Maija Lassila is an artist and a doctoral student at the University of Helsinki in Development Studies. This conversation explores the relations between humans and nature and the understanding of what is nature. We broke down assumptions about what is nature and our role as humans within nature, especially looking at this relationship from different cultural perspectives. We also explored different types of knowledges and specifically the knowledges related to the creation of art and research. Especially looking at art as an entry to different ways of existing with the world and resonating with the world and the common consciousness which can be accessed through painting. The conversation also touched on the use of art based methods to access viewing the world in non-human time scales. Art is an alternative and a way to transmit knowledges and lived experiences around the impacts of extractivisms and the role of alternatives.

Links:

Maija’s Art Webpage - http://maijalassila.com/portfolio/

Maija’s Research Page - https://researchportal.helsinki.fi/fi/persons/maija-lassila

Photographer Will Wilson - https://willwilson.photoshelter.com/index

Vaara Kollektiivi - http://www.vaarakollektiivi.fi/node/127

If you are interested to view Maija’s short film please send her an e-mail, her address is on her artistic webpage.