Mariia

Niskavaara

 In my doctoral dissertation, I investigate art that incorporates dead nonhuman bodies or matter from animals and plants within the context of art museum exhibition practices. I am interested in how such art could contribute to the discussion of the environmental crisis when displayed in art museums. Since my dissertation draws on my own practice as an art curator, I address the topic by presenting three case studies in which I have worked as a curator. Through these case studies, I outline a posthumanist curatorial method that engages with issues related to more-than-human death and the use of nonhuman bodies. The theoretical framework of my dissertation connects to posthumanist art studies and queer death studies. As my approach is practice-oriented, the dissertation also engages with the societal issue of institutional power in museums in relation to nonhuman death.

I examine the works and techniques of Magnus von Wright, Toni R. Toivonen, and Antti Laitisen in relation to birds, domestic mammals, trees, and forest ecosystems.