1. Personal details

• Mari Johanna Mäkiranta

2. Degrees

• Title of Docent: Visual Culture Studies, University of Jyväskylä, Art Education, 12.11.2014
• Doctor of Arts, University of Lapland, Media Studies, 2.10. 2008
• Master of Arts, University of Lapland, Media Studies, 15.1.2000

3. Other education and expertise

• Pedagogy studies for teachers, 60 cr., University of Lapland, 18.10.2011
• Vocational education for photography, 150 cr., Lappia Vocational College, 8.5.2020

4. Language skills

• Native language: Finnish
• Other language skills: Swedish, professional working language
• English:professional working language
• German: adequate

5. Current employment

• Associate Professor, Visual Communication, University of Lapland 1.8.2023–
• Senior Lecturer, Visual Communication, University of Lapland, 1.11.2010-
• Principal Investigator, Kone Foundation, 1.9.2022-31.12.2026

6. Previous work experience and grant periods

• Principal Investigator, Academy of Finland, 1.9.2017-31.8.2021

• Senior Researcher, Horizon 2016 & 2017, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research and Innovation Staff Exchange Scheme (RISE), Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 1 month

• Post-doctoral Researcher, Finnish Cultural Foundation, University of Lapland, 1.9.2012-31.8.2013; Working and living in Warsaw

• Senior Assistant, Media Studies, University of Lapland, 2.10.2008– 1.10.2010; Independent teaching, supervising master and doctoral students, independent research and publishing

• Assistant, Media Studies, University of Lapland, 1.11.2001-2.10.2008; Independent teaching, doctoral studies, independent research and publishing

• Researcher, Finnish Cultural Foundation, 1.10.1999-31.9.2000; Grant for doctoral studies; received as a Bachelor of Arts; includes three months research period in Athens School of Fine Arts

7. Career breaks

• Family leaves: 2009; 2007

8. Research funding and grants

• Kone Foundation, ”Artivism on Edges – Art, Activism and Gendered Violence”, PI: Mari Mäkiranta, 1.9.2022-31.12.2026,
220 000 €
• Academy of Finland, ”Floating Peripheries – Mediating the Sense of Place”, PI: Mari Mäkiranta, Research Consortium of Aalto University and University of Lapland, 1.9.2017-31.8.2021, 280 000 €
• Cultural Foundation, ”Trees, parks, people –Art and Knowledge of the History and Present of Trees and Parks in Rovaniemi”, group exhibition, 9000 €
• Finnish Cultural Foundation, ”Young people’s living environments and photography art, Personal grant for post-doctoral studies, 1.9.2012-31.8.2013, 25 000 €
• Finnish Cultural Foundation Doctoral studies, ”Female representations and media art”, grant for doctoral studies, 1.10.1999-31.9.2000, 80 000 mk

9. Research output

• Total number of publications: 90

• Ten most important publications:

            Book chapters:

1. Mäkiranta, M & Puuronen V, (2022), ” Oranssia pölyä! Taideaktivismi ja pohjoinen jokiluonto”. In Taidelähtöinen toisinjulkaiseminen. Eds. Jari Martikainen, Sari Pöyhönen & Tuija Saresma. Jyväskylä: Nykykulttuurin tutkimuskeskus. (In Press.)

• Mäkiranta, M & Ylitapio-Mäntylä, O (2022), “A critical retrospective on whiteness in Possible Worlds video artwork”. In Artistic Cartography and Design Explorations Towards the Pluriverse. Eds. Enni Mikkonen, Satu Miettinen, Melanie Sarantou & Maria Cecilia Loschiavo dos Santos. London: Routledge, 56–63.

• Mäkiranta, M & Ylitapio-Mäntylä, O (2019), “Art-making Process as a Tool for Social Change: A Case Study of an Animation ‘A short Story About Feminism in Russia’. In Visual Thinking : Theories & Practices . Eds. Riitta Brusila, Mari Mäkiranta & Silja Nikula Rovaniemi: Lapland University Press, 31–45.

• Mäkiranta, M & Ylitapio-Mäntylä, O (2019), “Engaging ethics of care in socially responsible design and in research projects with Indigenous communities”. In Managing Complexity and Creating Innovation through Design. Eds. Satu Miettinen & Melanie Sarantou. London: Routledge, 36–46.

• Mäkiranta, M & Timonen, E (2017), ”Muuttuvat suomalaisuuden kuvastot”. In Näkyväksi sepitetty maa: näkökulmia Suomen visualisointiin. Eds. Mari Mäkiranta, Ulla Piela & Eija Timonen. Kalevalaseuran vuosikirja, Nro 96. Helsinki: SKS, 7–19.

• Mäkiranta, M (2013), ”Semioottinen valokuva-analyysi, kuvan monimerkityksellinen ja visuaalinen kokemus”. In Visuaalisen kokemus: johdatus moniaistiseen analyysiin julkaisussa. Eds. Päivi Granö, Anne Keskitalo & Suvi Ronkainen. Rovaniemi: Lapland University Press,13–24.

Articles in scientific journals:

• Mäkiranta, M (2020), ”Kotini joki – Betoniin piirtyvä hiljainen vastarinta ja vastarinnan performatiiviset ulottuvuudet”. RUUKKU: Studies in Artistic Research, Vol.13.

• Mäkiranta, M (2017), ”Aistimellinen tunnepuhe, hypnoottiset kuvat ja virtaava visuaalisuus yhteisöllisesti tuotetussa Mahdolliset maailmat -videoteoksessa”. Kulttuurintutkimus, 34: 2-3, 27–40.

• Mäkiranta, M (2012), Photography as Family Ritual: Visual Narratives in a Finnish Family Photo Album. In: Visual Culture & Gender Vol 7, Hypen-UnPress, 35–44.

1. Mäkiranta, M (2010), ”Toistotekoja ja radikaalia omakohtaisuutta. Toisin toistamisen mahdollisuudet valokuvataiteellisissa omakuvissa”. Naistutkimus/Kvinnoforskining 2, 38–49.

• Most significant artistic works and processes

• 2023 Trees, Parks, People – Art and Knowledge of the History and Present of Trees and Parks in Rovaniemi, group exhibition, Regional Museum of Lapland, Arktikum, 2.6.–15.10.2023 (Curated by Tuija Alariesto)

• 2023 ArsKärsämäki – A year younger artist, group exhibition, 16.6 –31.7.2023 (Curated by Tessa Astre)

• 2022 Maasta ja vedestä / Soil and Water, Maamme rikkaudet / Our Earth’s Richness Conference, Rovaniemi, Finland, 2.–3.9.2022

• 2021 Kotini joki II – My River My Home, Research Pavillion #4, Helsinki, Finland 5.–10.6.2021 (Curated by Denise Ziegler, Mieke Kanno & Tero Nauha)

• 2020 Rajamailla / Borderlands gallery exhibition, Kemi City art Museum in collaboration with Satu Miettinen, Taina Kontio & Melanie Sarantou, Finland 18.1.2020–8.3.2020 (Curated)

• 2020 Kotini Joki / My riverness gallery exhibition, Gallery Lovisa, Rovaniemi, Finland 1.–31.8.2021

• 2019–2020 Rajamailla / Borderlands gallery exhibition, Port Pirie Regional Gallery in South-Australia in collaboration with Satu Miettinen, Taina Kontio & Melanie Sarantou 21.12.2019–26.1.2020 (Curated)

• 2019 Kuollutta lihaa / Dead Meat group exhibition, Valo Gallery, Rovaniemi, Finland 20.10–6.11.2018 (Curated by Jyrki Siukonen)

• 2018 Päin seiniä / On the Wall group exhibition, Valo Gallery, Rovaniemi, Finland 20.09.–28.10.2018 (Curated by Hannu Castren)

• 2017 Ystävällisesti teidän / Sincerely Yours group exhibition, Valo Gallery, Rovaniemi, Finland 13.11.–9.12.2017 (Curated by Henna Harri, Director of the Photography Gallery Hippolyte)

• Näkyvä maa / Visible Grounds Exhibition, art curating in collaboration with Professor Eija Timonen, Valo Gallery, Rovaniemi, Finland 18.10.–9.11.2017

• Kohtaamisia / Meetings group exhibition in Vaasa City Art Hall in collaboration with Professor Satu Miettinen and Designer Reetta Kerola, Vaasa, Finland 11.2.–19.3.2017 (Curated)

• Floating Peripheries Pop up group exhibition, Magito, Helsinki 7.11.2017 (Curated)

• 2015 Possible worlds film, Kulturens Hus, Bok & Bild Festival for Arts and Literature, Luleå, Sweden 23.–24.10.2015 (Curated)

• 2014 Such an Early Spring – Young artists’ photographs of their living environments in Finland, Poland, Estonia, Croatia, The Netherlands, Slovenia and Russia, Valo Gallery, Arktikum, Rovaniemi, Finland 13.3.-13.4.2014

• 2013 Possible Worlds – Young people’s photographs of their living environments, Kaplica Gallery, The Academy of Fine Arts, Warsaw, Poland 18.11.- 17.12. 2013

• 2012 Sincerely Mine Art Exhibition in Show Room, in co-operation with Nordic and Baltic art students, MA Asta Jonsdottir and Dr. Outi Ylitapio-Mäntylä, Rovaniemi, Finland 27.5.-20.6.2012

• 2012 Cultural Sustainabilty & Photography Workshop, Iceland Academy of the Arts & University of Lapland, Iceland & Finland 1.3.–31.5. 2012

• 2010 Traces / Places Photography Exhibition, Iceland Academy of the Arts, Reykjavík, Iceland 15.1.–29.2.2010

• 2010 Photography & Memory work workshop in Iceland Academy of the Arts, Reykjavík, Iceland 15.–29.1.2010

• 2008 “I” – Self-Portrait Photography Work-shop & Publication, University of Lapland and Kemi-Tornio Polytechnic, Finland

• 2000 Amphibia Arctica – Exhibition design in Arctic Science Centre, Finland (Curated)

• 2000 Nais-iki-ihanne / Femme Ideal – CD-ROM, Media Art Project, Finland

10. Research supervision and leadership experience

• Activities as the officially appointed supervisor of undergraduate and postgraduate students:

• 2 graduated Doctors of Arts (co-supervised)
• 55 graduated Masters of Arts (supervisor)
• 4 doctoral students (supervisor)

• Leadership experience in research groups or projects:

• Leader of the project ”Artivism on Edges – Art, Activism and Gendered Violence” Kone Foundation, supervising post-doctoral and doctoral students, 2022–2026
• Leader of the project ”Floating Peripheries – Mediating the Sense of Place”, Academy of Finland, supervising post-doctoral artist-researchers, 2017–2022

11. Teaching merits

(Teaching merits are demonstrated with a separate teaching portfolio.)

• Pedagogical training and other demonstrated pedagogical expertise:

Pedagogy studies for teachers, 60 cr., University of Lapland, 18.10.2011

• Research-based and collaborative development of teaching and teaching methods:

• Developed teaching material includes research related on gender studies and arts (e.g. Gender and Visual studies course)
• Organizing teaching combined with conferences, art exhibitions and film seminars (e.g. Gulag Film seminar, Academic and artistic thinking course; International workshops and gallery exhibitions in Warsaw, Reykjavik and Rovaniemi)
• Development artistic research methodologies (Course for Doctoral Students)
• Activities in curriculum development groups in the Faculty of Art and Design
• Several pedagogical publications such as Kuvien Lukeminen (Reading images)

• Teaching experience in general:

• Since 2001 independent teaching in master and doctoral studies, supervising master dissertations since 2001 and doctoral theses since 2010
• Teachinh several courses in Media Studies and Gender Studies (visual methodologies, media culture, visual culture & gender)
• Organizing teaching in Master Schools
• International and collaborative teaching: E.g., Workshop for illustration, Pécs university, 12.–19.5.2012, in collaboration with Leena Raappana-Luiro; Research seminars, University of Aveiro, 2011–2022 , in collaboration with Leena Raappana-Luiro and Rui Raposo; Workshops for memory work and photography, Iceland Academy of the Arts, in collaboration with Outi Ylitapio-Mäntylä and Asta Jonsdottir, 2010–2012
• Several Erasmus+ Teacher Exchanges; e.g. in Polytechnic University of Milan, 11. –16.10.2022; University of Aveiro, 10.–18.5.2022; Isik University, 1.–12.10.2015

12. Awards and honours

• Awards, prizes and honours granted for scientific, artistic, research or professional merits or on the basis of an academic career:
• University of Lapland, Reward for high level artistic work, 2011, 3000 €
• University of Lapland, Reward for high level scientific research, 2011, 1250 €
• Nordplus & CIRRUS, Media & Design Education network, Grant for Cultural Sustainability & Photography Workshop, 1.10-31-12.2011, 10 800 €
• Article of the year, Finnish Association for Gender Studies (SUNS), 2010

13. Other key academic merits:

• Memberships and positions of trust in scientific communities
• 2023 Chair in Gulag Film Seminar, University of Lapland, 22.4.2023
• 2022 Chair in Gender Studies Conference 2022: Feminist Matterings: Indigenous and Arctic engagements, 30.11.–02.12.2022
• 2020-2023 Member of the steering committee, and a chairperson, Action! Project (Project for gender equality in Audiovisual and Film Industries), Department of Film, Aalto University
• Chair in Nordic Design Research Conference, Helsinki, 3.6.–4.6.2019
• 2017 Chair in Kalevala Society’s seminar “Values and ways of seeing”, 27.10.2017, Rovaniemi, Finland

• Memberships in editorial committees for scientific and professional publication series and journals

• 2020-2021 Member of the editorial board, Sukupuolentutkimus (Finnish Journal in Gender Studies)
• 2015- Present Member of the editorial board, RUUKKU – Studies in Artistic Research
• 2005-2012 Member of the editorial board, Finnish Journal of Youth Studies

Position as editor or editor-in-chief:

• Mäkiranta, M, Tolonen, J, & Puuronen, V (eds) (2023), ”Artivism”.  Ruukku – Studies in Artistic Research. (Forthcoming).

• Brusila-Räsänen, R, Mäkiranta, M & Nikula, S (eds) (2019), “Visual Thinking: Theories & Practices”. Lapland University Press, Rovaniemi.

• Mäkiranta, M, Timonen, E & Loukola, M (eds) (2019), “Peripheries in artistic research”. Ruukku – Studies in Artistic Research, Nro 12.

• Mäkiranta, M, Piela, U & Timonen, E (eds) (2017), ”Näkyväksi sepitetty maa: näkökulmia Suomen visualisointiin”. Kalevalaseuran vuosikirja, Nro 96, SKS, Helsinki.

• Mäkiranta, M & Timonen, E (eds) (2016), ”Change and artistic research”. Ruukku – Studies in Artistic Research, Nro 6.

• Mäkiranta, M & Brusila, R (eds) (2006), ”Kuvakulmia: puheenvuoroja kuvista ja kuvallisesta kulttuurista”. Lapland University Press, Rovaniemi

• Mäkiranta, M & Brusila, R (eds) (2010), ”Kuvakulmia. 2, Kirjoituksia kuvista, taiteellisista tuotannoista ja visuaalisista viesteistä”. Lapland University Press, Rovaniemi.

• Mäkiranta, M & Ollila, A (eds) (2011), ”Pohjoisen kulttuurit”. Nuorisotutkimus, vol. 29, Nro 1.

• Mäkiranta, M & Autio, M (eds) 2007, ”Media ja kulutus”, Nuorisotutkimus, vol. 25, Nro 3.

• Referee for scientific publications

• 2022 Referee in Artistic Cartographies and Design for Complexities (Taylor & Francis)
• 2022 Referee in Tahiti (a scientific journal in the field of art history)
• 2020 Referee in Empathy and Business Transformation (Routledge)
• 2020 Referee in Synteesi (Finnish journal in interdisciplinarities in arts)
• 2020 Referee in New Documentaries (Aalto Art Books)
• 2018 Referee in Managing Complexity and Creating Innovation through Design (book published by Taylor & Francis)
• 2017 Referee in Lähikuva (Finnish journal of film and audiovisual culture)
• 2016 Referee in SKS, Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura (referee in a whole book, Finnish Literature Society)
• 2015 Referee in SKS, Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden seura (referee in a whole book, Finnish Literature Society)
• 2014 Referee in International Journal of Cinema
• 2014 Referee in Integrating Media Production (Lapland University Press)
• 2013 Referee in RUUKKU – Studies in Artistic Research
• 2012 Referee in International Journal of Cinema
• 2011 Referee in Naistutkimus / Kvinnoforskning (a Finnish journal for Gender Studies)

• Administrative or working group positions in institutes of higher education and research organisations, higher education community roles, and national and international positions of trust in science and research administration:

• 2022 Member of the faculty committee in nominating professor in Art History
• 2018 –present Member of the jury in Avanca Film Festival and Conference
• 2015 –present Member and vice chair in Ethics Committee at the University of Lapland
• 2013 – present Additional Member of the Faculty Council
• 2003 –2012 Member of the Faculty Council
•2003-2006 Member of the expertise, The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, The Committee of Equality, Department of Research and Development

• Organising scientific conferences

• Organizer of the Gulag Film Seminar, University of Lapland, 22.4.2023
• Organizer of the Artistic Research for Floating Peripheries Conference and Art Event, Rovaniemi, 14.–16.1.2019
• Member of the organizing committee Cumulus Rovaniemi 2019: Around the Campfire, 29.–31.5.2019
• 2015 Chair & member of the organizing committee EFRC – European Feminist Research Conference, 3. – 6.2015, University of Lapland, Rovaniemi, Finland

14. Scientific and societal impact

• Promoting Open science:

I am committed to open publishing. Many of my recent publications are openly available. I have participated in international conferences and to the arrangements, which has enabled disseminating research results in the fields of visual culture research and artistic research. I have organized public art and film events and gallery exhibition that are widely open to public. The exhibitions I have curated, participated and organized have been noticed in in in local newspapers between 2008 and 2022. Museums in the Rovaniemi and Helsinki area have invited me to lecture about my research and give speech in opening ceremonies of the exhibitions (e.g., Tornio’s Art Museum Aine, Rovaniemi City’s Art Museum, University of the Arts & Research Pavillion #4; The Helsinki Art Museum HAM)

• Key positions of trust, expert positions and assignments:

• 2021–Present Member of the advisory board in Northern Photography Center
• 2017 Member of the Kalevala Society (invited)
• 2023– Member of the Association of Photographic Artists (Hippolyte)
• 2023– Member of the Artists’ Association of Lapland

• Merits in research communication and appearing as an expert in the media

• 2023 Lapin Kansa (newspaper) 24.2.2023, Co-Author of the opinion piece about art and environmental activism

• Expert in media, Maaseudun Tulevaisuus (newspaper), 12.8.2022 (Journalist Tuovi Mäkipere), Representations of a farmer

• 2021, Expert in media, Kaleva (newspaper), 10.8.2021(Journalist Anne Helaakoski), Representations of Corona Guys art exhibition

• 2021 Expert in media, Lapin Kansa (newspaper), 30.7.2021 (Journalist Seija Lappalainen), Photography Exhibition in Valve

• 2019 Helsingin Sanomat (newspaper) 10.10.2019, Co Author of the opinion piece, gender equality and safe space

• 2018 Helsingin Sanomat (newspaper) 22.6.2018, Co-Author of the opinion piece about Sodankylä Film Festivals and visibility of female authors

• 2017 Lapin Kansa (newspaper) 20.10.2017 (Journalist Seija Lappalainen), Expert of the gallery exhibition Näkyvä maa / Visible Grounds

• 2017 Lapin Kansa (newspaper) 26.10.2017 (criticism by Richard Kautto), Exhibition criticism of Näkyvä maa / Visible Grounds

• 2015 Kamera-lehti 12/2014 (magazine) (Journalist Anssi Koskinen), Expert of the snap shot photographs in social media

• 2014 Lapin Kansa (newspaper) 11.3.2014 (Journalist Tiia Haapakangas), Article related on post-doctoral studies Young people’s living environments in seven European countries; and gallery exhibition

• 2011 Kirkko & Kaupunki (magazine) 24.8.2011. (Journalist Sari Saaristo); Expert of the memory production and personal photographs

• 2008 Turun Sanomat (newspaper) 10.9.2008. (Journalist Jenni Arbelius); Expert of the image production on IRC-Gallery, Facebook and family photographs; Article related on doctoral thesis

• 2008 Etelä-Saimaa (newspaper) 16.9.2008. (Journalist Marjo Loisa); Expert of visual culture and family photographs; Article related on doctoral thesis

• 2008 Lapin Kansa (newspaper) 5.9.2008. (Journalist Esa I. Järvinen); Expert of family photographs and gendered practises; Article related on doctoral thesis

• 2008 Uusi-Rovaniemi (local newspaper) 5.9.2008; Article related on doctoral thesis

15. Other merits

• Other societal merits and honours: Badge of Merit of the Order of the White Rose of Finland, 2022