Sculpting Places with Play

Revealing the Alternative Dimension (of Place) with Participatory Photoplay

Authors

• Nina Luostarinen University of Lapland

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54916/rae.119566

Keywords:

re-interpretation, empathy for places, photoplay, future, art-based intervention

Abstract

This visual essay works at the confluence of art, place and play and presents a practice which asks: what can happen if we take a group of adults and classical paintings as inspiration and have them play together in specific places? It aims to demonstrate the visual souvenirs of adult play, the photographs taken
by the participants. The objective is to interpret them in order to gain an understanding of how hierarchy-free encounters in the liminal space of play can foster empathy for places. Pausing to gaze at the visual data, it seems that with art-based play, we create lasting memories after which the place, the players and the source art can never be seen with indifference again. This can lead to emotions, actions and activism towards a more desirable future.