First Strike City

Security, Sovereignty, and the Shadows of Conflict

The exhibition First Strike City takes as its point of departure the city of Bodø, Norway—a place once central to the defence of NATO's northern flank. Until its closure in 2022, Bodø served as the headquarters of Norway's Air Force, playing a critical role in NATO operations throughout the Cold War. Its strategic position inside the Arctic region made it a linchpin of Western defense strategy—and now, with the resurgence of geopolitical tension and renewed Russian aggression, its relevance has returned with urgency.

By 2025, Bodø and the north of Norway reemerged as a key player in Europe’s defense landscape, named as the site for NATO’s new Combined Air Operations Centre. Once again, Bodø has become a "first strike city"—a potential frontline in the evolving theatre of hybrid warfare, where threats blend cyber, disinformation, and conventional military power.

Across Europe, a substantial number of NATO military installations in Europe are situated in close proximity to large civilian populations. This exhibition invites visitors to confront a pressing question: Is the proximity of military infrastructure to urban life a necessary sacrifice for national security

In an age where security and sovereignty are increasingly intertwined with vulnerability and exposure, this exhibition asks: What are the costs of secure sovereign borders? And who bears them?