Lea Kantonen

Job description

Job description

Professor of artistic research: 75%

Researcher in the ArtsEqual initiative’s Group 4, “Socially Responsible Artists and Art Institutions”

Professional affiliations

CERADA Steering Group

The University of the Arts Helsinki’s Ethics Committee

The University of the Arts Helsinki’s Equality and Non-Discrimination Committee

Division of doctoral education and research, Academy of Fine Arts

Academic Council, Academy of Fine Arts, deputy member

TTOR, deputy member

Introduction

Lea Kantonen, Doctor of Arts, is a professor of artistic research at the University of the Arts Helsinki’s Academy of Fine Arts and a researcher with the University of the Arts Helsinki’s ArtsEqual initiative. She is interested in artistic dialogue with people from different cultures, language domains, generations, and professions. Her other interests include translation as part of the artistic process. Lea Kantonen and her partner, Pekka Kantonen, have carried out multilingual performances and workshops on the different interpretations of knowledge with artists and teachers from the Wixárika people in Mexico. 

Teaching

Courses in the academic year 2019–2020

  • Ethics of Arts and Research (for doctoral students) with Tuija Kokkonen
  • Ethics of arts and research (for graduate and postgraduate students) with Tuija Kokkonen and Assi Karttunen 
  • Thesis circle (in Finnish)
  • Research seminar with Mika Elo
  • Indigenous arts reading circle in collaboration with the Indigenous Studies programme at the University of Helsinki

  • Research writing workshop with Johanna Pentikäinen 

Artistic activities

Exhibitions 2016–2019

Kantonen, Lea & Kantonen, Pekka 2017. Three scenes by the water. A video and photos. IHME Days Exhibition, 7–9 April 2017, Kulttuuriareena Gloria, Helsinki.

Turppi Group. Turppi leikit 82–83, EMMA, Espoo Museum of Modern Art, 2016.

Performances and artistic workshops 2016–2018

Santibañez, Gregorio; Kantonen, Lea & Kantonen, Pekka 2019. Yeiyari – the path of ancestors, public art project at the community museum Tunúwame, Jalisco, México.

Kantonen, Lea; Kantonen, Pekka; Kantonen, Pyry-Pekka, 2018. Translating generational knowledge: Collaborative video in a Wixarika community in Mexico. Performance lecture in the symposium Recall, Reflect, Return, curated by Ray Langenbach. Khalil Sakakini cultural center, Ramallah, Palestine.

Kantonen, Lea & Kantonen, Pekka with the Tatuutsi Maxakwaxi School’s teachers 2017. A lecture performance:Traduciendo otros saberes. Lineup: Helle, Pauliina; Kantonen, Lea; Kantonen, Pekka; Salvador, Carlos; Seurujärvi-Kari, Irja. A workshop: Evaluations of Indigenous Research Methods Used in Teaching, 15 December, University of Helsinki.

Kantonen, Lea; De la Cruz Muñoz, Manuel; Seurujärvi-Kari, Irja 2017. Community Museum Tunuwame: Collaborative and Experimental Screening/Performance. A workshop at the international Engaging with Communities conference. The 7th World Alliance for Arts Education Conference. 22–25 November, Auckland, New Zealand.

Kantonen, Lea; De la Cruz Muñoz, Manuel; Seurujärvi-Kari, Irja 2017. Community Museum Tunuwame: Collaborative and Experimental Screening/Performance. A workshop at the TeTuhi Gallery. 28 November, Auckland, New Zealand.

Kantonen, Lea & Kantonen, Pekka with the Tatuutsi Maxakwaxi School’s teachers 2017. A performance: Traduciendo otros saberes. Lineup: Pedro Cayetano, Miguel Carrillo, Apolonia de la Cruz, Katri Hirvonen-Nurmi, Lea Kantonen, Pekka Kantonen, Viviana Ortiz, Carlos Salvador. ITESO University, 11 October, Tlaquapaque, Mexico.

Kantonen, Lea & Kantonen, Pekka with the Tatuutsi Maxakwaxi School’s teachers 2017. A performance: Traduciendo Otros Saberes. Lineup: Pedro Cayetano, Miguel Carrillo, Katri Hirvonen-Nurmi, Lea Kantonen, Pekka Kantonen, Viviana Ortiz. Centro Fotográfico Manuel Alvarez Bravo, 13 October, Oaxaca, Mexico.

Kantonen, Lea & Kantonen, Pekka with the Tatuutsi Maxakwaxi School’s teachers 2017. A performance: Diálogo entre saberes: una aproximación de los saberes originarios de los pueblos indigenas con cultura wixárika y na´ayeri. Lineup: Pedro Cayetano, Miguel Carrillo, Katri Hirvonen-Nurmi, Lea Kantonen, Pekka Kantonen, Viviana Ortiz, Roberto de la Torre. Ex Teresa Arte Actual, Recinto anfitrión, 19 October México, Mexico.

Kantonen, Pekka & Kantonen, Lea with the Tatuutsi Maxakwaxi School’s teachers 2016. A performance: Translating Other Knowledge: Collaborative and Experimental Video Screening/Performance. Lineup: Diana Soria Hernandez, Hannah Gullichsen, Lea Kantonen, Pekka Kantonen, Tyyni Kantonen, Eduardo Madera de la Cruz, Pinja Pieski. International Conference Arts without Borders, 19 October, Helsinki: University of the Arts Helsinki.

Madera, Eduardo & Kantonen, Lea & Kantonen, Pekka 2016. A lecture performance: Collaborative research: Translating Other Knowledge. Lineup: Diana Soria Hernandez, Hannah Gullichsen, Lea Kantonen, Pekka Kantonen, Tyyni Kantonen, Eduardo Madera de la Cruz, Pinja Pieski. The kick-off symposium for indigenous studies, 18 October. University of Helsinki, Helsinki.

Research and publications

Peer-reviewed research articles 2016–2019

Kantonen, Lea 2019. Revitalization of Oral History in Wixárika Community-based Schools and Museums – Working Towards Decolonization of Art-Education among the Indigenous Peoples of Mexico. In Sámi Educational History in a Comparative International Perspective, ed. by Otso Kortekangas et al. London: Palgarave Macmillan.

Kantonen, Lea & Pekka Kantonen 2019. Indigenous Knowledge, Performance Art, and the Faltering Act of Translation. In How to Do Things with Performance, ed. by Annette Arlander et al. Journal of artistic research Ruukku 11. https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/592571/592572

Hirvonen-Nurmi, Katri; Lea Kantonen & Pekka Kantonen 2018. Miten voimme antaa museoesineiden puhua? – osallistavan esityksen dramatisointi. In Codintions of Sharing, ed. by Mika Elo et al. Journal of artistic research Ruukku 8. https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/369731/369732

Kantonen, Lea & Kantonen, Pekka 2017. Videokuvan sukupolvittelu: Saipa meille Saksan aika. A case study. In Kuvatut kulttuurit: kohti visuaalista antropologiaa, eds. Jari Kupiainen & Liisa Häkkinen. Helsinki: SKS, 220–249.

Kantonen, Lea & Kantonen, Pekka 2017. Living camera in ritual landscape: Teachers of the Tatuutsi Maxakwaxi School, the Wixárika ancestors, and the teiwari negotiate videography. In Pirjo Kristiina Virtanen & Eleanora Sundell (eds.), Contemporary Ritual Landscapes. Journal of Ethnology and Folkloristics 11. Available at https://www.jef.ee/index.php/journal/article/view/244

Non-peer reviewed research articles 2016–2019

Kantonen, Lea 2019. Meksikon wirrarikojen yhteisömuseoprojekti: performanssi kehitysyhteistyössä. Monni, Kirsi & Kirsi Törmi (eds.), Yhteisö ja taide: Teemoja 2000-luvun taiteilijan laajentuneeseen toimintakenttään. Teatterikorkeakoulun julkaisusarja 71. https://disco.teak.fi/yhteiso-ja-taide/3-9-meksikon-wirrarikojen-yhteisomuseoprojekti-performanssi-kehitysyhteistyossa/

Kantonen, Pekka & Kantonen, Lea 2017. The German Time Was Acted upon Us: Generational Filming in Documenting the Seto Singing Tradition. In Generational Filming: a Video Diary as Experimental and Participatory Research. Doctoral Dissertation. The Academy of Fine Arts of the University of the Arts Helsinki, 202–228. Available at https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/352318/352319/.

Kantonen, Pekka & Kantonen, Lea 2017. Tunúwame: Generational Filming in Collaborative Museum Planning. In Generational Filming: a Video Diary as Experimental and Participatory Research. Doctoral Dissertation. The Academy of Fine Arts of the University of the Arts Helsinki, 229–270. Available at https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/352318/352319/.

Kantonen, Lea & Kantonen, Pekka 2017. Cine y video sobre, con y por pueblos indígenas. In Ki ti ´utame yu´uximayati – Museos vivos: Experiencias wixárika, na´ayeri y saami. San Miguel Huaixtita, Jalisco: Centro Educativo Intercultural Tatuutsi Maxakwaxí; Bancos de San Hipólito, Durango: Bachillerato Intercultural Takutsi Niukieya, Durango; Presidio de los Reyes, Nayarit: Bachillerato Intercultural Muxatena, Mexico.

Baibulat, Niran; Kantonen, Lea; Laakso, Anni; Laininen, Henna; Närhinen, Maija, and  Ruuska, Jaakko 2019. Kirjoitusharjoitus johtaa taiteellisen työn äärelle. In Elo, Mika, Lea Kantonen & Petri Kaverma 2019 (eds.) Etappeja / Waypoints. The Doctoral Programme at Academy of Fine Arts 20 years. Helsinki: Academy of Fine Arts, University of the Arts Helsinki.

Books 2016–2019

Elo, Mika, Lea Kantonen & Petri Kaverma 2019 (eds.) Etappeja / Waypoints. The Doctoral Programme at Academy of Fine Arts 20 years. Helsinki: Academy of Fine Arts, University of the Arts Helsinki.

Kantonen, Lea (coord.), Orozco Alonso, Samaria Elizabeth & Juarez, Julián Bernal (eds.) 2017. Ki ti ´utame yu´uximayatɨ – Museos vivos: Experiencias wixárika, na´ayeri y saami (2017). Tsikwaita, Jalisco: Centro Educativo Intercultural Tatuutsi Maxakwaxi;  ´Uweni muyewe, Durango: Bachillerato Intercultural Takutsi Niukieya; Muxatej, Nayrarit: Bachillerato Intercultural Muxatena. Tlaquepaque, Jalisco: ITESO.

Publications intended for professional communities

Baibulat, Niran; Kantonen, Lea; Laakso, Anni; Laininen, Henna; Närhinen, Maija, and  Ruuska, Jaakko 2019. Kirjoitusharjoitus johtaa taiteellisen työn äärelle. In Elo, Mika, Lea Kantonen & Petri Kaverma 2019 (eds.) Etappeja / Waypoints. The Doctoral Programme at Academy of Fine Arts 20 years. Helsinki: Academy of Fine Arts, University of the Arts Helsinki.

Westerlund Heidi; Lehikoinen Kai; Anttila Eeva; Houni Pia; Karttunen Sari; Väkevä Lauri; Furu Patrick; Heimonen Marja; Jansson Satu-Mari; Juntunen Marja-Leena; Kantonen Lea; Laes Tuulikki; Laitinen Liisa; Laukkanen Anu; Pässilä Anne2016. Taiteet, tasa-arvo ja hyvinvointi: Katsaus kansainväliseen tutkimukseen. Helsinki: The University of the Arts Helsinki. http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-6670-97-3 

Research projects

Grabando al caminar. A series of workshops, visits, and performances in collaboration with the CRASH society, Wixárika and Naaieri schools and community museums in Mexico 2017–2018.

Researcher in the ArtsEqual iniciative 2015–2021 of the University of the Arts Helsinki.

Researcher in the research network Indigenous Research Methods in Academia led by Pirjo Virtanen (University of Helsinki), Pigga Keskitalo (Sámi University College) and Torjer Olsen, Arctic University of Norway 2017–2018.

Conferences and research events

The Arts for Justice, Indigenous coalition building and artistic activism. Seminar organized by Indigenous Studies and Environmental Humanities and of the University of Helsinki, and the University of the Arts Helsinki 15.4.2019. Co-convenor with Pirjo Kristiina Virtanen, Hanna Guttorm, and Cheryl J. Fish.

Re-searching Indigenous Methodologies and Engaging Communities Doctoral candidates´and researchers´ workshop. Sajos Cultural Centre, Inari, Finland, November 20–21. Research network Indigenous Research Method in the Academy. Co-convenor.

CARPA5, The 5th Colloquium in Performing Arts, 31 August–2 September 2017, co-convenor with Esa Kirkkopelto, Leena Rouhiainen, and Mika Elo.

The workshop Grabando al Caminar 18–25 September 2017 at the Autonomous University of Nayarit in Mexico with Juan Carrillo and Katri Hirvonen-Nurmi.

KuvA Research Days, 12 December. The Gift of Seeing. Academy of Fine Arts, Helsinki

Conference papers 2016–2019

Kantonen, Lea, Kramvig, Britt & Guttorm, Hanna 2018. Recognition of multiple knowledges and practices in writing. Re-searching Indigenous Methodologies and Engaging Communities: Doctoral candidates´and researchers´ workshop. Sajos Cultural Centre, Inari, Finland, November 20–21. 

Kantonen, Lea & Kantonen, Pekka 2018. Filming the past, present, and future with the Mexican Wixárika youth. In the 15th EASA Biennal conference Staying – Moving – Settling. Stockholm University, 8th of August.

Kantonen, Lea 2017. Performance Art in Indigenous Studies. A workshop: Indigenous Research Methods in Indigenous Studies. Sámi Education Conference at the Sámi University of Applied Sciences. 30 May–2 June, Kautokeino, Norway.

Kantonen, Lea 2017. Performance as a methodology in Indigenous Studies. At the seminar How are things done, produced, or effected with performance? Research Day 8 November. Theatre Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki.

Hirvonen-Nurmi, Katri & Kantonen, Lea & Kantonen, Pekka 2017. Performing Community Museums. International Conference on Artistic Research. SAR (Society of Artistic Research) Please Specify! Sharing Artistic Research across Disciplines, 28 April 2017. Helsinki.

Kantonen, Lea 2016. Performing the Multi-lingual Museum: Collaborative Planning and Documentation with the Wixárika and the Saami, 16 February 2016. At the Tutkija museossa seminar. The Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki.

Kantonen, Lea & Kantonen, Pekka 2016. El Performance como Metodología en el Proyecto de museos y casas culturales wixaritari y na´ayeri. Diálogo sobre culturas: la Sierra Wixarika, actores y la cooperación internacional. A seminar. ITESO (Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente). 19 September, Guadalajara, Mexico.

Kantonen, Lea 2016. Negotiating with ancestors in the planning of a community museum. The international Wild and Domesticated seminar. 22 September, House of Science and Letters, Helsinki.

Kantonen, Lea 2016. From the pre-colonial Aztec calmecac to Wixárika community-based intercultural schools: Art Education, Epistemic Struggles and Decolonization among the Indigenous Peoples of Mexico. Sámi School History Conference. 16 November, Sámi Allaskuvla, Kautokeino, Norway.

Kantonen, Lea & Kantonen, Pekka 2016. Translating Other Knowledge – ethnographic performance. The ELIA (The European League of Institutes of the Arts) conference. 2 December, Florence, Italy.

Expertise

  • socially engaged art
  • public art
  • indigenous research
  • performance art