International socially engaged art symposium : a place of creation, shared knowledge, and conversational art

This dissertation explores how my organic garden and participation in international art camps have shaped my interest in researching and creating socially engaged art. It examines my involvement in various international art symposia, with a particular focus on the International Socially Engaged Art Symposium (ISEAS), which I have organised over several years. Central to my research is the exploration of conversational art within the ISEAS framework, where I investigate how socially engaged art can foster dialogue and community involvement. Through ISEAS, I have delved into the integration of art and science, environmental activism, and the mitigation of eco-anxiety, guided by posthumanist and Anthropocene perspectives. The dissertation adopts a pragmatic philosophical approach to the examination of art in my practice, highlighting my roles as creator, participant, organiser, and leader. In the theoretical section, I discuss the factors influencing my research, underscoring the importance of conversational art. I also explore art activism, the relationship between art and science, and the impacts of climate change and environmental anxiety. My art-based and artistic methodology is explained, and I provide an analytical framework for interpreting the research findings. I discuss my methodological choices in detail, emphasising the omnipresence of art and presenting my understanding of art-based analysis. Ethics is a central aspect of my work, intersecting with socially engaged art, collaborative methods, and academic goals, thus highlighting its crucial role in the research landscape. Additionally, my research addresses ethical challenges related to socially engaged art, such as power dynamics, artwork ownership, and co-authorship in academic publishing. As an organiser, artist, and researcher, my role has been to create a reliable and inclusive environment where creative expression can thrive. My research encompasses four ISEAS events and two major art exhibitions: Conversation at the Rovaniemi Art Museum and Our Shared Food at the Lapua Art Museum. The dissertation is based on six peer-reviewed articles covering a diverse range of topics, including power relations in the art and art education sectors, ethical issues in conversational art, and the capacity of participatory digital art to foster empathy and connections. The ISEAS Symposia function as a "third space," promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and linking community art with environmental and social activism, particularly in the context of northern forest disputes and natural resource management. One study highlights the impact of art methods on empathy and ethical thinking within food culture, while another examines how elementary schools can employ various art forms in immersive, sensory food education, reinforcing the significance of sustainability and cultural practices in daily life. ISEAS has developed and achieved significant results thanks to the commitment and active participation of many individuals. My findings emphasise that conversational art transcends verbal communication, using artistic practices to engage with complex social and environmental issues, particularly when direct verbal exchange is challenging. It has established a unique approach to addressing local and global problems, especially those related to climate change. Cooperation and diversity are crucial in finding solutions to these challenges. Humans possess diverse forms of ingenuity that flourish when different people and experiences converge. At ISEAS, I have developed a framework and processes to facilitate this, which can lead to even more creative and engaging collaborative projects through continual refinement and adaptation to individual needs. The importance of a shared will in fostering effective action and innovative collaboration is highlighted, and cooperation must extend beyond traditional boundaries to include various disciplines, arts, age groups, religions, and nationalities. Encountering the unknown presents an opportunity for learning and the creation of new ways of thinking.