Grete Andrea Kvaal (b. 1944), is a camera-based artist, who lives and works in her hometown of Tromsø. She primarily works with black and white anologue photography, but in recent years has adopted color and digital photography as well.
Her photographic interest mainly revolves around themes from her own life, from nature or from her encounters with other people. These are topics she goes into deeply over a long period of time, in order to acquire a greater perspective.
Inga Karen Anna Nilsdatter Logje Gaup was born in 1938. She has spent her entire life following her reindeer: in early spring from the herd’s winter to summer pastures, and back again when fall approaches. Though Karen Anna was widowed in 1989, she decided to continue on with reindeer herding.
During Grete Andrea's own upbringing in the 50’s and 60’s, she hardly learnt anything about Sami culture. She saw many pictures of the reindeer herding men, but where were all the women?
When she asked Karen Anna for permission to photograph her and the other women in her siida (district), she replied: ”The world is in constant change, and photos like these will be important for our future generations”. And so, Grete Andrea Kvaal followed Karen Anna and her siida with her camera, from 1986 until 1993.