Aalto University’s Masters of Arts 2011 festival programme released
02.05.2011
The festival boasts bold performers and interesting speakers.
Aalto University's Masters of Arts (MoA) festival offers a fascinating exhibition consisting of the thesis projects of young, graduating masters of art at the Salmisaarentalo building in Ruoholahti (Porkkalankatu 13) between the 12th and the 29th of May 2011. The festival programme includes the exhibition, seminars, discussions, films and workshops, not to mention the spectacular opening festivities.
The MoA exhibition, “Redesigning human”, consists of the thesis projects of 80 Aalto University students. The curator of the exhibition is media artist Marita Liulia. The public can visit the exhibition independently or take part in guided tours. There are no admission fees to the MoA events.
Chinese students in Helsinki and discussions on the Guggenheim Museum
MoA will have the honour of hosting a group of 80 Chinese students from Tongji University. The Chinese students will travel from Shanghai to Helsinki by train. In collaboration with a group of students from Aalto University, they will design a Chinese Pavilion for Helsinki in order to celebrate the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 theme year. The design process will take place on May 14th between noon and 6 p.m. The public is welcome to observe the students at work.
On May 23rd the public will have the opportunity to discuss the cultural strategy of the City of Helsinki and the Guggenheim Museum project with Tuula Haatainen, the Deputy Mayor of the City of Helsinki, and Janne Gallen-Kallela-Sirén, the Director of the Helsinki Art Museum, between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Seminar theme: courage
The theme of the Masters of Arts 2011 seminars is courage: the courage to ask and answer, learn through trial and error, change the world and see the future. Eight seminars will be held during the festival. Here are some of the boldest:
The seminar that will be held on Friday, May 13th, is dedicated to stories about failing 13/05/2011 3 p.m.-6 p.m.
Failing is an essential part of creativity and discovering something new. Behind every success story is a bunch of coincidents, accidents and true failures. Mika Pantzar and Saku Tuominen, the moderators of the seminar, will interview individuals from different fields who have indisputably succeeded in their careers. Now the interviewees will reveal their worst failures. The interviewees are Jari Sarasvuo, business coach; Petri Parviainen, professor and enfant terrible; Jani Leinonen, the artist who stole Ronald McDonald; Mikko Ranin, the managing director of Igglo; Minttu Vesala, the magic-maker of styling and Ami Hasan, the Finnish marketing and advertising expert.
Friday, May 20th Lecture on the philosophy of love
May 20th 2 p.m.-4 p.m.
There are two things in life: fear and love. The question is how you choose to live and die. Do you unleash your creative passion or is fear, and thus death, present in you as a suffocating force? Do you want to cling on to your wound of love or do you have the courage to love? Aalto University’s professor Pekka Himanen, who is known for his inspiring performances, continues to ponder the fundamental questions of life during his philosophical lecture.
Tuesday, May 24th: Global Impact Seminar
24/05/2011 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
Societal and global challenges must be tackled if we want to make the world a better place to live. Reducing poverty is one of the most important ways of making a difference. The speakers of the Global Impact Seminar are people who work in different areas of the world and create solutions that could have revolutionary effects. Ignacio González Nappa, the 26-year-old director of development of Un Techo Para Mi Pais, the largest non-governmental organization in Latin America, will tell us about incredible projects in slum areas and about the organization’s cooperation with universities. Professor Minna Halme will speak about innovation activities in BOP (base of the pyramid) markets. Professor Liisa Välikangas will present the activities of Innovation Democracy, an organization that supports the entrepreneurial education and employment of recently graduated students. The moderator of the seminar will be Annukka Klinge, World Vision Finland’s head of corporate affairs. The seminar will be held in English.
Wednesday, May 25th: Dialogues on Courage Seminar
25/05/2011 3 p.m.-5 p.m.
Plato’s dialogues are among the best works written in the classical period. The dialogues discuss the essential ethical problems of life, and Socrates has the role of asking questions and questioning opinions. Laches, one of Plato’s most well-known dialogues, discusses courage. In this seminar, pastor, author and wine-lover Jaakko Heinimäki will assume the role of Socrates and be the person who asks the questions. Heinimäki will discuss issues with Taru From, an entrepreneur and experienced retail market expert, and Ilpo Martikainen, the founder and Chairman of the Board of Genelec, as well as an enthusiast in old machines. The theme of the seminar is courage.
Masters of Arts 2011 Festival is open to the public May 12-29, 2011 from 12 pm to 8 pm on weekdays and from 12 pm to 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
MoA2011’s main exhibition and events take place at Salmisaarentalo building, Porkkalankatu 13, Ruoholahti, 00180 Helsinki.
Cinema Screenings take place in the heart of the city at Kino Engel, Sofiankatu 4, 00170 Helsinki. www.moa.fi
Further information:
www.moa.fi or events Facebook (you need your Facebook-password)
Tuuli Sotamaa, tuuli.sotamaa(at)aalto.fi, tel. +358 50 33 16 727
Anna Varakas, anna.varakas(at)aalto.fi, tel.+358 50 512 46 57
