At the River: Stepping in the Flow

The focus of this chapter is on rivers, especially the Ounas River in Northern Finland, Lapland. Due to their annual cycle and weather variations, rivers are dynamic, ever-changing ecosystems with aesthetic and cultural value for riverside people. Rivers are also strongly influenced by human-induced changes, such as the exploitation of natural resources and climate change. In this chapter, I examine the river as an embodiment of northern ecoculture, positioning it as a nexus where the river’s ecosystem has enabled the creation of the cultural and social structures of riverside villages. The chapter is a review based on my own artworks, related essays, and research articles spanning nearly 50 years. The review method is diffractive reading, through which I juxtapose Western art, Northern knowledge, and the threats and changes faced by the river. Finally, I consider the potential of art to act as a leverage for Arctic sustainability transformation.