CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS
Case Pyhäjoki - Artistic reflections on nuclear influence
Transdisciplinary expedition, production workshop and events
Location: Pyhäjoki, Finland
Time: 31.7. - 12.8.2013
For whom: artists, activists, scientists, thinkers and doers +
everything in between.
Deadline to apply: 5.5.2013
'Case Pyhäjoki - Artistic reflections on nuclear influence' is a
transdisciplinary artistic expedition, production workshop and
presentation events in Pyhäjoki, North Ostrobothnia, Finland 31st of
July to 12th of August 2013. The sixth nuclear power plant of Finland is
planned to be built at Hanhikivi Cape in Pyhäjoki.
The aim of the project is to explore artistic perspectives on the vast
changes planned in Pyhäjoki, through the planning of a nuclear power
plant at the site, and this way of considering energy production and
consuming in the world. Artists can not only reflect upon and depict
social phenomena and socio-economical relations, but can also situate
themselves in between politics, activism and science. Can art make
changes? If so, what would be the creative tools of activism? Life
itself has become increasingly politicised in the new millennium and
obviously this reflects on us all. There are plenty of art works that
comment on issues seen unethical or wrong, revealing different kinds of
world views. Also, there are community art projects that comment for
example social condition that involve participants from different
fields. But can the border in between art and activism be blurred more?
Could it be involving yet aesthetical? Aren't we all activists? What are
other ways of activism in addition what we are used to think? And what
is the change we are after? The nuclear power plant in Pyhäjoki is a
concrete project that connects many aspects from NGO-activity, politics,
local and global economical situation to energy production and
consumption expectations as well as decreasing natural resources.
The local situation in Pyhäjoki, and the planned nuclear power plant, is
a case example for the workshop. People have formed strong opinions
about the plant. The small community in the area has divided into those
who are for and those who are against the power plant project. The aim
of the expedition is to familiarise well with the current conditions in
Pyhäjoki and try to collaborate with the local community, although many
questions may be raised with are not easy. What kind of political
process leads to the power plant plan? What does it mean to a small,
agricultural community like Pyhäjoki or Ostrobothnia area? What does it
mean at the national and global level? Can nuclear power mitigate
climate change? What are the alternatives to nuclear power i.e. zero
growth or new means of renewable energy production etc? Pyhäjoki is an
excellent case study during the times of continuing ecological, social
and economical crisis of the different path choices which humankind can
take in order to flourish.
The first days of the expedition are for discussions, presentations
(both local, national and international researchers, activists and
artists), getting to know the area and its' people with trips and
excursions. The rest of the days are dedicated for independent or group
work that can lead to e.g. a project demo, plan, performance, artistic
action tools, discussion event, intervention etc. locally or creating
overall action structures that can be implemented elsewhere. There will
be a final public presentation and if needed a small exhibition for
demos, ideas and documentations in the end of this production workshop.
The aim is to have something concrete in our hands in the end to
continue the work in the future.
The presentations by different experts during the workshop are open to
public.
PRACTICAL DETAILS
Please send your letter of motivation to Mari Keski-Korsu
mkk[-at-]katastro.fi by 5th of May 2013.
Case Pyhäjoki -project covers the participants travel, accommodation and
per diems. There is also a possibility for documentation fee in the end.
We will accommodate in a cozy Holiday Village Kielosaari /
www.kielosaari.fi and utilise some other spaces in Pyhäjoki.
The travel dates are 31st of July and 12th of August.
The selected participants will be contacted in the beginning of May 2013.
ORGANISERS AND SUPPORT
Case Pyhäjoki was initiated by artist Mari Keski-Korsu and is now a
collaboration in between artist-organiser and researcher Andrew
Paterson/Pixelache, musician and artist Antye Greie-Ripatti/Hair Art,
Finnish Bioart Society and Pro Hanhikivi. Please read more about the
organisers in the end of this e-mail.
Case Pyhäjoki is funded by Kone Foundation / www.koneensaatio.fi and
Arts Promotion Centre of Finland / www.taike.fi.
BACKGROUND INFO
The actual building location of the nuclear power plant is Hanhikivi
Cape. 65% of the area is nature preservation with rich marine flora and
fauna. It is also a rare land lifting shore where the land is still
rising up from the sea due to processes of the last Ice age. There is no
industry or energy production at the cape. The infrastructure for the
nuclear power plant will be build as new in a so called greenfield
location. Even thought the building of the plant will last for years, we
are living the last moments to experience Hanhikivi as it is now. More
information: http://www.hanhikivi.net
The nuclear power plant is hoped to bring prosperity to the local
community but there are still many people against the building plan.
People are scared to loose their land, homes and all the risks the
nuclear power production brings. Recently, the company responsible of
the project Fennovoima Oy announced the plan to store the nuclear waste
materials also at the Pyhäjoki plant, as the Finnish long-term nuclear
waste material storage 'Olkiluoto/Onkalo' may not be able to store all
the country's nuclear waste. In autumn 2012, the German energy company
E-on resigned from the Pyhäjoki Nuclear Power Plant project. It was the
biggest investor in the project and was considered to have the best
know-how of the building process. Other international nuclear energy
partners have been approached to replace E-on.
The biggest town close to Pyhäjoki is Raahe and the neighbouring
municipalities including Pyhäjoki have been very much dependent on one
big employer, steel factory Rautaruukki Oy, established in Raahe in
1960. It was seen as an answer to economical despair after the local
shipping companies declined, and now that Rautaruukki has been laying
off people. Hence, the nuclear power plant is seen to bring new jobs and
basically repeat the economic promise that Rautaruukki brought to the
area previously. Another point of view is also that the plant can
produce energy for the needs of the steel factory.
http://www.raahe.fi
http://www.pyhajoki.fi
MORE INFO ABOUT THE ORGANISERS AND PARTNERS
Mari Keski-Korsu (Artist, initiator of the project, organiser, born in
Raahe)
Mari Keski-Korsu (mkk) is an transdisciplinary artist. She explores how
ecological and socio-economical changes manifest in people's everyday
life. Her works have a political nature with a humorous twist. The basis
of the work is in location, a place and people's relations to it.
Keski-Korsu started her artistic career with photography but then moved
to working with internet live streaming in the mid 1990'. This lead her
to work with live video visualisations as well as net and video art,
interventions, documentary, installations and location based art. She is
interested in relations in between art, politics and science. The works
has been exhibited in Europe and in several other countries around the
world. She collaborates with artist groups, scientists as well as
organises and curates different types of
projects.
http://www.artsufartsu.net
Pixelache (Contact person and participating artist Andrew Paterson)
Pixelache, based in Helsinki, is a transdisciplinary platform for
experimental art, design, research and activism. Amongst our fields of
interest are: experimental interaction and electronics; renewable energy
production/use; bioarts and art-science culture; grassroot organising
and networks; politics and economics of media/technology; alternative
economy cultures; VJ culture and audiovisual performances; media
literacy and engaging environmental issues. Pixelversity, its outreach
and education programme since 2010, aims to be a ‘learning bridge’
between practitioners, cultural and non-profit organisations, interested
individuals and larger institutions, and an outreach programme extending
beyond Helsinki. Consideration is given to the relationships between the
different activities, and how they may build up accumulative knowledge
and skills towards future Pixelache events. The CasePyhäjoki project is
part of the Pixelversity 2013 programme's 'Techno-ecologies' theme.
http://pixelache.ac/pixelversity
Hai Art (Contact person and participating artist Antye Greie-Ripatti,
director of Hai Art)
Hai Art is an artist ran international art platform with focus on
contemporary art forms such as new media, sound art, environmental,
ecological and participatory arts with crossover to science and
education to intertwine international and local programs in Hailuoto/
Finland. The main activities of Hai Art include public sound choir
KAIKU, international The Wilderness Art Conference, national and
international artist residencies as well as courses and workshops for
children and youth. Hai Art occupies unused spaces, beaches, a ferry,
forests, fields and public spaces etc. in Hailuoto.
http://www.haiart.net
The Finnish Bioart Society (Contact person Erich Berger)
The Finnish Bioart Society, established May 2008 in Kilpisjärvi, is an
organisation supporting, producing and creating activities around art
and natural sciences, especially biology. The Finnish Bioart Society is
creating public discussions about biosciences, biotechnologies and
bioethics. Additionally it is the Finnish contact node in international
networks of bioart and art&science. The Finnish Bioart Society has
currently 60 members, representing different art and research fields and
other expertise – bioart, theatre, film, music, video, performance art,
art&science, fine arts, media art, sculpture, environmental art, design,
zoology, botany, ecology, environmental sciences, animal physiology,
genetics, philosophy, cultural production, art history, engineering, etc.
http://www.bioartsociety.fi/
Pro Hanhikivi Ry (Contact person Hanna Halmeenpää)
Pro Hanhikivi is a non-governmental organisation found in 2007 at
Parhalahti village to preserve Hanhikivi Bay as a nuclear power free
nature and amenity area. The organisation has 300 members (autumn 2012).
Pro Hanhikivi activists collaborate with the officials both in Finland
and in EU, organise Hanhikivi Days festival and other smaller event as
well as try to affect in many ways to stop the nuclear power plant plan
in Pyhäjoki.
http://pro.hanhikivi.net