The topic of my doctoral research in art history is esotericism and alternative spirituality in Finnish contemporary art of the 2010s and 2020s. During the 20th century, individually oriented spirituality began to separate from traditional religiosity and gained cultural significance. This development led to the emergence of what is often referred to as alternative or new spiritualities, which forms the broader framework for my research. Esotericism has played a significant role in this process.

In my research, I explore esotericism and alternative spirituality as multifaceted phenomena in contemporary art. Esotericism is connected to contemporary art through, for example, the recognition and use of esoteric imagery, corporeality, and the depiction of invisible phenomena such as spiritual experiences. Various distanced approaches, including humor and nostalgia, can also be present in how these themes are addressed.

I am also interested in how esotericism intersects with current discussions in art and ecology, especially within the context of posthumanist approaches. Methodologically, I combine art historical analysis of selected artworks with theoretical frameworks from the study of esotericism and alternative spirituality.

The doctoral research is funded by Jenny and Antti Wihuri foundation.