Circle10: Decolonising the Anthropocene through Artistic Research
Summer Session “Embodied Wisdom and Sensory Knowledge: Decolonizing Through the Body“
21–28 July, 2025 , Jyväskylä, Finland
Call for proposals
Deadlines:
10 April 2025 (for those who apply for a scholarship),
1 May 2025 (for those who are going to attend without a scholarship)
About Study Circle
The study circle “Decolonising the Anthropocene through Artistic Research” invites participants to explore creative, decolonial practices and the pressing challenges of the Anthropocene—climate change, biodiversity loss, and the marginalization of indigenous knowledge systems within art and research. It encourages more sustainable and equitable visions for the future, drawing on the principles of decolonial thinking to reimagine how we interact with the world. As the Anthropocene highlights the consequences of human actions on the planet, it also reveals the imbalance in knowledge production, where Western perspectives often dominate, sidelining alternative worldviews that could offer valuable insights into addressing global crises. Over the course of three years and six symposia, the circle will focus on decolonial methodologies, engaging with art-making and research practices that aim to disrupt colonial legacies and rethink the intersections of history, science, sociology, and philosophy. Through a blend of practice-based approaches and interdisciplinary strategies, participants will delve into how artistic inquiry can reshape our understanding of the Anthropocene—the current era defined by human impact on the Earth’s ecosystems. The circle aims to spark innovative, socially engaged solutions to global challenges, rooted in the need to transform how we relate to each other and the world around us.
This circle is designed to foster a collaborative and reflective environment where participants are encouraged to take risks, embrace uncertainty, and engage critically with artistic practices that actively decolonize thought and action. The events will consist of alternating moments of action—such as performances, workshops, installations, and small exhibitions—with opportunities for reflection on the experiences gained. This dynamic structure encourages both “learning by doing” and “learning by reflecting,” ensuring that participants can engage in both active creation and deeper contemplation. These gatherings will take place through collaborations with institutions like Stockholm University of the Arts, University of the Arts Helsinki, University of Iceland and Pikku-Virgiinia in Helsinki, Finland.
Central to the study circle’s ethos is the belief that knowledge is not created in isolation. By bringing together diverse perspectives and creating spaces for collective wisdom, participants can access new ways of thinking that challenge the dominant narratives. Collaborative art-making projects, workshops, and public exhibitions will be at the heart of this process, fostering a sense of belonging and a common purpose. At the end of the cycle, the collective journey will be documented and compiled into articles and book chapters, preserving the insights and impact of the group’s work on the broader community.
The circle will explore several key questions:
1. How can we envision a “good” Anthropocene that balances human needs with environmental sustainability?
2. How can artistic research foster transdisciplinary collaboration and integrate diverse worldviews into decision-making?
3. How does knowledge emerge in artistic research practices through collaboration and experimentation?
4. How can we decolonize knowledge?
These questions will guide the study circle’s explorations, encouraging participants to reflect on their roles in shaping a more just and sustainable future. Ultimately, this study circle offers a space to rethink art and research as transformative forces for decolonization. Artistic practices allow for embodied, sensory, and experiential forms of understanding that have historically been marginalized. By also engaging with alternative systems of knowledge—such as storytelling, ritual, and visual language—participants will contribute to reshaping how we understand and engage with the world and enabling diverse cultural narratives to emerge and be valued. Art, in this context, becomes a tool for social negotiation, a space where difference can be acknowledged and power dynamics renegotiated.
