Hätä
Eco- = from Greek ‘oikos’ (home or household)
-topia = from Greek ‘topos’ (place)
How do we imagine sustainable future cities and homes? My master thesis project explores the concept of paradise in the utopian and specifically ecotopian tradition, with a focus on illustration and animation. In the dance between fantasy and reality, my aim is to explore the theme of alternative sustainable futures through animation, installation art and illustration.
The installation and publication ‘Hätä’ take you to the future, aiming to foster collective imaginations of sustainable futures amidst climate anxiety and political challenges, such as the rise of far-right politics and climate change denial. The fictional story in the publication is based on anonymous letters about ecotopias that I collected during the years of 2023-2025. Through the portal that holds a fabric full of the handwritten letters, one can enter the year of 2031 in Helsinki.
At a time when political polarization, healthcare shortages and climate refugees are transforming society, we need spaces where we can imagine together an equal and harmonious society. A place to connect. When a place is staged for dialogue, it becomes performative and transformative. The place is transformed into a process and seed of action. By considering this installation as a conversation starter for alternative futures, I see it as a portal to promote peace. You are welcome to walk through the portal and drop your thoughts into a wishing well for ecotopias.
The publication can be purchased by contacting hannakatriesk@gmail.com.
