- March 26–27
Over two days, the Artists Showcase Talks brought together Indigenous artists and curators for engaging presentations and laid-back conversations. It was about sharing stories, ideas, and experiences at the crossroads of art, science, and culture.
March 26: Buryat Perspectives
With curator Timur Zolotoev and artist Ariuna Bulutov
Buryat curator Timur Zolotoev and Buryat artist Ariuna Bulutova discussed how Indigenous belief systems can inform contemporary art practices and explored how these practices can help reclaim lost knowledge and resist epistemic violence.
March 27: Sakha Voices
With artists Mariana Marakhovskaya, Diana Khudaeva, and Sardaana Barabanova
This was an inspiring session where the artists shared different ways of expressing Sakha identity through art and storytelling.
Mariana Marakhovskaya talked about how permafrost and snow aren’t just part of the landscape—they shape Sakha culture and daily life. She explored the meanings behind traditional patterns and showed a snowflake-shaped sculpture to highlight how central snow and cold are to Sakha identity.
Filmmakers Diana Khudaeva and Sardaana Barabanova gave a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to shoot films in the Arctic. From dealing with freezing temperatures and short daylight hours to figuring out how to make gear work in extreme weather, their talk was full of creative hacks and personal stories. They showed how being an Arctic filmmaker takes not just talent, but a whole lot of adaptability and determination.
