17 Sep 2020

Events

The Post-Fossil Show

Dates October 1 until November 1, 2020 + additional days 17-22 November!
Opening hours Tuesday to Sunday, 14:00–18:00 (extended to 20:00 on Wed 18 Nov)
Location HIAP Gallery Augusta, Suomenlinna (Building nr. 33 on Suomenlinna map)

A rapid transition from the infrastructure and cultural practices reliant on fossil energy sources towards post-fossil solutions is essential in order to slow down climate change and reach the goals of The Paris Agreement. The post-fossil transition is a major cultural paradigm shift cutting through all spheres of life.

The Post-Fossil Transition project as well as the exhibition strive to challenge the currently dominant paradigms and tropes related to ecological sustainability. The artworks in the show point towards the blind spots we have in our discourse and understanding, as well as propose experiences and perspectives that exist outside the domain of reason and language.

As a historical reference point the exhibition includes a selection of material from the formative Suomenlinna 1968 seminar. The event carried a strong sense of urgency related to sustainability and had a strong impact in the development of Finnish design culture. The event also challenged the conventions and key paradigms of the era, with contributions from Buckminster Fuller, Victor Papanek and many others.

One key goal of the project has been to reduce the organisations’ dependency on fossil fuels. The three key focus areas in this process have been Travel, Food and Energy. During the course of three years, HIAP managed to make changes that greatly reduced the organisation’s fossil fuel footprint.

Included in the exhibition is The Post-Fossil Library, literature that informed the learning processes on ecological transition and sustainability.

A more in-depth look at the content of the Post-Fossil Transition Project is found in the THE PO-FO´ READER which features thematic articles as well as introductions to artworks, projects and artists in residence.

A programme with upcoming events related to the exhibition will be published shortly.

Artists & contributors:
Saara Hannula & Antti Salminen
Laura Harrington
Saara-Maria Kariranta, Riikka Keränen & Hanna Kaisa Vainio
Bita Razavi
Elina Vainio
Kaisu Savola
Yrjö Sotamaa

Curator: Juha Huuskonen
Assistant curator & graphic designer: Dana Neilson
Exhibition designer: Paul Flanders

The project as well as this exhibition are based on an extensive amount of discussions among the Post-Fossil Transition working group. The contributors include: Michaela Casková, Paul Flanders, Saara Hannula, Alma Heikkilä, Tiina Arjukka Hirvonen, Juha Huuskonen, Paavo Järvensivu, Aleksandra Kiskonen, Saara Karhunen, Saara-Maria Kariranta, Saara Korpela, Pauliina Leikas, Antti Majava, Markku Mertanen, Dana Neilson, Marina Valle Noronha, Jenni Nurmenniemi, Riitta Nykänen, Antti Salminen, Stephanie Roiko, Eleni Tsitsirikou, Hanna Kaisa Vainio, Annu Webb and several others.

EXHIBITION LEAFLET

EXHIBITION IMAGES

The Post-Fossil Transition project is supported by Kone Foundation.