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As part of the international artistic exchange between NGO Art Box (Novi Sad, Serbia) and the KulttuuriKauppila Art Centre (Ii, Finland), artists Dragan Vojvodić and Ljiljana Maletin Vojvodić are undertaking an artist-in-residence in the town of Ii starting August 4th, 2025. Their stay is rooted in interdisciplinary artistic research exploring the contemporary layers of identity, ecology, and imagology, engaging with the local context through dialogue with nature and the community.

Identity between Nature and Representation

The artistic project The Meaning of Home takes as its point of departure the understanding of identity as a dynamic, open-ended process – not a fixed category, but a space of negotiation between personal perception, social expectations, and cultural representations. Identity is framed as something that emerges in the in-between: between the individual and the collective, the artistic and the everyday, the local and the global.

The focus is placed on two interconnected identity forms:

Ecological identity – how individuals and communities define themselves in relation to the natural world;

Imagological identity – shaped through cultural imagery, narratives, and stereotypes that frame how one perceives oneself and the “other.”

In the practice of Dragan Vojvodić and Ljiljana Maletin Vojvodić, these identities are not viewed in isolation, but as interwoven lenses through which notions of home, belonging, and responsibility are examined within a new geographical and social environment.

Ii – A Micro-Community with a Macro Vision

Located in northern Finland, approximately 35 km from the city of Oulu (ECoC 2026), the municipality of Ii is home to about 9,000 residents. Known for having one of the shortest place names in the world, the town stands in stark contrast to the long-term ecological vision it upholds.

Ii is among the few European communities that has publicly committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2030. Through the strategic use of renewable energy, strong community engagement, and clear sustainability goals, Ii has positioned itself as a model for small-scale green transition.

Here, nature, culture, and society are not separate domains but mutually reinforcing systems.

KulttuuriKauppila – Art as Active Practice in Community

Founded in 2006 on the banks of the Iijoki River, the KulttuuriKauppila Art Centre emerged from a grassroots initiative led by local artists and community members after a fire destroyed the old school building in 2004. Today, the centre functions as a vibrant hub for contemporary art, ecological practices, and social dialogue.

One of its central programs is the KulttuuriKauppila Artist-in-Residence program, which hosts artists from around the world, providing them with time, space, and support to develop their artistic projects in close interaction with the local environment and community.

A key highlight of the centre’s activities is the Art Ii Biennial, which brings together international artists to create permanent site-specific works in public spaces. The event emphasizes environmentally sustainable materials and working methods, aligning art with ecological awareness.

Works of Art along the Ruustinna Route

The Art Ii Biennial, held every two years in the town of Ii, has since 2008 fostered the creation of a unique collection of contemporary artworks in public spaces. Artists work on site, drawing inspiration from the natural surroundings and engaging directly with the local context.

The artworks along the Ruustinna Route are part of this growing collection. Some pieces are ephemeral, gradually disappearing due to natural processes, while others remain and evolve over time.

Walking the route, visitors encounter works that have become integrated into the daily lives of Ii’s residents—quietly transforming public space and shaping the town’s cultural identity.

Equally significant are participatory projects such as the 65+ exhibition, involving senior citizens in the artistic process, and the Community Art Program, which activates diverse social groups through workshops and collective installations centered on themes of recycling, ecology, and shared responsibility.

The recently held exhibition (from June 11 to July 31, 2025) at the KulttuuriKauppila gallery, titled 65+1 Artistic Works from Ii, is a unique display featuring works by artists from the town of Ii. It includes sculptures, photographs, installations made from skulls and cured fish skin, etc. The exhibition incorporates pieces from the public art collection of the municipality of Ii, along with selected works created specifically for this show. The artists, curated by Tuomo Kangasmaa, with Jetta Huttunen serving as the executive producer, drew inspiration from the landscape, especially the Ii River. Animals, plants, and nature are strongly present in their works, and a sense of belonging to this place is evident.

The exhibition also included participatory workshops and events. In addition to the KulttuuriKauppila gallery, the works were displayed in the church in Iija, JS Burger, and Nelosparki in Kuivaniemi.

Art as Reflection and Responsibility

The residency of the Novi Sad–based artists in Ii goes beyond the framework of artistic production – it becomes a process of deep listening, critical engagement, and shared meaning-making. Through artistic dialogue with the community, the natural environment, and local narratives, the project The Meaning of Home raises fundamental questions:

What does identity look like in an era of ecological, social, and migratory shifts?

How can we meaningfully reimagine the fluid concepts of “identity” and “home”?

In this context, art becomes not only a form of expression, but also a method of investigation, care, and responsibility – a way to imagine sustainable futures rooted in empathy, collaboration, and local knowledge.