Opening Night: Nastja Säde Rönkkö: Survival Guide for a Post-Apocalyptic Child

The official opening night of the award-winning Finnish artist Nastja Säde Rönkkö's exhibition Survival Guide for a Post-Apocalyptic Child (opens a new window) at Fort Burgoyne in Dover on Friday 1 August at 6pm.

Presented by University for the Creative Arts, with support from Arts Council England, The Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland and Frame Finland, this marks the UK premiere of Survival Guide for a Post-Apocalyptic Child, following its successful production by Lönnström Art Museum in 2022 and presentation at Helsinki Art Museum (HAM).

The exhibition features 26 cinematic HD-videos at its core, accompanied by a series of sculptures and a captivating soundscape. Together, they explore practical and emotional survival strategies for the future, inviting viewers to engage with a world at the brink of environmental and societal breakdown. Each piece touches on personal and global crises, blending abstract, poetic narratives with urgent, practical considerations.

Rönkkö, a Helsinki-based artist known for her work in media art, performance, and writing, has received numerous accolades, including Young Artist of the Year in 2019 and the Below Zero Art Prize in 2023. Her art explores the foundations of humanity, social relations, and radical change in today’s era of transformation.

In her own words, Rönkkö reflects on the intent behind her work:

“Survival Guide for a Post-Apocalyptic Child was created for everyone living in this era of radical social upheaval, climate change, and inner transformation. What should we remember about the present era? What should we learn and pass on? How can we dream up new ways of living?”

This exhibition invites a profound exploration of both global crises and personal transformation, urging each of us to consider what it means to survive and thrive in an uncertain future.