2024: MARS

In 2024, ABOAGORA kicked off a new thematic series, The Planets. The theme is based on the orchestral suite of the same name by the composer Gustav Holst (1874–1934), composed between 1914 and 1917. Each of the composition’s seven movements famously represents a planet in our solar system, bringing forth various ideas, myths and dreams connected to the celestial bodies and the astrological characters associated with them.

The first movement of the Planets suite is Mars, the Bringer of War, and ABOAGORA 28–30.8.2024 took on the theme of war from a broad cultural and scientific perspective. The presentations, panels and workshops explored human rights, the trauma of war, post-war recovery, war memorials and ethical issues in the study of war, armed conflicts and nature, and dystopias and alternative futures. On the final day of the event, we were also reminded of peace: all wars eventually come to an end. The program also engaged with the planet Mars, exploring astronomical features, musical frequencies, and literary imaginations.

Wednesday, 28 August 2024

10:15–11:00     OPENING CEREMONY

Riitta Pyykkö, Professor Emerita
Chris Cope, president, Holst Society
Nana Blomqvist, project manager
Paul Krispijn, artist

11:15–12:45      PANEL SESSION: Rebuilding Beyond Ruins
Navigating Post-War Recovery and Environmental Resilience

Timo Vuorisalo, PhD, Senior Lecturer of Environmental Science, University of Turku
Emma Hakala, leading researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs / Researcher at BIOS Research Unit
Ruslan Gunko, PhD in Environmental Science, Novia University of Applied Sciences & Åbo Akademi University

14:15–15:45      PERFORMATIVE SESSION: Mars Frequencies
Musical frequencies of Earth and Mars and its moons

Tuuli Lempa, piano & live electronics
Karstein Djupdal, Lumatone, composition
Janne Holopainen, PhD, astronomer, visualisations
Rubina Kotak, PhD, astronomer & researcher, University of Turku, Department of Physics and Astronomy

16:15–17:45      AGORA: Martial sounds and silences

Susanna Hast, author, researcher, singer
Noora Kotilainen, senior research fellow, University of Helsinki

18:00–19:00       EVENING RECEPTION: Mars – War Gods and masculinity
in Luostarin Välikatu

Thursday, 29 August 2024

10:15–11:45     PANEL SESSION: A De/Colonial Present

Aboagora Retreat participants:
Husam Abusalem, doctoral research fellow, Department of Culture, Religion and Social Studies, University of South-Eastern Norway
Bwalya Chibwe, doctoral researcher, Department of Thematic Studies, Environmental Change, Linköping University
Khalid Dader, PhD Fellow, Faculty of Management and Business, Regional Studies, Tampere University
Anaïs Duong-Pedica, doctoral researcher, gender studies, Åbo Akademi

Maipelo Gabang, doctoral researcher, Department of Dance, Stockholm University of Arts
Jerkko Holmi, doctoral researcher, Department of Contemporary History, University of Turku
Siiri Paananen, doctoral researcher, Faculty of Art and Design, University of Lapland
Nia Sullivan, doctoral researcher, gender studies, Åbo Akademi & MadEnCounters Project, University of Helsinki
Daria Tarkhova, doctoral researcher, Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki

13:15–14:45      AGORA: The God of War, Palestine, and Emancipatory Human Rights

Koen De Feyter, Professor of Public International Law, University of Antwerp

15:15–16:15      PANEL SESSION: ”Friday evenings at six o’clock” – Public art, Memory and the Finnish Civil War

Love Antell, artist
Anne Heimo, Professor, University of Turku
Silja Laine, PhD, Docent, University of Turku

16:15–17:30      INSTALLATION: Friday evenings at six o’clock
at Kurjenkaivonkenttä / Tranebrunnsplan

18:00–20:00      PERFORMATIVE SESSION: Antimilitarism and academic activism

Syksy Räsänen, cosmologist
Kolmas Tila – Third Space

Friday, 30 August 2024

10:15–11:45     WORKSHOPS

The workshops have limited capacity. Sign up for the workshop of your choice when registering or post-register during the event at the information desk, if space allows.

Mapping Futures

Helena Hildur W., visual artist


Dystopic futures: what can be found in the imaginaries of the undesirable? 

Riikka Armanto, doctoral researcher, Finland Futures Research Centre
Osku Haapasaari, project specialist, Finland Futures Research Centre

13:15–14:45      PERFORMATIVE SESSION:  To other worlds, to the stars of Mars
The stretches of Finnish fiction from Earth to Mars at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries (“Atlas of Finnish Literature 1870–1940“ project)

Jasmine Westerlund, PhD, literary arts educator and author
Jenni Turunlahti, author, literary arts educator

15:15–16:45      AGORA: When Peace Comes
Thella Johnson on her novel Peace and how to live after war
Free entry

Thella Johnson, journalist, author, musician

17:00–19:00      CLOSING RECEPTION: Sampo Lassila Narinkka

Installations

Love Antell: Friday evenings at six o’clock
at Kurjenkaivonkenttä / Tranebrunnsplan

Paul Krispijn & Nana Blomqvist: Mars – War Gods and masculinity
at Luostarin välikatu

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