Doctor of Philosophy

The Title of Associate Professor (dosentti) in Dance Pedagogy, University of the Arts
Helsinki, Theatre Academy

The Title of Associate Professor (dosentti) in Social Pedagogy, Especially Artistic Research
and Practice,

University of Eastern Finland

artistic research

about ecosocial relations in the world

BIOGRAPHY

Multidisciplinary artist and scholar Dr. Raisa Foster has focused in recent years on
questions of eco-social justice and sustainable life orientation. She holds the titles of
associate professor in dance pedagogy (University of the Arts Helsinki) and in social
pedagogy, with a special emphasis on artistic research and practice (University of Eastern
Finland). Originally trained as a dance practitioner, Foster combines her expertise in body
and movement with the possibilities of digital media, creating accessible yet sensuously,
emotionally, and cognitively engaging total works of art. Her performances, media works,
installations, and drawings have been presented both in Finland and internationally. She
has published extensively on topics such as recognition, contemporary art, dance, and
ecosocial education. Follow on Instagram @raisafoster

ARTIST STATEMENT

For me, art is never “just art,” but a powerful way to challenge assumptions, build
connections, and imagine new ways of living. I explore the human's embodied relationship
with the world, emphasizing how our lives are deeply entangled not only with other people
but also with other animals, plants, and the broader web of life. My practice is grounded in
embodied methods and often unfolds through movement, video, installation, and
participatory encounters. I draw from both artistic research and philosophical reflection to
address the ethical and emotional dimensions of ecological crises and social injustices. I
believe that responding to the environmental crisis requires more than technological or
political change—it demands a shift in how we feel, sense, and relate to the world. In
reconnecting with the more-than-human world, we don’t have to accept a narrative of loss
and scarcity. Instead, we can find a renewed sense of meaning and belonging through
relationships that are reciprocal, respectful, and alive.

BIOGRAFIA

Raisa Foster on monialainen taiteilija ja tutkija, joka tarkastelee
työssään sosiaalisia ja ekologisia kysymyksiä. Hän on edelläkävijä
ekososiaalisen oikeudenmukaisuuden tutkimuksessa ja siihen liittyvien
menetelmien kehittämisessä. Fosterin taiteellisen tutkimuksen
ytimessä on ihmisen kehollinen maailmasuhde – ymmärrys ihmisestä
aistivana, tuntevana ja ajattelevana olentona, joka elää kietoutuneessa
suhteessa ympäristöönsä ja muihin olentoihin.

Foster on toimittanut teokset Art, EcoJustice and Education (Routledge,
2019) ja Kertomuksia kestävästä elämästä (Into, 2023) sekä julkaissut
laajasti kehollisuudesta, tunnustuksesta, taiteesta ja ekososiaalisesta
kestävyydestä. Fosterin visuaalisen ja esittävän taiteen teoksia on ollut
laajasti esillä niin Suomessa kuin ulkomaillakin.

Foster on tanssipedagogiikan dosentti Taideyliopistossa ja
sosiaalipedagogiikan, erityisesti taiteellisen tutkimuksen ja työotteen
dosentti Itä-Suomen yliopistossa. Tällä hetkellä hän työskentelee
itsenäisenä taiteilija-tutkijana Koneen Säätiön rahoittamassa Just and
Unjust Environmental Wars -hankkeessa (2023–2026).

Foster julkaisee suomenkielisiä ajankohtaisia kuulumisia ja ajatuksia
taiteestaan myös Instagram-tilillään.

Senior artist/researcher (50 %)

1.7.2023–30.6.2026 | Funded by Kone Foundation

In collaboration with Teemu Mäki, Juha Mäkinen & Laura Puumala

This project explores the nature and moral justification of environmental wars. It
brings together perspectives from the ethics of war, environmental ethics, artistic
research, and peace studies to examine human-caused environmental destruction
and its links to violent conflict. The research critically investigates how traditional
moral frameworks—such as just war theory—struggle to respond to the ethical
challenges posed by contemporary ecological crises and shifting global security
dynamics.

The artistic research component focuses on embodied experiences, meanings, and
affective responses to environmental destruction and violence. It highlights how
humans direct violence not only toward each other but also toward other species—
through armed conflicts and other harmful practices driven by control and
domination.

Read more: environmentalwar.fi

Just and Unjust Environmental Wars

(2023–2026)

The End of a Story, 2023

Single-channel video, stereo,

English with subtitles in Finnish

7 min 16 sec

Director, writer & editor: Raisa Foster

The narration is based on Sami Keto's writings.

All the voice and visuals are generated with AI technology.

23.9.2023 – 20.1.2024 Yhteinen ruokamme / Our shared food exhibition,

Lapua Art Museum, collaborating artist, ISEAS2023 by Katja Juhola

Koska meitä käsketään (2023)

single-channel video, sound in Finnish, duration 4 min 8 sec [Because we are told to]

Finlandia Fair Food Games (2023)

single-channel video, sound in Finnish, subtitles in English, duration 5 min 8 sec

Juhola, K. S., Zdanski, C., Peña, H., Kortetmäki, T. & Foster, R., (2024) “Nourishing
Connections: Fostering Collaboration on Food Ethics Through Art,” Journal of Cultural
Research in Art Education 41(1), 120–140, https://doi.org/10.2458/jcrae.6232

Laikku's large gallery space is now a more coherent
and memorable spatial experience than perhaps ever
before. The sound and video installation Tacit Gaze
created by Arna Valsdóttir from Iceland and Raisa
Foster from Tampere is very close to an authentic
nature experience. ...

The mosaic-like video projections in Laikku's gallery
create parallel experiential realities, which have
calmness, closeness to nature, harmony and
gentleness in common. A space beyond language is
created, where the viewer can rest and detach from
their everyday thoughts, at least for a while.

- Katri Kovasiipi, 20 October 2021,
Kulttuuritoimitus.fi

Tacit Gaze (2021)

video installations, together with Arna Valsdottir

• 2.–24.10.2021, Cultural House Laikku, Gallery,
  Tampere, Finland
• 11.11.2018 work-in-progress II, Heim Video Festival,
  Akureyri, Iceland
• 8/2017 work-in-progress, video installation & live
  performance, Akureyri, Iceland

Parts of the installation also presented:

• Husavik’s Red (2021), video work, together with Arna
  Valsdottir, 11.6. – 28.8.2022, Horses exhibition,
  Kimmo Pyykkö Art Museum, Kangasala, Finland
• Entrance (2018), video work together with Arna
  Valsdottir 21.–23.9.2018 Visual Festival, Joensuu

Tacit Gaze (2021) – video installation, Raisa Foster & Arna Valsdóttir

Cultural House Laikku, Tampere, Finland, 2.–24.10.2021

Tacit Gaze (2021) – video installation, Raisa Foster & Arna Valsdóttir

Cultural House Laikku, Tampere, Finland, 2.–24.10.2021

Husavik’s Red (2021), video work, together with Arna Valsdottir,

11.6. – 28.8.2022, Horses exhibition, Kimmo Pyykkö Art Museum, Kangasala, Finland

More than human (2021), solo exhibition, drawings, video, and sound art 4.–23.6.2021, Gallery Saskia, Tampere

Based on the research project Re-Connect/Re-Collect: Crossing the Divides through Memories of Cold War Childhoods,
Tampere University, Faculty of Education and Culture, funded by Kone Foundation, senior artist/researcher grant 1.10.2020–
31.8.2021

More than human (2021), solo exhibition, drawings, video, and sound art 4.–23.6.2021,

Gallery Saskia, Tampere

The Body (2021)

single-channel video with sound in English, duration
3'33 min

Foster, R. (2023). The Living Dying Body: Arriving at
the Awareness of All Life’s Interdependencies through
a Video Artwork. Research in Arts and Education,
2023(1), 32–43. https://doi.org/10.54916/rae.126189

Tiny creatures (2021)

single-channel video

with sound in English, duration 1'13 min

Foster, R. (2024). Anarchive and arts-based research –
upcycling rediscovered memories and materials. In Mnemo
ZIN (Ed.) Reconfiguring Cold War Childhoods: Memory- and
Art-work. Open Book Publishers,
https://doi.org/10.11647/obp.0383.13

63 windows (2021)

sound in English, stereo, duration 5'06 min

Foster, R., Törmä, T., Hokkanen, L., & Zin, M. (2022). 63
windows: Generating Relationality Through Poetic and
Metaphorical Engagement. Research in Arts and
Education, 2022(2), 56–67.
https://doi.org/10.54916/rae.122974

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? (2021)

sound in English, stereo, duration 1'49 min

Foster, R., Mnemo ZIN, Keto, S. & Pulkki, J. (2022).
Recognizing Ecosocialization in Childhood Memories,
Educational Studies, 58:4, 560-574,
https://doi.org/10.1080/00131946.2022.2051031

Balance (2018), in the More than Human exibition, 4.–23.6.2021, Gallery Saskia, Tampere

He died for my sins (2019)

photo installation on animal rights

3 double-sided lightboxes with 6 canvas prints, black
aluminium frames

1300x2000mm each

Technical production: Jussi-Pekka Arkkola

Assistent: Satu Järvinen

Thank you: Arna Valsdottir, Juhamatti Niemi-Kapee, Arts
Promotion Centre of Finland

17.4.–2.5.2019 Paavali Church, Helsinki

26.9.–18.10.2020 Visual Catalyst exhibition, Backlight Festival
2020, Tampere

• Foster, R. (2020). He died for my sins. In J. Suonpää (ed.)
  Visual Catalysts / Visuaaliset katalyytit. CICAT2025,
  Tampereen ammattikorkeakoulun julkaisuja.
  https://cicat2025.turkuamk.fi/en/visual-catalysts/book/

He died for my sins (2019), photo installation, Paavali Church, Helsinki & Laikku Gallery, Tampere

V.I.P. (2019)

virtual reality artwork on (dis)ability

Production:

Rami Saarikorpi, 360-panorama

Performers: Jenni Päily, Mari Heinilä ja Jarmo Skön

Voice: Virpi Maikkola, Virpi Koskela, Marja Skaffari

Sound recording: Jukka Ruostila

Thank you: Taideverstas Wärjäämö, City of Tampere, Arts
Promotion Centre of Finland

9.3.2019 Cultural Centre Laikku, Tampere

In the collections of South Eastern University of Applied
Sciences.

• Foster, R. (2017). Minkälainen tahansa tavallinen.
  Collection of research poems. Helsinki: Books on
  Demand. [Any kind of ordinary]

• Foster, R. (2022). Toiseuden moninainen kokemus:
  Tutkimusrunous taistelevan vammaistutkimuksen
  menetelmänä. Aikuiskasvatus, 42(1), 50–66.
  https://doi.org/10.33336/aik.115553 [Experience of
  diverse Other – Poetic inquiry as a method for rebellious
  disability research]

The Work of Art in the Time of Non-Production (2018), site-specific participatory performance

8.-11.11.2018 A! Performance Festival, Akureyri, Iceland

The Princess of Plastific Ocean (2018), street performance, performer Satu Järvinen,

photo JP Arkkola, 9.8.2018 Tampere

Lupina (2016)

one channel video installation without sound

In the collections of Tampere Art Museum.

Performer: Olavi Karvonen

Camera: Mika Peltomaa

2.-23.12.2016 Break a Brain festival, Koskikeskus, Tampere

27.4.-1.5.2018 Koskipuisto I bus stop, Tampere

1.-30.6.2018 Enviro-Art – a group exhibition, Joseph Saxton
Gallery, Canton, Ohio

18.-21.6.2018 Dark Days, White Nights, Curated exhibition
of InSEA 2018, Aalto

University, Espoo

30.7.-1.8.2018 Havis Amanda tram stop, Kauppatori,
Helsinki

Sounds of Grey (2016)

dance film (director, editor)

Performer: Olavi Karvonen

Camera: Mika Peltomaa

Music: Ari Karema

Premier 27.2.2016 Arthouse Cinema Niagara, Tampere

9.5.2016 Tanssivirtaa Dance Festival, Tampere

6.4.2018 Loikka Dance Film Festival

2018—2019 Loikka on Tour, an official selection of the
touring program:

22.5.2018 Tanssivirtaa Dance Festival, Arthouse Cinema
Niagara, Tampere

18.8.2018 Back to School, KinoMarilyn, Loviisa

24.8.2018 DanceFest, Kotka

4.-11.8.2018 [te] Che -festival, Chiostri di Santa Caterina,
Italia

19.10.2018 October FilmFestival, Vaasa

22.1.2019 TENEK Dance Film Festival Reynosa, Mexico

25.4.2019 2. Szerpentin Dance Film Fest, Budapest,
Hungary

Enginn hittir einhvern (2016)

(choreography)

Skript: Peter Asmussen

Translation: Jón Atli Jónasson

Director: Simon Boberg

Actors: María Ellingsen and Björn Ingi Hilmarsson

Choreographer: Raisa Foster

Music composer: Andreas Ljones

Set design: Snorri Freyr Hilmarsson

Lighting design: Björn Bergsteinn Guðmundsson

Photography: Christopher Lund

Premier 11.3.2016 Nordic House, Reykjavik, Iceland

3.9. 2016 Nordic House, Torshavn, Faroe Islands

2.10.2016 City theatre, Akureyri, Iceland

Rikka (2014)

movement-based installation/performance (direction,
concept)

Performer: Ale Ripatti

Sound: Alpo Nummelin

Premier 2.5.2014 Huopakattotehdas, Tampere, Finland

21.3.2015 (video documentation/installation) Art, Activism
and EcoJustice

Conference, Eastern Michigan University, USA

Ketjureaktio (2012)

physical and visual theatre (animateur/director)

Performer: Olavi Karvonen

Premier 17.12.2012, TV-studio, Mikkeli, Finland

9.11.2013 Valvesali, Oulu,

29.11.2013 Artium-Sali, Mikkeli,

8.12.2013 Teatteri Satama, Joensuu,

13.-15.3.2014 Demoteatteri, Tutkivan teatterityön
keskus, Tampere

6.3.2015 Kangasala-talo

Monopeli (2010)

physical theatre and visual art (animateur/director)

Performer: Mona Ratalahti

Visuals: Tiitu Takalo

Lighting design: Jere Mönkkönen

Music: Sami Sippola

Premier 12.11.2010 Demoteatteri, Tutkivan teatterityön
keskus

1. season: 12.–14.11., 22.–26.11.2010

2. season: 24.–28.1.2011

Nymphaea Noir (2010)

butoh performance (choreography, performance)

Premier 20.10.2010, Kangasala, Finland

4.2.2011 Kangasala

13.11.2011 Liikettä! festival, Telakka Theatre, Tampere, Finland

Katiska (2008)

dance theatre work with young men (animateur/director)

Premier 8.5.2008 Hällä-stage, Tampere, Finland

10.8.2008 Tampere

28.11.2008 Tampere

6.-8.4.2009 Tampere

14.5.2009 Feldkirch, Austria

22.-23.5.2009 Arnhem, The Netherlands

16.6.2009 Kuopio

18.9.2009 Bremen, Germany

6.-7.10.2009 Espoo

9.10.2009 Helsinki

4.-5.11.2009 Salo

10.11.2009 Odense, Denmark

29.8.2010 Tampere

29.4.2011 Joensuu

13.-15.3.2014 Tampere

6.5.2014 Helsinki

6.3.2015 Kangasala

• Foster, R. (2012). The Pedagogy of Recognition: Dancing Identity and
  Mutuality. Doctoral dissertation. Acta Universitatis Tamperensis 1779.
  Tampere University Press.

Katiska is a collaboration of animateur/director Raisa
Foster, composer Maija Koskenalusta and originally six 15–
18 year old young men (Mikael Hautala, Rasmus Järvenpää,
Valtteri Lahti, Aimo Laitamo, Lauri Mäkinen, Jere Riihinen).
Before this project, the boys had not done dancing or
theatre. The lighting is designed by Jere Mönkkönen and
the video animations by Antti Kuosmanen.

Arts for Parks workshop for artist and scholars in Ohio, USA, 2017.

Dance animateuring workshop in Mikkeli, Finland, 2012.

MEDIA APPEARANCE

approximately 100 appearances in media (newspapers, magazines, radio,
tv) related to the art and research activities, for example:

• The Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle 17.4.2022, Elämme liikaa
  järkeilyn varassa – meidän tulisi luottaa enemmän kehomme tietoon,
  [We rely too much on reasoning – we should trust more on our
  embodied knowledge] https://yle.fi/aihe/a/20-10002595

• The Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle 12.12.2017, Tutkimus varoittaa:
  "Taideaineiden karsiminen kouluopetuksesta olisi hirveä
  karhunpalvelus nuorille ja tulevaisuudelle", [The study warns:
  "Removing art subjects from schools would be a terrible disservice to
  young people and the future"], https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9971314 (Most
  shared)

For interviews, articles, podcasts, or other media inquiries, feel free to get
in touch. I am happy to share more about my artistic practice, research,
and current projects.

📩 raisa [at] raisafoster.com

Please do not hesitate to contact me – I am happy to answer your questions.