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| Image taken from www.globeartpoint.fi |
The morning panels were excellent. Marja Honkonen / Editor-in-chief of Journalisti-magazine gave the keynote speech in which she highlighted how such a useful resource and tool to help people learn a new language can become and object of controversy and a target for censorship as Selkosanomat’s language in delivery of news items was simple and direct that it caused offense to some specific Russian readers motivating the text after having such an emotive response to the language that it was offensive. This in itself shows how a right to access to information can be challenged, even in Finland. No changes were made to the article. Finland is placed 5th in the world for Freedom of the Press whilst noticeably (well I noticed anyway,) Australia was 39th!! Mental note to self, keep sourcing info from various resources worldwide in order to gain a better idea of what is actual. Honkonen gave examples of how censorship in the news can work through silencing individual journalists by bullying new journalists or indirectly from political pressure. She discussed the dichotomy of Free speech versus the right the Privacy and Discriminatory language versus Free Speech. Honkonen joined a panel where there sat an artist and producer, exciled.
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| Opening Panel Discussion |
Opening panel Panel discussion moderated by Aleksandra Dunaeva. Image: (L-R) Marja Honkonen/ Editor-in-chief of Journalisti-magazine (also keynote speaker), Bogdan Dremin / Music producer, Spartak Khachanov / Multimedia artist and translator Tatiana Solovieva.
Multimedia artist & sculpturist Spartak Khachanov who had been bullied out of an Elite fine arts Academy in the Ukraine when his piece has challenged military regimes. Translated on stage by Tatiana Solovieva, Khachanov explained the censorship of his art began by his stipend being removed followed by being told what not to create. Over time the threats became more serious. His work was desecrated, and he was threatened with death. In the end he was kicked out then tracked down and beaten. He couldn’t report any of this to the police. His private information had been shared which compromised his safety. False information about him then started to circulate. He now resides in asylum in Finland.
Hip
Hop music producer Bogdan Dremin explained how the layers of censorship can
start subtly within community and subsequently grew in severity with propaganda,
shows getting cancelled. How pressure can trickle down from government level
and concert halls being threatened and subsequently needing to maintain their
business, being forced to opt out of supporting outspoken artists. One artist
who should have been on the panel to discuss their situation was absent due to
these underlying forms of censorship.
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(L-R) Artist and
Secretary General at Forum Artis Hanna Kosonen (moderator); Sepideh Rahaa / Multidisciplinary artist,
Researcher and Educator; Christine Langinauer / Freelance curator; Kalle
Korhonen / Director of Funding, Kone Foundation. |
The next panel discuss institutional boundaries and how an artist or cultural worker could utilise them to their benefit. Citing ethics, safer spaces to foster opinions and artistic freedom. Sepideh Rahaa / Multidisciplinary artist, Researcher and Educator spoke poignantly on positionality of issues surrounding cultural appropriation. Censorship even with Freedom of Expression in fact lead to ostracising, issues of self-censorship coming to the fore. Christine Langinauer / Freelance curator shared her insight how power structures within the museum and gallery world works around Helsinki, demonstrating its limiting force, especially relevant now due to Government funding cuts. Funding opportunities pigeon holing artists into certain narratives based on what types of grant funding are available. Director of Funding, Kone Foundation Kalle Korhonen read from his own scripted answers, giving factual information on criteria uses to assess applications and various impacts on decisions including Peer review and regular circulation on those assessors.
After
a gorgeous lunch break, out for a walk in the fine sunny city I went straight
in to a session on the use of AI in music. This was my sly attempt to meet
workshop facilitator Majella Clarke who is in fact an Australian composer/conductor,
who lives in Finland and who I’ve been ‘following’ online for a few years. While
trying to downplay this stalker-esque infatuation I was satiated and happy to say
her workshop was an excellent execution demonstrating the history of AI into
music using algorithms to break parts of music down and re-image them back into
sound. Clarke demonstrated how using Open Source AI one can manipulate various
forms and styles of music and sounds which is all readily available but never
was before. I enjoyed considering issues that ran through the presentation
including agency of own work, copyright and limits of interpretation. I also felt good about my curiosity and minor
attempts into using AI with my spoken word pieces an curious to try more.
Majella and her colleague did an incredible demo with a ‘Real time’ response
baton, linked via wifi and a cellist improvising sounds back from. Her next
steps would be to use blue tooth, and encompass the baton with a 3D printed
case to surround and protect the fragile baton.
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| Majella Clarke (left) accompnied by Cellist |
The
day was filled with these exciting and intellectual stimulating discussion that
I can’t even report everything. Needless to say (though it needs to be acknowledged)
Globe Art Point are an incredible force in advocating for and empowering foreign-born
artists and cultural workers in Finland on a level that meets our smarts. Luckan
also needs to be credited with their facilitation as well and for this we are grateful.