‘Butterfly in Winterland’: A celebration of dance, music, film, and poetry in Horten
From 6 to 8 February 2025, ‘Butterfly in Winterland’ transformed Horten Library to a space for artistic and literary expression. The three-day event included performances by all of Horten’s current and former ICORN residents, bringing music, dance, film, and poetry to an engaged audience. The project was organised in collaboration with Horten’s adult education centre and led by artist and teacher Helle Brunvoll.
The event opened on Thursday, 6 February, with a screening of the documentary ‘Butterfly in Winterland’, created by Khalil Farhat and Helle Brunvoll. Through interviews and personal reflections, the film explored the lived experience of people who have moved to Norway and started life in a new country. Following the screening, a discussion with the filmmakers was facilitated by Heidi Berg Kjuus, Deputy Manager at Horten Library and ICORN coordinator in the town. The programme concluded with a performance by musician and dancer Kay Zin, the current ICORN resident in Horten, who played the harp and performed traditional Burmese dance, alongside her husband, the professional dancer Thant Zin.
On Friday, 7 February, the second day of ‘Butterfly in Winterland’, multiple screenings of the documentary took place at Horten’s adult education centre, with several classes watching the film. Each screening was followed by a discussion and a Q&A session, providing space for reflection and dialogue.
The final day, Saturday, 8 February, featured another music and dance performance by Kay and Thant Zin, along with poetry readings by two Palestinian poets and writers Enas Sultan and Somaya El-Sousi, both of whom are former ICORN residents in Horten.
Throughout the three-day event, 60 handcrafted butterflies, created by students at the adult education centre, adorned the library ceiling, symbolising the themes of transformation and resilience.
