Archipelagos, Intra-action and Contemporaneity: The Curatorial as a Site for Transdisciplinary Research

This article explores the potential that the curatorial embodies as a site for transdisciplinary research and intervention into contemporaneity. The question of the exhibition—its role within an archipelago-like curatorial system, understandings and epistemological stakes—acts as the starting point for my investigation. I focused my research on Finland, where a variety of projects from the last decade—“Contemporary Art Archipelago” (2011), “Frontiers in Retreat” (2013-18), “Punos” (2021-ongoing)—and the work of Bioart Society and IHME Helsinki allowed me to engage with curatorial methodologies for research across the arts and sciences. Research has been carried out independently and also through conversations with curators Taru Elfving, Ki Nurmenniemi and Paula Toppila.