Wild Blue / Smell of Us - Eeva-Liisa Puhakka
Eeva-Liisa Puhakka ( Finland )
During Eeva-Liisa's two-month residency at ZK/U, she developed a new chapter of her long-term olfactory project. What if smell could carry a message—not just through space, but across cultures, power structures, and time? The project, which began under the name "Smell of Us," has since evolved in both name and concept. It explores smell not merely as a sense, but as a force—a sociocultural language that shapes how we perceive authority, form identities, and navigate social hierarchies.
During the residency, she also worked on the "Wild Blue (I–III)" media art series, which delves into several interconnected narratives: the mythic and cultural heritage of primordial cows; the Latvian Blue cow-an ancient breed with deep cultural significance and a legendary past in Latvia; the process of de-domestication, exploring what happens when domesticated cows return to the wild; and a reflection on shifting agricultural landscapes in Finland, considering the broader implications for rural life and other species.
Eeva-Liisa holds a w.orking grant of the Arts Promotion Center Finland.
