Publics

This week we’re highlighting our library’s Small Publications category, bringing together a selection of independent publications, journals and print platforms moving across visual art, contemporary culture, critical theory and political imagination. Our library holds an extensive collection of small publications, including a complete run of Paper Visual Art, Makan Culture & Space Journal, and NO NIIN:

❋ Paper Visual Art Journal Vol. 1-16
❋Makan Narratives
❋ Makan #3 Synthetic Agencies
❋NO NIIN Volume 1: Imagined Collectivities
❋NO NIIN Volume 2: Long Before Justice
❋NO NIIN Volume 3: Representation of Disobidient Bodies
❋NO NIIN Volume 4: Rebellion is on Their Way

❋ Established in 2009, Paper Visual Art (PVA) has been publishing journals, books, and online texts that focus on visual art, contemporary culture, and literature. PVA is edited by Adrian Duncan, Niamh Dunphy, and Nathan O’Donnell, with editorial assistance from Jack Delaney.

❋ MAKAN Journal of Culture & Space is a trilingual print journal critically engaging with contemporary architecture, urban conditions, and cultural scholarship from and about the SWANA region. Edited and published by Think Tanger a non-profit arts organization based in Tangier, Morocco, MAKAN brings together diverse authorial approaches, visual practices, and geo-cultural perspectives.

❋ NO NIIN is an independent online magazine at the cusp of art, criticality, and love; founded in Helsinki in 2021 by Elham Rahmati & Vidha Saumya. In addition to the online issues, the magazine publishes annual anthology-format print publications with editors’ picks of contributions from the online issues.

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝟭𝟮–𝟭𝟴 or by appointment. Come by to browse these titles or explore more than 8000+ books across 16 categories our library holds 📚

PUBLICS partners with Saastamoinen Foundation 2023-2028

Mark your calendars for the opening of two, simultaneously running exhibitions: PUBLICS invites 𝗙é𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮 𝗔𝘁𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻 & 𝗔𝗶𝗻𝗼 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗻 to exhibit together as our seventh 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 exhibition alongside a 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗣𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 with publishers 𝗦𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁(𝗲) & 𝗦𝗵𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀, opening on 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟮 and running until June 17✨

Save the date:

✦ 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟮 17:30-19.30 Coupling exhibition preview opening
✦ 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟰 Sound Performance by Félicia Atkinson

Initiated in 2021, Coupling is an expanding series of curatorial projects, collaborations, or pairings, where two artists/ practitioners are introduced to one another for the first time and show together because of some common concerns within their work.

✦ COUPLING Félicia Atkinson & Aino Lintunen brings together an exhibition of drawings by both artists. .lintunen

✦ COUPLING Semiotext(e) & Shelter Press is a curated selection of publications by Chris Krauss / Semiotext(e) and Bartolomé Sanson & artist Félicia Atkinson / (Shelter Press). The exhibition comprises publications and records, and a pop up shop for the duration of the exhibition.

A record playing station wil be available at PUBLICS to play copies of Shelter press recent releases.

The exhibitions are open at PUBLICS 𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆–𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 between 𝟭𝟮–𝟭𝟲.𝟬𝟬 and by appointment until June 17 2026.

Read more about the two exhibitions and the artists at publics.fi.

PUBLICS partners with Saastamoinen Foundation 2023-2028

𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦

𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗰-𝗕𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 & 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗺ö & 𝗖𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻:

𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿
𝟮𝟳𝘁𝗵 Malmö Konstmuseum
𝟮𝟴𝘁𝗵 Simian
𝟮𝟵𝘁𝗵 PASS – Center for Practice-based Art Studies, University of Copenhagen

𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗦 expands 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 activities to cohost the second in its series of four annual large scale international symposia focusing on contemporary art’s relationship to Curatorial Thinking and Publicness in, across and in relation to Finland, Nordic-Baltic region and beyond.

The series of symposia happens in collaboration with a network of museum institutions, local art organisations and actors in the Nordic Region and the curatorial network of 100+ cultural actors in the Nordic-Baltic regions actively taking part in 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴, already since 2023.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 is an evolving new networked organisational framework for collaboration, one that is de-centered across the Nordic and Baltic region involving multiple partners, curatorial agencies, art institutions and learning organisations.

𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 gathers past and present thinking, knowledge, and critique within practices of the curatorial. In turn, creating a space for much-needed dialogue between diverse local and international contemporary art scenes and practitioners to generate new opportunities for Finnish artists and cultural workers in the Nordic-Baltic region.

𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 asks what specific modes of curatorial thinking-as-learning are taking place across the expanding contemporary art curatorial field and enabled by such an expanding educational provision.
𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰.
More announcements www.positioningsymposium.com

Design: Valerio di Lucente / Jono Lewarne
PUBLICS partners with Saastamoinen Foundation 2023-2028

𝗦𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦
𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗰-𝗕𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 & 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶 & 𝗘𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗼:

𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿
𝟮𝟰𝘁𝗵 Architecture & Design Museum Helsinki
𝟮𝟱𝘁𝗵 Emma - Espoo Museum of Modern Art
𝟮𝟲𝘁𝗵 Uniarts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts

𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗦 expands 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 activities to cohost the second in its series of four annual large scale international symposia focusing on contemporary art’s relationship to Curatorial Thinking and Publicness in, across and in relation to Finland, Nordic-Baltic region and beyond.

𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗰-𝗕𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 is the second cooperative symposia organised over four-years (Curatorial Thinking, Learning, Instituting, Collaborating) alongside a series of artist commissions and collaborations exploring Curatorial Thinking across Finland, the Nordic-Baltic region and internationally.

𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗰-𝗕𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 & 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 reflects upon how the relationship between learning, curatorial thinking, exhibitionary practices, and discourses of the curatorial have become increasingly entrenched.

𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 gathers past and present thinking, knowledge, and critique within practices of the curatorial. In turn, creating a space for much-needed dialogue between diverse local and international contemporary art scenes and practitioners to generate new opportunities for Finnish artists and cultural workers in the Nordic-Baltic region.

𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰.

More info at www.positioningsymposium.com

Design: Valerio di Lucente / Jono Lewarne

PUBLICS partners with Saastamoinen Foundation 2023-2028

Since the Autumn of 2018, PUBLICS has given space within its curatorial program to the work of others, and to those individuals, initiatives and organisations who are in need of space to practice and to support the realisation of their projects publically. Within this structure of Parahosting, Publics takes on the role as parahost and the guest is referred to as a paraguest. Ever since PUBLICS has continued to be the parahost to other people, bodies and ideas, and be taken over and on multiple levels as a way and means of decentering its organisational activities. Parahosting is now an on-going program strand, a practice of listening and taking care of paraguests, para-sites, and para-institutions. It is an exploratory workspace for other curatorial initiatives, artists, curators and cultural workers supported by PUBLICS.

A couple of weeks ago as part of our Parahosting programme Rikke Bank invited artists, curators and cultural workers to participate in Organised Care, a participatory workshop on caring infrastructures and collective grieving within the cultural field.

The session explored care not only as an ethical stance, but as an organisational and infrastructural condition. Partciipatns reflected on responsibility, exhaustion, maintenance, and what may need to be laid to rest in order to imagine more sustainable ways of working. Thank you to and all the participants.

Rikke Bank (she/her) is a curator and consultant working between Helsinki and Copenhagen. Her practice explores curating in an expanded field, with a focus on participatory methodologies, regenerative thinking, and cultural ecologies.

Bank holds a BA in Art History from the University of Copenhagen and an MA in Leadership for Sustainability from Malmö University, and is currently completing the Nordic Master in Visual Studies and Art Education at Aalborg University and Aalto University. Recent collaborations include Frame Contemporary Art Finland (FI), Naturkraft (DK), Villa Kultur (DK), and TaM (BG). In 2021, she co-founded the collaborative platform Along Projects.

Images by Hanna Tokaj

Publics partners with Saastamoinen Foundation 2023-2028