Mika Elo

Job description

Professor of artistic research, Head of Doctoral Programme, Vice-dean of Research

Introduction

Current research:

Mediality of artistic research

The research engages in contemporary discussions concerning artistic research, its medium and the epistemic potential of the arts. Insofar all media articulate sense by gathering together the different senses of ‘sense’, the question concerns, more generally, “mediality of sense”. The research is contextualized with regard to three more specific contexts:
1) Photography and the ”post medium condition”
2) Theories of touch and haptic media
3) Artistic research and ”architectonics of sense”

Current research projects:

Post-digital Epistemologies of the Photographic Image (PEPI), funded by the Academy of Finland (2019-2022)

The truthfulness of the photograph has long been one of the most debated issues in the photography. In current media society, it is still a questions which raises heated debates in the field of photo journalism, for example. PEPI consortium (Academy of Fine Arts, PI Mika Elo; Univ. of Tampere, PI Janne Seppänen; Univ. of Helsinki, PI Jukka Häkkinen) examines the epistemologies of the photographic image from three closely related perspectives. First, we will scrutinise the psychological processes by which people make judgements regarding the truthfulness of photographs. Second, we will concentrate on ‘fake news’ visuals and their reception. Third, we will address the question of the veracity of the photographic image in light of photographic aesthetics. Our multidisciplinary consortium combines journalism/media studies, experimental psychology and artistic research.

Teaching

Current teaching:

ajankohtainen opetus / current teaching:

Image research reading group (2022/2023)

In this collegial reading group, we study Sigrid Weigel’s book Grammatology of Images (2022/2015) and related references. The seminar is linked with the research project Post-digital Epistemologies of the Photographic Image.

Tutkimusseminaari / Research Seminar (2022/2023)

The seminar consists of group discussions on new elements of each participant’s doctoral research. Each doctoral researcher prepares approximately once a year a presentation on their current research and recent developments. The point of reference can be current exhibition or written material worked on. In their turn, the doctoral researchers also prepare all material needed for their own session, coordinate possible invited comments and invite their supervisors to their own session. For the accomplishment of the research seminar an active participation comparable to two years full attendance is required. Presentation at KuvA’s research day can be included in the research seminar credits. If the corona situation requires, the seminar will go online. Co-tecahing with Maiju Loukola and Elina Saloranta.

Tutkijaseminaarissa käydään ryhmässä läpi osallistujien omaan tutkimukseen sisältyviä uusia osioita. Kukin osallistuja valmistaa tutkijaseminaariin noin kerran lukuvuodessa alustuksen, jossa hän esittelee oman tutkimustyönsä etenemistä. Se voi liittyä juuri esillä tai tekeillä olevaan näyttelyyn tai työstettävänä olevaan kirjalliseen materiaaliin. Vuorossa oleva tohtorikoulutettava myös kokoaa tähän istuntoon tarvittavat materiaalit ja koordinoi mahdolliset kommenttipuheenvuorot ja opponoinnit sekä kutsuu paikalle työnsä ohjaaja(t) sekä mahdolliset ulkopuoliset asiantuntijat. Opintokokonaisuuden suorittaminen edellyttää aktiivista osallistumista tutkijaseminaariin vähintään kahden vuoden täyttä osallistumista vastaavan ajan. KuvAn tutkimuspäivillä esiintymisen voi sisällyttää tutkijaseminaarin suoritukseen. Koronatilanteen niin vaatiessa seminaari toteutetaan etänä. Opetus yhdessä Maiju Loukolan ja Elina Salorannan kanssa.

Thesis circle (2022/2023)

During the preparation of their thesis doctoral researchers participate in the thesis circle (in Finnish or English). The Thesis circle (in English) serves as a peer support group for the doctoral researchers who are writing in English, especially in the process of structuring and completing their doctoral thesis during the last two years.

Artistic activities

Curatorial work:

2022 Paradoxes of Photography, The Finnish Museum of Photography, Helsinki, Finland.

2019 RP#3 Infolab, Exhibition laboratory, Helsinki, Finland.

2018–19 Research Pavilion #3, in the context of 58th Biennale in Venice.

2013 Falling Trees. The Finnish exhibitions at the 55th International Art Exhibition – la Biennale di Venezia, Venice Italy.

2007 Square Minutes – Young Finnish Photography, Lodz and Leipzig, Poland and Germany.

2004–5 Helsinki Photography Festival, Helsinki, Finland.

1993 Helsinki Photography Festival [assisting curator].

Performances, interventions:

2018 Commissioned writing for Satu Tuomisto’s dance production Kuusnolla, Stoa, Helsinki.

2018 Visual intervention and Sound Observer (text), and performance in Otso Lähdeoja’s research concert, Music House (Black Box), Helsinki.

2010 Tangents, Forum Box, Helsinki, Finland.

2007 Voice-over supplement to Friedl Kubelka’s film Max Turnheim, Kiasma Museum for Contemporary Art, Helsinki, Finland.

Solo exhibitions:

2017 Kivet ja me / Stones and us, Galleria Lapinlahti, Helsinki, Finland.

2014 What thinking calls?, Gallery Huuto Jätkäsaari, Helsinki.

Group exhibitions (selected):

2021 Allmende, curated by Florian Dombois, https://filmallmende.net/

2019 I Experience as I Experiment – I Experiment as I Experience, curated by Denise Ziegler, Exhibition laboratory, Helsinki, Finland.

2017 Varasto, curated by Heli Kaskinen, Noora Sandgren and Paula Saraste,Galleria Lapinlahti, Helsinki, Finland.

2011 Otteita / Extracts, Galleria Rantakasarmi, Helsinki, Finland.

2008 Figurations of Knowledge, Villa Elisabeth, Berlin, Germany.

2007 Toisaalta tässä / Here Then, TR1 Tampere, Finland.

2007 Elo – Chagas – Mühlenstedt, Atelierhaus Roter Hahn, Bremen, Germany.

2003 Hospitalities, Voipaala Art Centre, Voipaala, Finland

2002 Künstlerhaus Bremen 10 Years, Bremen, Germany.

1996 Synthesis—Young Finnish Photography, Museum for Photographic Art, Helsinki, Finland.

1995 LUMO 95 -Photographic Art Festival, Gallery Becker, Jyväskylä, Finland.

1994 Still-life, Gallery Vita Havet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Research and publications

Recent publications

Peer-reviewed research articles

2021 “Isabelle Stengersin kosmopolitiikka ja taiteellisen tutkimuksen tiedolliset sitoumukset”. Tiede&Edistys 46(4).

2021 “Towards Academic Publishing in Medias Res”. Communicazioni sociali 1/2021. DOI: 10.26350/001200_000107

2021 “Encore”. Journal for Artistic Research, Issue 24. https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/370343/370344

2017 Annette Arlander & Mika Elo: “Ekologinen Näkökulma taidetutkimukseen”, Tiede&edistys 4/2017. 335–346.

2017 “Kaksi peiliä: Jacques Lacanin optinen skeema ja havainnollistamisen haaste”. Psykoanalyyttinen psykoterapia 13. 20–27.

Edited research publications

2019 Etappeja – Kuvataideakatemina tohtoriohjelma 20 vuotta / Waypoints – The Doctoral Programme at the Academy of Fine Arts 20 Years. Eds. Mika Elo, Lea Kantonen and Petri Kaverma. Helsinki: Academy of Fine Arts Helsinki. 225 pages. [includes peer-reviewed articles] https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-353-398-1

2018 Figures of Touch. Sense, Technics, Body. Eds. Mika Elo and Miika Luoto. Helsinki: Academy of Fine Arts Helsinki. 312 pages.  http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-7131-46-6

Publications intended for professional communities

2021 Yhä osuvammin / More and more to the point. Eds. Mika Elo and Denise Ziegler. Helsinki: Academy of Fine Arts. https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-353-414-8

2019 “Fluid dynamics with Walter Benjamin”. Windtunnel Bulletin 10. Eds. Florian Dombois et al. Zurich: ZHdK.

2017 “Taiteentutkimuksesta taidetutkimukseen”, Tahiti 1/2017.

Publications intended for the general public

2016 “Taide tuottaa muutosvoimaa”. Kauppalehti, Johtavaa puhetta blogi 4.11.2016.

 

Expertise

  • photography theory
  • media aesthetics
  • artistic research
  • visual culture

Websites