On rights, autonomy and freedom of other-than-humans
The second leg of Mirko Nikolić’s Frontiers in Retreat artist project at HIAP culminates into a camp-symposium in Kemiö island, Finland, 14–15 May, 2016.

In a two-day camp at the old copper mines in the island of Kemiönsaari in South-West Finland, the symposium will discuss dynamics of shared trans-species conversations, with emphasis on ethico-political questions that present themselves when crossing the imaginary human–nonhuman border. How do we invite nonhumans to take part in conversations initiated by humans? What kinds of rights and freedoms are asserted through these naturalcultural minglings? What are the responsibilities and accountabilities of the humans towards the interpellated nonhuman persons? The participants, invited by Nikolić, will share their approaches through narration, discussions, exercises, workshops, and audio-visual performances. The aim of the camp is to advance understanding about current possibilities and developmental pathways on this ‘wild side’ of arts and humanities.

The camp/symposium is organised as part of Nikolić’s residency at HIAP within Frontiers in Retreat project. we ❤ copper & copper ❤ us is his ongoing art and research project about the intimate interactions of humans and earth-others that started in spring 2015 at his first HIAP/Frontiers residency. Since then the project has had sequels in the UK as well as in Serbia during Nikolić’s Frontiers residency at Cultural Front GRAD.

participants >>

Agata Marzecova, the Alps, Baroa Belaobara, Bartaku, birds of Røst archipelago, blue slugs of Bor, Essi Kausalainen, Felicia Honkasalo + Akuliina Niemi + Sinna Virtanen, fossils of Dorset, Hanna Husberg, Jenni Nurmenniemi, Laura Harrington, Matterlurgy, Miloš Trakilović, mineralisation of Östergårdsgrufvan, mirko nikolić, Moss Flats of the North Pennines, Mustarinda working group, mycorrhizae, rocks of Klovakärr mine, ocean of air, post-fossil fuels, radios & wires, Tuomas A. Laitinen, and many more earth-others who/which withdraw from naming.

With contributions by Andreas Philippopoulos-Mihalopoulos, Astrida Neimanis and Elin Øyen Vister.

And support of Jaana Eskola, Paul Flanders, Salla Lahtinen, Sasha Marich, Višnja Vujović.