Narvik Exhibition in France – Les Boréales

A journey in the footsteps of memory.
The photographer Per Heimly travelled to France, to places bearing the name Narvik. Through his photographs, he has captured details and portraits in order to build bridges between the past and the present.
This artistic project, with its historical and international dimension, highlights the special ties that have linked Narvik to France since the Second World War. Whilst France played a decisive role in the Battle of Narvik in 1940, nearly 3,000 Norwegians also took part in the Battle of Normandy in 1944. Among them were the airmen of the 331st and 332nd Squadrons, integrated into the Royal Air Force, who were operating from the temporary airfield at Villons-les-Buissons at the time.
Conceived and produced by the ‘Vinterfestuka’ Foundation — which organises the cultural festival of the same name — this project was carried out in collaboration with the town and its museums, supported by the French Embassy and coordinated by its Honorary Consul in Narvik. The exhibition was created to mark the 70th anniversary of this annual event, which began in 1956 under the name ‘French Festival’.
Per Heimly is Norway’s most famous photographer. Although he now lives in Oslo, he hails from the small village of Snubba, near Narvik. His work, which spans many fields such as art, documentary, fashion and advertising, has led him to collaborate with magazines, record labels and artists, both in Norway and abroad.
Opening: 12 November at 6.30 pm