Creativity in Action: The Spirit of Student Life

‘Creativity in Action: The Spirit of Student Life’

27.08-30.10.2020, Dipoli Gallery and Online Exhibition

The exhibition aims to provide an insight into the history of Otaniemi from the changing perspectives of the University of Art and Design Helsinki, Helsinki School of Economics and the Helsinki University of Technology. Combining images from the Aalto Finna Image Archives and the AYY archives which represent the university as a student body the project highlights times where students have shaped conditions here in Helsinki and contributed or engaged with wider society. The timeline method is a tool for sharing the multiple histories of student life from across the schools. 

In addition to the timeline of events and instances of community spirit or social activism, the project revisits sites in the schools as universal creative spaces for experimentation across disciplines. The interlaced legacies of what is now Aalto University owes much of its innovation and excellence to the lively spirit of radical creativity and experimentation of the laboratories, workshops and studios where students and researchers bring their curiosity, skill and knowledge to the university each day working towards future solutions. 

This exhibition takes a contemporary approach to some of this historical material which is perhaps unfamiliar to today’s students and through a Virtual Reality experience. This tour highlights significant moments in Otaniemi with an Ikiteekkari as our guide to the origins of our current campus as the beginning of a much bigger story.

As with any exhibition centred on the spirit of student life, there will also be materials and contributions from the Aalto AYY or students union with a text from the current representative of the Polytechnical Students’ Museum Rasmus Ruohola and an associated AYY committee of volunteers. 

The central focus on the exhibition has come from ongoing conversations with Ikiteekkari Krister Ahlström who brings renewed attention to the traditions and contribution of Aalto’s student body both to the university as a community and institution and to wider society over the years. 

Led by Aalto Curators, Edel O’ Reilly and Bilge Hasdemir this project has been developed across an expanding network of teams, departments, students and valued alumni across all schools at Aalto. The exhibition can be found online and adapted for screens in Dipoli Gallery from 27.08-15.10.20. Graphic Design by Emery Norton.

Images and stories from the Aalto and AYY archives.

Each of the three sections below show collections of photographs and printed materials from the Aalto and AYY archives. Whether on campus, in the labs or on the streets, explore the visual history of Creativity in Action: The Spirit of Student Life.

The Spirit of Otaniemi - Virtual Campus Tour

This video is made to celebrate the 10-year-old Aalto University! Jump into this VR tour for the early days of Otaniemi campus.You get the best experience by using VR headset or Google cardboard.

Tour is narrated by Ikiteekkari Krister Ahlström.

Eero Tiainen (Director, Scriptwriter), Julia Sand (VR Artist & 3D Artist), Olli Ketonen (Sound Designer & Music)

This project has been designed as a VR experience as part of the exhibition 'Creativity in Action: The Spirit of Student Life' and appears online for viewers while gallery access is restricted.

How take the virtual tour

While we wait for safer conditions to welcome visitors back to the Dipoli Gallery, this virtual reality experience of 'The Spirit of Otaniemi' is currently online as a 360VR video on Aalto's youtube channel. Please click the link below to watch.

Share your stories and feedback on 'Creativity in Action'

We invite all viewers of this exhibition of the spirit of student life, whether students, alumni, professors or public to contribute any thoughts and reflexions on the materials above. Student life being the preparation for a rewarding life as an academic citizen are vital parts of the lives of Universities. So you, our visitor, can contribute by providing input and ideas for future presentations, to the benefit of all.

Click here to share your thoughts

https://forms.gle/yhkbSviTneKkxpBv8