Planet Earth is in crisis. Photo North’s Earth Gazes Back seminar, exhibition, and publication invite us to dive into the urgent situation of our environment, explore where we are now, and consider the possibilities for navigating the unknown futures through the observations of artists, local people, and researchers. The seminar will be held in English.
The first day of the Earth Gazes Back seminar takes us into space to view planets and explore how we observe Earth and its changes through art and science. Associate Professor Jaan Praks (Aalto University’s Department of Electronics and Nanoengineering) will talk about how planetary processes are interlinked with the developing biosphere, natural catastrophes, and lucky coincidences that have shaped the environment we know today. Philosopher Lukaš Likavčan talks about philosophy of planetary habitability and the director of the Finnish Museum of Photography Anna-Kaisa Rastenberger talks about the role of contemporary photographic art in the observation and documentation of the climate crisis.
Artists Marko Peljhan and Minna Långström will present their works featuring documentary film and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UVA). In the afternoon, the seminar returns back to ground level when researcher of Mushroom Archaeology Anatolijs Venovcevs (University of Oulu/ Svalbard Museum) talks about Fungal Heritage Ecologies in an Anthropogenic World. Furthermore, artist collective Cesar & Lois present their work Boreal Intelligence produced in the Photo North’s More-than-Planet residency in Oulanka Research Station. Day ends with an environmental literacy panel discussion with artists, scientists and local politicians.
Day two focuses on i.a. other-than-human interactions and ecological planning. We start with a presentation by artist Mari Keski-Korsu about the human relationship with landscapes and microbes through artistic research. Postdoctoral researcher Tero Toivanen (University of Helsinki’s Collegium of Advanced Studies, BIOS Research Unit) will discuss ecological planning and the development of new perspectives and practices. Environmental activist and politician Riikka Karppinen brings up activist actions to develop environmental literacy—our capability to understand the environment and our part in it— in the North. Seminar ends with Waag Futurelab’s workshop, led by Space Lab Lead Miha Turšic, focusing on innovative methods for earth observation, space research, and understanding planetary changes as a path for new questions. At the end of the day, project manager Antti Tenetz will present best practices and examples for using satellite data in art and everyday life.
The More-than-Planet EU project builds capacity for a richer planetary image and aims to develop environmental literacy for everyone—artists, researchers, and citizens. Earth Gazes Back exhibition opens on Tuesday 24th September at 7 pm (Culture Centre Valve, Valve gallery & Photo North gallery) and the publication will be launched in Autumn 2024.
Combining satellite data, artistic research, citizen science and photography, the More-than-Planet project develops environmental literacy through artistic work and collaborations linking space, climate and environmental research from 2022 to 2025. Project partners include the Waag Society in the Netherlands, the Ars Electronica Centre in Austria, Leonardo/Olats and Makery in France and Project Atol in Slovenia. Photo North’s local partners include the University of Oulu’s Oulanka Research Station, the Pyhäsalmi Mine’s Callio Lab research and testing organization, and the University of Oulu’s Kerttu Saalasti Institute.
The international research project More-than-Planet develops environmental literacy through space exploration, artistic work and collaboration between 2022 and 2025. This project receives funding from the European Union’s Creative Europe programme under grant agreement No 101056238 and national match funding from the City of Oulu and the Finnish National Agency for Education.
Registration before September 20th HERE.
Click for more information and full seminar schedule.
Contact:
Taija Jyrkäs
Producer
taija@photonorth.fi
+358 40 128 1 150
Photo: Antti Tenetz
