Coexistence

More-than-human beings have been a central focus in my practice for several years. My previous works have explored various animal species - dogs, pigs, fish, insects, and birds - through installations that combine photography, video, performance, and sound. While it’s true that animals may never see my work, the goal has always been to shift human perspectives. I’m not here to preach or guilt-trip anyone, as I believe that approach doesn’t get us anywhere. Instead, I aim to spark an emotional response - one that encourages viewers to think, feel, and reflect. I want to draw people in with beauty, abstraction, and playfulness, creating a space where difficult subjects, like the climate crisis and animal rights, can be approached in a more accessible and intimate way.

Take, for example, my installation “Pai” at the WAM Art Museum. This piece included a new habitat for an aquarium fish, photographs, video, and performative action. I wanted to tell the story of one of the museum’s fish as a representation of life in captivity. I named the fish Pai. Pai's journey began in Taiwan, passed through a medical centre aquarium, and eventually ended in Turku, Finland, at the art museum. A parrot-cichlid hybrid, Pai was a human-made creature. Originally bright orange, Pai’s color faded as it became sick.

In response, I created a brighter, more vibrant environment for Pai in the museum’s aquarium. Slowly, it regained some of its color. But after six months, Pai passed away.

Together with my teenage daughter and niece, we held a funeral for Pai on Yyteri Beach, Finland. The small amount of ash that remained is now scattered across the Bothnian Sea - and perhaps beyond.

For my commission “Milky Way” at the PhotoIreland Festival, I focused on the practice of separating young calves from their mothers shortly after birth and sending them to slaughter. The heart-wrenching image of unweaned calves being transported in crates or trucks haunted me, and I wanted to address this reality in a subtle, non-violent way. In the installation, structures holding soft fabrics symbolized the actual size of the transport containers used for these animals. The material choice and the immersive nature of the installation were designed to evoke a sensory experience, allowing viewers to engage with the subject on a deeper level while reflecting on the ethical and environmental consequences of mass animal agriculture.

By creating emotionally charged environments that balance beauty with discomfort, I seek to open spaces for reflection and dialogue. I believe that love and empathy, as languages, can break down the barriers that separate us from the rest of nature. This, I think, is essential if we are to move toward a more compassionate coexistence.

Hertta Kiiski is part of Issue 17 by Guest Editor Torbjørn Rødland.

Check out her Artist Feature Plasticenta.