Unique Performance Artwork by Nastja Säde Rönkkö for Astra
The third and final artwork in Astra’s public art concept has been selected. The Åbo Akademi University Foundation has chosen to invest in here with you, a unique and long-term performance installation by the internationally renowned artist Nastja Säde Rönkkö.
The art concept for the new campus building includes three separate works: an indoor piece, an outdoor piece, and a performance artwork. Previously, Hilda Hellström’s Passage of Time and Jouna Karsi’s The Archipelago of Possibilities were selected. Now, the collection is completed with Nastja Säde Rönkkö’s performance piece, one of rare public artworks in Finland within this art form.
A Performance Exploring Encounters in Time
“With here with you, we want to highlight the power of art to create unexpected encounters and moments of reflection in everyday life. During the performance, participants can ask Rönkkö to carry out an action or gesture that feels meaningful in the moment. The artwork welcomes both Astra’s users and a broader audience”, says Ulrika Grägg, curator at the Åbo Akademi University Foundation and lead coordinator of Astra’s art concept.
The selection was made through an open call for art proposals on the theme Encounters in Time, inviting artists to propose works that reflect shared experiences, transience, and visions of the future. Following a two-stage selection process, Rönkkö’s artwork was chosen.
“here with you, including the preparatory workshops, is a unique and long-term performance that deepens Astra’s sense of community and perception of time. By merging physical and digital dimensions, the work creates space for genuine interaction and connection. It leaves a lasting imprint, becoming a powerful part of Astra’s identity. The work is not only a personal but also a collective experience that transcends the boundaries and duration of the traditional performance formats”, says Rönkkö.
“In Åbo Akademi University’s inclusive campus planning approach for the Astra campus centre, we have noted that students want to come to campus to study and connect with others. The presence of art has proven to enhance well-being and, from both a historical and educational perspective, expand perspectives on society”, says Ann Charlott Hästö, Head of Campus Development at Åbo Akademi University and a member of the Astra art selection committee.
Rönkkö works primarily with video, performance, and text, exploring the relationship between digitalisation, power, humanity, and the future of our planet. Her works have been exhibited on international stages, including the Sydney Opera House, the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the Museum of the Moving Image in New York, and Kiasma in Helsinki.
About Astra’s Art Concept
Astra is the new campus building being constructed by the Åbo Akademi University Foundation on Porthaninkatu in Turku. The foundation follows the percent principle, dedicating approximately one percent of the construction budget to art within and around the building. The art concept, Burning Time, has been developed in collaboration with Public Art Agency Finland, an organization specialising in public art. The initiative includes three works, with Rönkkö’s performance piece being the final one to be announced. The goal is to integrate art into Astra’s historical and future context while creating an inspiring environment for everyone in the Stjärnan quarter.
The selection committee includes representatives from the Åbo Akademi University Foundation, Åbo Akademi University, the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University, the architectural firm Sarc+Sigge, and WAM Turku City Art Museum.
For more information:
Ulrika Grägg, Curator, Åbo Akademi University Foundation
Tel.: +358 40 866 9777
E-mail: ulrika.gragg@stiftelsenabo.fi
Nastja Säde Rönkkö
E-mail: nasti1985@gmail.com
