Empowerment through Playing: Playing with Roles, Photos, Texts, Memories, Cards,  and Co-players

Seija Ulkuniemi

Seija Ulkuniemi

Abstract

In this visual essay, I present some key thoughts that were essential for the birth of my visual-pedagogical installation The Presence of the Absentâ€”The Memory Game (1998). This photo-installation is a playful window into my life; a constant trial to intertwine my multiple roles. Being a woman, a devoted art educator, a researcher, a wife, a friend, and a mother of three children, making art in my case means combining all of these aspects in my work. The Memory Game consists of 40 pairs of cards with photos and texts (see Figure 1). It plays with issues of growing up as a girl using photographs and memory work to explore the fugitive borderline between private and public.

Author Biography

Seija Ulkuniemi

Seija Ulkuniemi is Doctor of Arts (Art & Design) and Master of Education. Since 1997 she has been working as senior lecturer in art education at classroom teacher training in the University of Lapland. She has also worked as professor in art education for a year. She designs and teaches courses in the fields of art pedagogy, the means of picture making, media education as well as knowledge of art (art history). Her work also includes mentoring the fist year and the final practice of the prospective classroom teachers. Her motto is: â€See your own worth, and give value also to your neighbour.â€ Her main aim in teaching is to be able to act as a catalyst, creating the conditions for growing as a person/teacher. Thus the students have a chance to find and create something new (in themselves, in others and in world around them, including art) in a safe atmosphere that respects personal diversity. She has written several articles and given many lectures about art pedagogy and family photography. Some of her papers presented in InSEA-congresses have also been published in English. She has been participating in university teacher exchange in Norway, Iceland, Great Britain, Spain, and United States of America. She has been active in making art, especially installations involving photographs, since year 1996, when her first installation dealing with family photography The Enchanted Carpet of Holy Daily Life, was exhibited. Correspondence regarding this article should be addressed to the author at Seija.Ulkuniemi@ulapland.f