[spectre] Call for participation: Case Pyhäjoki - Artistic reflections on nuclear influence

[Mari Keski-Korsu]

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

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 and opinion 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 / 
http://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 and then 
started to work 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 Case Pyhäjoki 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