Finno-Ugric Comics and Films in the Space of Opportunity
Exhibition, Workshop, and Film Screening in Cooperation with Finnagora
On October 3, the exhibition of comics created by Finnish artist Sanna Hukkanen and various Finno-Ugric minorities opened with a lecture by the artist herself. Between 2015 and 2019, as part of the Living Language community art project, Sanna visited Finno-Ugric minorities in Finland, Norway, Estonia, and Russia, where she introduced them to the Grassroot Comics method. The Sámi, Mansi, Mari, and other peoples carefully preserve their cultures and languages; for these communities, comics written in their own languages became an important form of expression.
The following day, 15 participants had the opportunity to try this method themselves at the Space of Opportunity. Under Sanna’s guidance, they created comic pages addressing their own community issues, ranging from the long journey of the Roma people to pollution of the Danube, emigration from Hungary, and even critiques of the Hungarian government’s “family-friendly” propaganda.
The exhibition concluded on October 30 with a film screening, offering an even deeper insight into the contemporary everyday lives of Finno-Ugric minorities. The entire program was realized in cooperation with FinnAgora – the Finnish Institute in Hungary.
Grassroots comics are made by activists and minorities who want to get their voices heard. Grassroots comics is a method developed by World Comics Finland. It has been used widely by NGOs and minority groups as a tool for social and ecological change. The power of comics rises from the alliance of images and words. Grassroots comics have been used in human rights campaigns, environmental activism and development cooperation around the world.
Sanna Hukkanen has been active in World Comics Finland for twenty years and has organised workshops for minority language activists, asylum seekers, people with disabilities and different NGOs in Finland, Russia, Scandinavian countries, Estonia and Tanzania. Her own graphic stories dive into the mossy forests, to the roots of ancient trees and to journeys to the edges of the world.
