MicroMatters workshop
29 Feb — 1 March 2024
Working hours approx. 10:00-17:00 each day
SOLU Space, Panimokatu 1 (3rd floor), Helsinki

Are you interested in the realm of the very small? The Bioart Society is facilitating an experimental microscopy workshop hosted by Katri Naukkarinen, in which the participants will engage in hands-on explorations with a selection of microscopes, ranging from tabletop to field gear, and even some simple DIYs.

No prior knowledge of microscopy is required. This workshop is designed for practical learning through experimentation, observation, and thoughtful discussions relating to lens based technologies and ways of seeing and knowing. Participants are encouraged to approach the workshop with curiosity, exploring the potential of microscopy in connection to their practice, free from the burdens of production.

Katri Naukkarinen is an artist working with photographic questions, and a doctoral researcher at Aalto University. Her artistic research explores frequencies and scales beyond the limits of human vision. Naukkarinen explores insights that arise from within familiar environments, from the heres and nows, when that vision is expanded. She holds BAs in Aesthetics and Photography and an MFA in Photography from Aalto, with exchange studies at Tama Art University, Tokyo.
 

How to sign up

Ten (10) participants are selected to join this workshop through an open call. No previous knowledge or skill is required. The workshop is free of charge. There is a possibility to receive support for travel and accommodation costs – if you require support for travel and/or accommodation costs, please mention it in your motivation letter.

To apply, please send an email to opencall@bioartsociety.fi. In your email, include a short motivation letter in which you introduce yourself and briefly describe your interest in joining the workshop. The deadline for applications is 21st January 2024. We will inform all applicants about the selections by 26th January 2024.

Please note that the Bioart Society staff is on holiday until mid-January, which means we will only be able to answer possible questions regarding this open call after 15th of January.

Accessibility information

9 stairs lead to the building's front lobby. The front door has two 2 cm thresholds. From the front lobby, you can take a spacious elevator directly to the SOLU Space.
Barrier-free access is at the back of the building, where there is a ramp to a large elevator. When traveling from the freight elevator to the SOLU Space, there are a couple of 2 cm thresholds on the way.

The building has two large toilets that can accommodate a wheelchair. Both toilets have a 2 cm threshold on the door. A wheelchair can only fit on the left-side (when facing the toilet) of the toilet. In both toilets, the handrail that can be lifted up is only on the left side of the toilet (when facing the toilet).

The workshop is part of BioFacts – a programme that consists of a series of artistic research work labs. The programme introduces fundamental techniques of working with biological arts and serves as a vehicle to discuss art and science, materials, techniques, safety and policy, biopolitics, ethics as well as artistic examples through hands-on work.

BioFacts is supported by the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation as well as through Restorative Practices, a Creative Europe collaboration project co-founded by the Creative Europe programme of the European Union. Restorative Practices connects like-minded organisations focused on sustainability and bioart practices to enhance better future transmission of knowledge and build new realities through this intersection.