A look back on the Guarding the Baltic Sea residency

The Guarding the Baltic Sea residency has now come to an end, and the artists are leaving with plenty to take away from their time in the field.

This year’s residency set out to further deepen the dialogue between artists and scientists by bringing them together at marine research sites. The participants had the opportunity to learn through direct encounters: sharing methods, observing ecosystems and discussing how different ways of understanding the sea can complement one another.

At the Tvärminne Zoological Research Station, the artists got close to the Baltic Sea’s underwater ecosystems, pairing up to observe local plant and animal species while snorkelling and exploring the water with waders and aquascopes. Alongside these hands-on activities, discussions focused on the ecology of the Baltic Sea and on local ecological knowledge (LEK) — knowledge passed down across generations and shaped by cultural and institutional contexts. Together, the group explored how this knowledge can contribute to ecological research, and how artistic practices can help support and strengthen it.

The group then travelled to the island of Seili, home to the University of Turku’s Archipelago Research Institute. Through visits to research facilities and laboratories, as well as hands-on activities such as observing plankton under microscopes, the artists gained further insight into the Baltic Sea and its ecosystems, including the impact of climate change on the region. The residency also offered several opportunities for the public to meet the artists and discover their work. Before the research station visits began, the artists presented their practices and experiences at an open artist talk at the SOLU Bioart Society. The week continued with Vartiosaari Artists’ Open Studios Day, where visitors could meet the artists and hear more about what they had discovered during the residency. So, what will the artists do with everything they encountered — and how might a week spent exploring the Baltic Sea transform their work and practices?

Stay tuned: in November 2026, a public event will present a complete field guide, bringing together these experiences, offering a glimpse into the artists’ responses to the residency and everything they took from their time in the field.