SENSORY FLAGGING (AISTILIPUTUS), 2023
Temporary public artwork

Do you remember if the color of the river has changed?
Do you feel the proximity of water? Extremity.
The wonderland is coming. It’s a bit like being in a rainforest.
Are you so picky that you want the original nature?
We will start rowing here very soon.
But that’s how we used to think about it, everything that goes into the water just disappears.

Sensory Flagging (Aistiliputus), created in collaboration with cultural anthropologist Inkeri Aula, is a site-specific, temporary public artwork consisting of flags placed in various locations throughout Pori city space. The flags contain sensory observations based on sensobiographic walking studies conducted by the working group in the Kokemäenjoki River area in 2020, as well as data from the SENSOTRA project, which investigated changes in environmental relationships in Europe.

The whimsical and poetic Sensory Flagging highlights the sensory observations of the local residents regarding the changes and impacts of the Kokemäenjoki River, as well as its ghosts. The metaphor of ghosts represents fragile ecological relationships, the imbalance of which threatens our living environments.

Sensory Flagging celebrates the significance of local knowledge in fostering resilience as one response to the prevailing ecological crisis. Sensory Flagging aims to create subtle interruptions, moments of awareness, and gestures of wonder in the everyday lives of city dwellers.

Sensory Flagging is accompanied by a research article written by Inkeri Aula, titled 'Creative environmental relationships enhance resilience: sensobiographic walks at Kokemäenjoki river.' The article argues for the significance of local knowledge and sensory environmental relationships.

Collaborators: NYTE ry, Galleria 3H+K, Porin Juhlaviikot, The SENSOTRA research project/UEF, Forum Box, City of Pori, Oiva Isännöinti Oy, Housing Company Porin Yrjönkatu 4 Board, Porin isännöintipalvelut Oy, Housing Company Porin Airionkulma Board, Kotikatu Property Services, Econia Oy, Housing Company Itäpuisto 5 Board, Asiantuntijakeskus BEPOP, RKT-palvelut, Isännöinti Leivo Oy, Housing Company Porin Rautatienpuistokatu 2 Board, Sakipa Oy, and Kiinteistöhuolto Saranpää Oy.

Photos: Rasmus Forssell (first photo), other photos courtesy of the artists. Drone videos: Kata Sivunen.