"If I could find the spot where truth echoes..." - How/is it possible to decolonise the art space?

Abstract

This thesis is an attempt to re-think and re-shape the Finnish art scene. Using the theoretical framework of decoloniality, postcolonialism and feminism we ask: How/is it possible to decolonise the art space? This question is immediately followed by others: Would it be enough to just have a more ‘representative’ scene or does it involve a more radical process of transformation? And how does one relate this to broader soci-ety? Is decolonisation even relevant in Finnish society? We use auto/ ethnography as our methodology to analyse and interrogate our own involvement in the gallery/collective Third Space – a context that tries to subvert and transgress dualistic categories. Despite our contradictions and ambiguities we attempt to cre-ate a political/artistic space of negotiation and commoning rather than exclusion. Situating ourselves as co-founders and part of the artistic/curatorial collective, we will look at the critique leveled at us specifically. Writing together with Christopher Wessels is an extension of our praxis at Third Space.