Starting point for the walk: In front of Valkea shopping centre, Isokatu 26-30, 90100 Oulu, Finland 
Genre: Walking performance
Language: English

Non-places is a storytelling walk through the cityspace. You will hear true stories centred around the meanings that different liminal and transient places hold for people. You will also have a chance to reflect through short creative writing tasks. The name of the project refers to a term coined by the French anthropologist Marc Augé who sees non-places as spaces where human beings remain anonymous, and that do not hold enough significance to be regarded as “places”.

The walk is based on a longer multidisciplinary project, by Jonna Pulkkinen and Martu Väisänen, including communal art, audio essays, and a still-in-progress novel and photo exhibition The project explores the network of social exclusion found in a mid-sized, northern Finnish coastal city - Oulu. The idea behind the project is to give space for those who are marginalised in various ways, such as people experiencing homelessness, substance abuse issues or mental health struggles. The work is based on long-term collaboration with individual participants and members of the community; their trust, privacy and secret places are respected during the walk.    

Finland is becoming increasingly divided, politically, economically and socially. This division is reflected in how different “non-places,” transitional spaces and public areas are being occupied. Who are these spaces really for: are they safe for everyone, or are the most disadvantaged members of society being pushed out of urban environments?

This activity requires registration and has a maximum capacity of 15 people. 

Duration: 90 minutes
Age recommendation: 15+
Content note: 

• The walking performance includes themes of mental illness, death, violence, substance abuse and homelessness, expressed orally rather than visually.
• As the walk takes place outdoors, please wear suitable clothing and footwear, and bring a water bottle.

Accessibility:

• Distance of walk: 4 - 5.5 kilometres
• Step free
• Doorways wider than 90cm
• Automatic doors
• Some of the walk will be across uneven surfaces and grass.
• Taxi drop-off point: Kirkkokatu 6,90100 Oulu. This is at the northern end of Rotuaari (the main pedestrian street in Oulu), about a 4-minute walk from the starting point at Valkea shopping centre.
• No seating is available on the walk.
• Outdoors
• Toilets are available at the starting point, at Valkea shopping centre. Gender neutral and accessible toilets are available here. 

Credits: Jonna Pulkkinen, Writer, Finland

Sign-up deadline: 15 June, 23.59

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Get in touch

ILME
Timo Harju
[email protected]
Tel. +358 40 860 1657