The exhibition ”Tupilappassuit”, which means lots of tupilaks, shows how different artists interpret the tupilak; from graphic series and paintings inspired by graffiti to a pearl necklace of tupilaks in ceramics. Nuuk Art Museum’s collection of tupilak figurines are part of the exhibition and are staged in a stop motion film by artist and animator Maria Kreutzmann.

Originally, the Tupilak was an evil spirit, which was nourished and sent after the enemy, made of earthly remains from various dead animals, corpses and the like. When the Europeans came to Greenland, they showed interest in the Tupilaks; they wanted to see and hear about them, and the Greenlanders began depicting them in small carved figures. These figures has since developed into popular souvenirs and these figurines are the ones most people today associates with the tupilak.

In the exhibition we want to show how contemporary Greenlandic artists give a new meaning to the tupilak by placing it in new connections. They all contribute to the question: What is a tupilak in 2018?

In the exhibition you can listen to a podcast with contemporary Greenlandic music using the tupilak in their lyrics. The exhibition also has an educational workshops. The youngest pupils can mould their own tupilak inspired by the many different shapes and forms of the tupilak in the exhibitions. Older pupils and students can make a stop motion film with tupilaks.

The exhibition was made possible with contributions from Tips- og Lottomidlerne, Sermeqpuljen and Royal Arctic Line, and with the loan of artworks from The National Museum of Greenland.

Artists in the exhibition

Anne-Birthe Hove (1951-2012), Arnannguaq Høegh, (f. 1956), Coco Apunnguaq Lynge (f.1991), Gukki Nuka Willsen Møller (f. 1965),
Jakob Maqe Nielsen (f. 1982), Jessie Kleemann (f. 1959), Johan Markussen (1906-1994), Jonatan Brüsch (f. 1986),
Kârale Andreassen (1890-1934), Maria Kreutzmann (f. 1985), Mike Kristiansen (f. 1971), Pia Arke (1958-2007), Rikke Diemer.