M-cult: Minna Tarkka Public Lectures

M-Cult is pleased to launch the inaugural edition of the Minna Tarkka Lectures, a new annual initiative focused on discussing and debating the potential of art, media, and technology to participate in and shape current and future democratic societies.

For the first edition, we are focusing on participatory media art and collective practices by inviting artists Tellervo Kalleinen & Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen, Julia Nisperos & Wax Roldanfrom Green Papaya Art Space and Trevor Paglen.

These yearly lectures will celebrate the legacy of M-Cult’s founder and long-time director, Minna Tarkka, honouring her groundbreaking work in Finland and internationally in the fields of media and art and their intersections with social, political, and technological developments over the past 30 years.

All events are free and conducted in English.

Picture: Darina Rodionoa

Lectures

•  Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen: Confessions of a Participatory Artist

In this confessional lecture, Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen ask why participatory art remains relevant today. An artist who involves people in the creative process needs a unique palette of tools, as many small decisions influence the dynamics with the participants. In their lecture, Tellervo and Oliver will shed light on their chosen approaches, openly acknowledging what they have learned through their mistakes as well. 

Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen work across many mediums from cinema to performance and interactive art forms. They share a deep interest in questions of participation, dialogue and storytelling. 

• Julia Nisperos and Wax Roldan (Green Papaya Art Projects): Artist Collective Practices in the Philippines

In their lecture “Artist Collective Practices in the Philippines,” Julia Nisperos and Wax Roldan explore the history of Green Papaya Art Projects from the perspective of engaged observers. They examine Green Papaya’s community-driven practices and its influence on the broader art scene in the Philippines. Nisperos and Roldan will share insights from their experiences within collectives, connecting past and present to reflect on how these observations shape their approaches to collective work.

Green Papaya Art Projects (GPAP) is an independent, artist-run space in Metro Manila, Philippines, founded in 2000. It has continued its activities despite the fire that destroyed its physical location, along with artworks and historical documentation of the initiative. 

• Trevor Paglen: You’ve Just Been Fcked by PSYOPS*

“You’ve Just Been F*cked by PSYOPS” is a lecture-performance by Trevor Paglen. As AI-generated content, social media influence operations, micro-targeted advertising, and pervasive surveillance shape the visual culture around us, we find ourselves in an era of PSYOP capitalism — an age defined by manipulative influences designed to alter our perceptions, senses, and beliefs. This talk explores the history of covert military, intelligence, and technology programs that have laid the foundation for our increasingly surreal present.

Trevor Paglen is an artist whose work spans image-making, sculpture, investigative journalism, writing, engineering, and numerous other disciplines.

More information

M-cult web site