Down to Earth
Set off on a journey beyond the boundaries of the global and the local—towards your planetary self!
Sculptor Nina Rantala and ecologist Sari Stark invite you to explore your earth-born nature and imagine other forms of being. What would it feel like if a branch grew from your hand or rock pushed out from your side? What is really happening beneath our feet, and does a fingertip size patch of soil have an ecological significance? Set in the urban environment, the work delves into the importance of all nature and the fundamental role of soil as the support system for everything.
Rantala and Stark have worked together for several years in the multidisciplinary Apart We Shall Perish working group. The group works concretely to support the diversity of soil. In this piece, Rantala seeks bodily connections through one-to-one encounters with people, and together they lead the Soil Walk and the Towards Other Forms of Being workshop.
The Soil Walk
Let’s focus our attention on the soil and urban nature as we explore the sites of the artwork Down to Earth in downtown Oulu. Our guides are Sari Stark, a plant ecologist specializing in soil from the University of Lapland, and artist Nina Rantala.
Down to Earth was created both in Manchester and during this walking tour, and the work includes reflections on the soil of both cities. Through images and words, Rantala presents her personal encounters in these cities.
The Soil Walks:
thu 27.8. at 18-20,
sat 29.8. at 12-14.
The artwalk route is 1,5 km.
Starting point: in front of Oulu city hall.
Book your place for the journey: https://fienta.com/fi/matkalla-maahan-maaperakavely
Towards Other Forms of Being workshop.
This is a workshop for those who want to physically imagine other forms of existence. What would it feel like to be a tree, a plant, or a rock? We’ll explore a sense of connection with the rest of existence rather than separation, and share our thoughts. The workshop is led by Sari Stark, a researcher for the work Matkalla Maahan (Journey to Earth), and visual artist Nina Rantala. We’ll work with vegan, non-toxic modeling clay and sculpt each other. No prior experience with modeling clay is necessary. We provide a safe space for imagination. The workshop is intended for adults and young people.
Sun 30.8. 2026 at 12-15, Valve Cultural center
Book your place for workshop: https://fienta.com/fi/matkalla-maahan-kohti-toisia-olomuotoja
Down to Earth is part of the SICK! Festival (UK) and Cultural Cooperative ILME’s International Time Travel programme. The journey is created together with people from both Oulu and Manchester, and what is discovered along the way may be different in each city. The collaboration is made possible with support from the Finnish Institute UK and Ireland.
