PMP Artist Residency in Lapland

 

In the PMP project one of the main activities is the 2-month artist residency that brings international artists from all over the Europe to Finland, Italy, Spain and Croatia in the years 2023-2025. PMP artist residencies offer artists the time and the place for co-creating and exploring together.

Lapland University of Applied Sciences hosted the third PMP artist residency in Lapland (Finland) in the fall 2024. The main topic in the fall 2024 has been social media and media readership. Project has approached that theme in the online seminar, workshop in Trnava and it has been also the basis for the residency in Lapland. Lapland UAS as the PMP residency host provided accommodation and workspaces in Tornio and also many possibilities to collaborate with the students and the education.

Presenting the artists – Nika Rukavina and Luca Cacini

During October – December 2024, Lapland UAS hosted from our PMP Croatian partner, Culture Hub Croatia, Nika Rukavina (https://nikarukavina.wordpress.com/ , IG: @nika.rukavina000 ) and from our Italian partner, Perypezye Urbane, Luca Cacini (https://caciniluca.com/).

Nika Rukavina is a Croatian artist living and working in Rijeka. She holds a diploma in sculpture of Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. Her practice is interdisciplinary and it addresses the problem of social intolerance, discrimination, the impact of the repressive system and its environment on the individuals who do not accept the imposed social consensus.

• I like to raise questions especially those who break social norms and concepts, take the audience out of their “comfort” zone”, says Nika Rukavina.

By linking her art practice and her workshop experiences, she is trying to have a more direct impact on the public. She is interested in art that gives a person the chance to engage and, by doing so, to get an opportunity to change their perspective.

Luca Cacini is an interdisciplinary artist and researcher specialising in new media. Luca’s work has been featured, among others, in transmediale, Ars Electronica Festival, and MMMAD Madrid’s Urban Digital Arts Festival.

• My work investigates the intersections of technology, queer ecology, and capitalism. Through mixed media installations and research projects, I explore how the mode of production and desire shape our ethical stance towards nature and society”, says Luca Cacini.

Nika created engaging art with the students

Based at the Tornio campus of Lapland UAS, the artists were engaging students through a series of workshops designed to provide hands-on experience and professional insights. These workshops not only enriched the students’ education but also inspired their own creative journeys, offering them a unique opportunity to learn from seasoned professionals.

Nika’s project started with discussions and storytelling sessions with students about what nature means to them. From these conversations, they developed an art piece that captured their insights. This artwork was designed to fit both gallery spaces and social media.

• My approach this time was different from my usual methods, as I am blending my art-making experience with my workshop experience to create a final piece using new technologies. I believe that engaging art, which involves participants directly, is more impactful because it offers engagement, connection and live experience, says Nika Rukavina.

 

When collaborating with the students, Nika was amazed by how eager and cooperative the students were. They asked many questions during the presentation and were particularly interested in performance as an art medium. Nika’s plan was to teach them how to develop an art project or piece based on a fixed theme. The theme was nature, chosen because of Finland’s deep connection to nature and its strong tradition of nature photography.

The students began by exploring their personal connections to nature, then expanded their ideas to a broader topic that could resonate with a larger audience. This process involved creating a story that serves as the foundation of their artwork.

• Students are still working on their personal projects, and I’m eagerly awaiting the results, which I’m confident will be impressive, rejoices Nika.

Nika’s goal was to teach them to think outside the box regarding how a material is used or how to approach storytelling when creating an art piece.

• On a personal level, this residency pushed me outside my comfort zone. It inspired me to start learning basic coding, for which I’m grateful to Pia, a professor here, and Claus, an exchange student from Germany. They helped me narrow my focus and figure out where to begin, says Nika Rukavina.

Art students studying new media with Luca

The residency also allowed the artists to pursue their own creative projects. With access to the facilities and resources at Lapland UAS, they could immerse themselves in their work and explore new artistic horizons. This period of focused creative activity is always essential for the professional development and artistic growth.

At the residency in Lapland, Luca Cacini has been working on the project “Flowers are Blooming in Antarctica” which takes inspiration from a viral image: [https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/flowers-are-blooming-in-antarctica] that captured global attention: a surreal photograph depicting flowers blooming in the icy wilderness of Antarctica. This image, which spread rapidly across social media, sparked a widespread sense of discomfort and unease, as it seemed to symbolize the unsettling reality of climate change unfolding before our eyes. The image later revealed to be inaccurate, raised profound questions about the credibility of the media, the nature of hyperreality, and the anxiety that arises when our perception of the world is mediated through increasingly sophisticated digital tools.

The project seeks to delve into these themes by exploring how extended reality (XR) technologies and digital media create new hyperrealities, and simulated environments that challenge our understanding of what is real and what is artificial. In an era where deep fakes, generative AI, and manipulated images blur the lines between fact and fiction, how do we navigate our perception of reality? What happens when the images we encounter online, which seem plausible, are in fact manufactured? These questions form the basis of Luca’s current artistic research.

• The core of my project was to initiate an open dialogue through a four-episode podcast series. This podcast is a highly curated, editorially driven exploration of the intersection between technology, media, and our perception of reality, says Luca Cacini.

This project aligned closely with the educational goals of Lapland UAS, particularly in fostering critical media literacy and visual arts education. The podcast series, while an artistic project, also has the potential to serve as an educational resource.

• I collaborated with visual arts students and faculty by involving them in the research and production process of the podcast. This included workshops where students learned about the technologies behind deep fakes and generative AI, discussions on the ethical implications of these tools, and collaborative sessions where students contributed content or ideas to the podcast, tells Luca.

The podcast concludes a series of workshops centred around the theme of critical media readership hosted at Lapland UAS in Finland as part of Luca’s artist residency in the framework of the Professional Media Presence Project PMP.

• In the spirit of the PMP project, which is all about co-creating and providing tools and opportunities for European artists to explore and claim their digital spaces, I decided to embark on this process with the students, says Luca.

Over the course of these workshops, Luca and the students been learning, discussing, and exchanging ideas on how to better understand and navigate the complexities of digital media and internet culture. The outcome is structured as an open conversation between Luca and the incredible students of Lapland UAS who were involved in the project.

• We’ll be reflecting on the themes we’ve explored, the challenges we’ve faced, and the insights we’ve gained. It’s been a collaborative effort, and It’s been very exciting to share this moment of collective creation with them, says Luca.

Sharing experiences and knowledge through the PMP toolkit

In addition to the workshops and own artistic work, the residency artists are always working on contributions for the Professional Media Practices for Artists toolkit. This toolkit will be published in the end of the project and it will serve as a valuable resource for artists worldwide, offering guidance, inspiration and best practices for expanding their media practices. The knowledge and experience shared through this toolkit will benefit a broad audience, extending the reach and impact of the PMP Project. Nika Rukavina and Luca Cacini developed each a chapter for the toolkit, related on the topic Social Media and Media Readership.

Luca approached the development of the toolkit from the point of view of an Italian artist, so the initial part mainly concerns an overview of the Italian media landscape with a series of specific data on social platforms in the country. The second part reflects a more European outlook and seeks to identify those platforms through which it is possible to find opportunities for involvement in European projects and for the development of one’s personal growth; particular emphasis is placed on the relationship between media technology and art and how it is structured on the European scene.

Nika shared her experiences and knowledge about challenges for Professional Artists in the EU, Fair pay and Persistent Inequities, Pathways to Becoming a Professional Artist in Croatia, Public Funding for Culture in Croatia, The Realities of Being an Artist in Croatia, Advocacy and the Fight for Fair Cultural Work, Toward a Fairer Future for Artists, Personal stand on visual art and media.

• When asked to write, for the toolkit, about who qualifies as an artist, I found myself grappling with the broader, more complex question: what is art, and why is it important, and how do we as artist navigate the complex dynamic of our work? These questions are neither new nor easy to answer, but they are essential to understanding the role of artists in society, says Nika.

Later on, you will hear more about Nika’s and Luca’s residency experiences and their thoughts on various themes of art world in upcoming PMP podcasts, which will be released in the spring 2025.

Cultural exchange in the North

This kind of international residency program fosters a vibrant cultural exchange between the international artists and the local community. This exchange enriched the cultural landscape of Tornio in many ways.

In the beginning of dark, winter season Tornio city traditionally celebrates the light festival. This time the main venue for the event was the campus of Lapland UAS and the local vocational school, so the residency artists attended the event also. In the exhibition Luca Cacini showcased an extract of an experimental project involving data visualisation.

 

The PMP residency program in Lapland has provided artists with a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the distinct environment of Northern Finland. This experience has not only facilitated artistic growth but also offered profound personal insights.

• The residency gave me the space to reflect, research and network in a context far from my own. I found it truly enriching to have the opportunity to participate in such a project and to get to know the vibrant scene in Northern Finland. Lapland UAS provided the perfect setting for this exchange and support in the process, and also helped me to discover the beauty of this Nordic natural landscape, which really inspired me, says Luca Cacini.

Nika’s experience in Lapland beautifully illustrates how nature and weather can affect us, both physically and mentally. Her story highlights how the harsh conditions of the north can surprise and challenge us, yet also deeply enrich and inspire. Despite these challenges, Nika’s time in Lapland has been transformative, pushing her out of her comfort zone and deepening her appreciation for the unique natural beauty of the region.

• This residency in Lapland, offered by the PMP project, has been challenging, just as you warned us. We’re not used to the weather. When I arrived, I was quite sure that the darkness and cold wouldn’t affect me (it was still light and warm), but after a month and a half, they did. It’s a strange feeling to watch your body and psyche become so volatile, leaving you feeling out of control. I find it both amusing and scary at the same time, explains Nika.
• As with my work, Lapland has pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I’m grateful for that. One thing that truly amazed me here is the light—the colours are otherworldly. They’re something you can’t fully capture with a camera, like the pink clouded sky in the middle of the night or the mesmerizing aurora lights. I now understand your connection to nature, and I’ve developed a newfound, deep appreciation and awe for it. And from a person that was always cold I became a person that can get out of the car without a jacket when out is -20c (for some seconds, but they count). I will definitely come to the North again, says Nika.

An empowering experience for all parties!

After all, the PMP residency program is a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of supporting artistic endeavors. By bringing together artists, students, and the community, it eventually creates a dynamic environment where creativity can flourish.

This PMP residency in Lapland has been a unique experience for us at Lapland UAS as well. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the artists Nika Rukavina and Luca Cacini. They have significantly enriched our work community and visual arts education this autumn. They have provided the project with valuable information and material that will be utilized and published in the future. In addition, they have created international networks and contacts with students and local artists. We are grateful for their contribution and wish them great success in their future projects.

 

Text: Marjo Jussila, Lapland UAS