - 31 OCTOBER, 2026
JANUARY 5, 2026 - Nusfjord Village & Resort is proud to announce a landmark collaboration with Fotografiska, the world-renowned museum of photography, art, and culture. Together, they will present the first photographic exhibition of its kind ever staged in the Arctic, opening 20 March and running through 31 October, 2026, in the heart of Nusfjord—one of Norway’s oldest and best-preserved fishing villages. Set above the Arctic Circle, the exhibition unfolds within a living cultural landscape shaped by centuries of fishing traditions, dramatic seascapes, and extreme seasonal contrasts. More than an exhibition, this collaboration represents a rare cultural encounter between contemporary photography and the ancient rhythms of the Arctic.
Historic rorbuer (fishermen’s cabins), docks, and working buildings throughout the village will be transformed into exhibition spaces, allowing visitors to experience photography woven seamlessly into the fabric of Nusfjord itself. The result is an immersive journey where art, history, and environment exist in constant dialogue.
THE ARTISTS
The exhibition will feature works by two internationally celebrated photographers whose distinctive visual languages embody Fotografiska’s mission to inspire new perspectives. The same shifting light that once guided fishermen across treacherous waters now illuminates the works of two visionary artists: Rinko Kawauchi – whose poetic images explore time, fragility, and our connection to the natural world and Elizaveta Porodina - whose surreal, emotional compositions dig into solitude, imagination, and psychological landscapes.
Before the exhibition opens, both artists will take part in an Artist-in-Residence program in Nusfjord meeting residents and craft people who sustain the village's heritage. They'll draw inspiration from the same natural forces that shaped generations of fishermen. In total, each artist will present 10–20 works. Presented against the backdrop of the Arctic Circle, their work creates an encounter between vision and landscape - where contemporary photography meets an environment defined by extremes of light, weather, and history.
In Nusfjord, their work resonates differently - framed not by white gallery walls, but by a living village where storms have left their marks, where lives have long been shaped by the sea, and where history remains tangible. The Arctic light is not merely a backdrop – it is a force, a collaborator and a storyteller. This photographic exhibition reflects its surroundings - engaging with themes of light and shadow, resilience and fragility, human presence, and the power of nature.
OPENING WEEKEND - A CULTURAL PILGRIMAGE
The opening weekend, from April 17 to 19, 2026, invites 40 guests for three days to experience Nusfjord as both a historic village and a contemporary cultural landscape. The weekend will host a community art panel with Fotografiska, an art walk, works from Glasshytta - Norway's oldest glassblowing workshop, a collaborative culinary evening, and various Nordic traditions and practices.
To stay up to date on the events within this exhibition, and to register to attend visit Nusfjord's website and Events page highlighting the activities for the weekend.
NUSFJORD'S HISTORY
Nusfjord is one of Norway’s oldest and best-preserved fishing villages, with a history dating back more than 1,000 years. Located in the Lofoten archipelago above the Arctic Circle, Nusfjord is a protected cultural heritage site where historic architecture, traditional fishing culture, and contemporary hospitality coexist in harmony. Every structure in Nusfjord has been shaped by those who worked to survive: the weather-beaten walls, iron fittings, the smell of tar, and floors polished by boots soaked in seawater have decades of hardened fishermen who have passed through the doors.
Long before Nusfjord became a destination, it was a place of hardship and endurance. Fishermen traveled long distances to arrive — some arriving by foot across frozen mountains, others rowing for days through winter seas — drawn by the cod that fed families for centuries and created an industry that exists today. They lived shoulder-to-shoulder in the rorbuer cabins that still line the harbor, battling storms, darkness, isolation, and a landscape that demanded everything of them.
Their lives were defined by danger and devotion, skills passed through generation, and an intimate knowledge of wind, water, and light. Within these often-stark conditions, whether on the water or land, they lived a constant nearness to death.
Nusfjord remains a village where the past is not preserved – but continues to live and breathe. To this day, these stories are not museum artifacts — they are memories that live on. Stig, the Captain of Elltor - Nusfjord’s fishing boat has been on the sea his entire life. Now 80 years old, he still teaches guests how the handle a boat, and fillet a cod, offering a glimpse into a way of life that once defined northern Norway.
ABOUT FOTOGRAFISKA
Fotografiska is the global destination for photography, visual art, and culture. Guided by their belief that photography is the most influential, accessible and inclusive artform of our times, they are the foremost gathering place for photography and visual storytelling – with locations in Stockholm, Berlin, Shanghai and Tallinn, and soon Oslo. Each Fotografiska museum serves as a dynamic hub where culture and community intersect, transforming the way audiences engage with photographic and visual art. Founded in Stockholm in 2010 and led by its Chairman Yoram Roth, Fotografiska is dedicated to inspiring new perspectives through world-class rotating exhibitions and a dynamic events programme. More than a museum, Fotografiska creates cultural spaces that celebrate creativity, innovation, and diverse artistic voices through the unparalleled power of photography.
ABOUT NUSFJORD VILLAGE & RESORT
Nusfjord is one of Norway’s most historic and best-preserved fishing villages, uniquely positioned in the heart of the Lofoten Islands. Surrounded by dramatic fjords, soaring peaks, and ever-changing Arctic light, Nusfjord blends heritage and modern hospitality to offer an authentic yet elevated escape.
Guests stay in beautifully restored 19th-century rorbuer cabins once used by fishermen, now reimagined with contemporary comfort and design. Privately owned by the Krefting family, the resort is a vibrant hub for culture, cuisine, and nature, welcoming around 100,000 visitors annually who come to experience world-class culinary events, wellness, and outdoor adventures ranging from sea fishing and foraging to midnight-sun hikes. With its rich history and spectacular setting, Nusfjord continues to attract discerning travelers, artists, and storytellers seeking the true spirit of the Arctic North.
Media Contact: For further information and high resolutions images, please contact KVD Creative Communications in NYC. Email Kathleen Duda at kathleen@kvdcom.com or Angela Beaudrie at an@kvdcom.com or by phone at +01 646.290.4244
Credits:
Images courtesy of Nusfjord Village & Resort and Fotografiska.