Friday, 03-May-2024


I can’t remember the first time I went to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston – Sort of like my stuffed bunny, Bunnder, I’m pretty sure that the MFA has been a part of my life for as long as I’ve been alive.

No surprise, then, that one of the first places I visit in a new city is the art museum!

Nuuk’s art museum is small – it’s actually less of a national museum, and more akin to a private gallery that’s expanding outward to the national scale? At least from what I could tell – there were a few signs discussing that specific fact, and that seems the best summary to my recollection. Which is interesting, since I also have a tentative memory that the MFA started in the same way – as a private gallery, that accumulated extra pieces and national renown over time, building into the juggernaut that it is today.

Nuuk’s art museum was absolutely lovely, regardless of the context and history. It had an excellent mix of Greenlandic and mainland European artists, with the very interesting curation that non-Greenlandic art was signified by a larger golden frame… making it quite easy to differentiate the two types of artists.

Adding to the fun of this specific day and this specific museum… I was the only visitor in the building. Normally that would make for a quietly reflective, yet solitary, atmosphere… but in this case, it meant that I got what amounted to a private tour by the docent on staff! She explained a lot of details, walked with me through some of the exhibits, and gave a wonderful amount of backstory to quite a few of the pieces… even helping me pick out cards and books for people back home, and keeping the Museum open a bit late to do so!


As with the National Museum, I’ll let up on the words here, and let my camera tell the rest of the story. Enjoy!