Microbial Medi(t)ation

7th of March 2023 at 14:00

This is an invitation to take part in the case study by Riina Hannula, one of the exhibiting artists in upcoming exhibition Communities of Coexistence in Tietoniekka.

Microbial Medi(t)ation is a substudy for the doctoral research The Assemblage of Care of the Vagus Nerve Science carried out at the University of Helsinki, sociology department in the project Microbial Lives: Practices of New Human-Microbial Cultures. This doctoral thesis looks at the vagus nerve sciences by combining science and technology studies to an art-based approach. 

Microbial Medi(t)ation is an audio exercise and immersive artwork, with which lay experts participating the study are interviewed of their vagal and microbial experiences. Lay expert in the context of this study is a person who has already a conscious, at least emerging relation to their microbiome or vagus nerve. The purpose of this fieldwork is to challenge participants to create knowledge along with the Microbial Medi(t)ation that serves as a platform for speculative thinking-feeling.

Riina Hannula is an artist and researcher who calls their artistic work a practice of multispecies care. Most of Riina's work has been done in radically relational and affective settings creating a standpoint to think with nonhuman critters. The accent has shifted towards microbial companions since they started PhD in a project that is focused on the social study of microbes. Throughout their artistic and academic practice, Riina is paying attention to how microbes think, feel, and behave within humans. 

For participating and more info please register until 5th of March at: [email protected]
​This event is for 16+ year old participants and the language is English.

Microbial Medi(t)ation audio exercise with Riina Hannula will be held at Tietoniekka space, Lähde library, Seminaarinkatu 15 B, Jyväskylä. 

'Microbial Medi(t)ation' by Riina Hannula (original photo by Liina Aalto-Setälä), 2020