Entanglement of the Living

We live in a time marked by simultaneous ecological, political, technological and cultural transformations. These changes unfold as overlapping processes moving at different speeds, shaping societies and environments across different scales.

The Finnish Institute in Japan’s 2027 theme year, Entanglement of the Living, provides a framework for exploring how we can live, observe and act in a world of such uncertainty. How can knowledge and shared understanding be built in a situation where the future can no longer be based on the kind of stability we once took for granted? How do loss, adaptation, repair and care take on meaning in a changing world?

The theme year brings together perspectives from science, art, critical thought and collective practice. As part of this curated programme, Finnish and Japanese researchers, artists, and societal and civic actors examine change through their respective methods and approaches. We bring together diverse perspectives and create new forms of collaboration between Finland and Japan.

We will launch the discussion around the theme year on Wednesday, 25 November 2026, with a hybrid event taking place simultaneously in Finland, Japan and online. We will offer a range of perspectives on the theme and invite you to share your own perspectives. Welcome!

Event details:

Helsinki

Wednesday, 25 November, 10:00–12:00
University of Helsinki, Think Corner
Yliopistonkatu 4, 00100 Helsinki

Tokyo

Wednesday, 25 November, 17:00–19:00
Tokyo Midtown Design Hub
107-6205 Tokyo, Minato-ku, Akasaka 9-7-1, 5F

Online
The event link will be sent to registered participants by email.

Register for the events here.

Programme:

Introduction

Jaakko Nousiainen, Director, Finnish Institute in Japan

Presentations

Helsinki
Ville Lähde, Researcher, BIOS Research Unit
Maiju Suomi, Architect and Researcher, Aalto University

Tokyo
Megumi Naoi, Civic Activist, Ueda Eigeki/Ueda Children’s Cinema Club
Roger MacDonald, Co-founder and Green Team Leader, Arts Initiative Tokyo (AIT); Director, Fenberger House; Director, Tatsue Mingeikan

Discussion

Coffee and tea will be served in Helsinki.
Refreshments will be served in Tokyo.

Speakers:

Ville Lähde, researcher, BIOS Research Unit

Ville Lähde is a researcher at the BIOS Research Unit and an editor of the niin & näin journal. His academic background is in philosophy and environmental policy. In addition to his research, he has been actively involved in teaching, public education and the popularisation of research findings at the interdisciplinary BIOS Research Unit. He has also collaborated with a wide range of professionals and institutions, including educators, journalists, artists and museums.

12 Concepts of the World, a book by Ville Lähde, Tere Vadén and other BIOS researchers, was published in spring 2026.

Maiju Suomi, Architect, PhD Researcher

Maiju Suomi, is an architect (MSc) at Suomi/Koivisto Architects and a doctoral researcher at Aalto University, Finland. In her practice-led research she explores environmental architecture, ethics of care, and the bridging of nature and culture through multisensory spatial experiences. She is the lead designer of the award-winning Alusta Pavilion, presented at the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of la Biennale di Venezia. 

Megumi Naoi (Ueda Children’s Cinema Club / Grassroots Culture and Arts Coordinator)

Born in Ueda, Nagano Prefecture, Megumi Naoi worked for international cooperation NGOs and environmental NPOs before returning to her hometown following the birth of her child. Since 2017, she has been involved in the revitalisation of Ueda Eigeki, a cinema with a 100-year history. At the cinema, she launched the Ueda Children’s Cinema Club, which provides a new place of belonging and learning for children who find it difficult to attend school. She is also involved with several NPOs, including initiatives promoting theatrical exchanges on environmental issues between young people in Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia. Her work moves between cultural and artistic activities and grassroots activism.

Roger McDonald (Co-founder of Arts Initiative Tokyo [AIT], NPO; Green Team Leader; Director of Fenberger House and Tazue Folk Art Museum)

Born in Tokyo in 1971, Roger McDonald was educated in the UK and holds a PhD in the history of contemporary art and mysticism. He has curated numerous exhibitions, including the Yokohama Triennale 2001, Singapore Biennale 2006 and Museum of Together 2017. A founding member of Arts Initiative Tokyo (AIT), he led its educational programme for 25 years. From 2002 to 2014, he taught at art universities. In 2013, he established Fenberger House in Mochizuki, Nagano Prefecture, where he has organised workshops and initiatives including the Record Sandwich Club and the Mochizuki Civic Recovery Centre. In 2024, he became Director of the Tazue Folk Art Museum. He published Deep Looking in 2022. Active in climate action in the arts sector since 2018, he established the advocacy collective ACCJ at AIT in 2024.

Register for the events here.

The events will be held in English and Japanese.