Finnish artist creates Survival Guide for a Post-Apocalyptic Child at Fort Burgoyne, Dover
This immersive large-scale exhibition delves into the uncertain future facing humankind
Award-winning Finnish video artist Nastja Säde Rönkkö presents her thought-provoking installation Survival Guide for a Post-Apocalyptic Child at the historic Fort Burgoyne in Dover, from 1st - 31st August to 2025.
This immersive large-scale exhibition delves into the uncertain future facing humankind and all living beings, challenging viewers to reflect on survival strategies in an increasingly precarious world.
The exhibition features 26 cinematic HD-videos at its core, accompanied by a series of sculptures and a captivating soundscape. Together, they explore practical and emotional survival strategies for the future, inviting viewers to engage with a world at the brink of environmental and societal breakdown.
The videos range from guidance on finding food in the wild, surviving a heartbreak to speculative visions of life on other planets. Each piece touches on personal and global crises, blending abstract, poetic narratives with urgent, practical considerations.
Curated by Arly Bean, with support from Arts Council England, The Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland and FRAME, this marks the UK premiere of Survival Guide for a Post-Apocalyptic Child, following its successful production by Lönnström Art Museum in 2022 and presentation at Helsinki Art Museum (HAM). The exhibition will be shown at Fort Burgoyne, with additional satellite screenings and events at The Live Art Development Agency (London), Quench Gallery (Margate), Prospect Cottage (Dungeness), and Folkestone Triennial Fringe.
Rönkkö, a Helsinki-based artist known for her work in media art, performance, and writing, has received numerous accolades, including Young Artist of the Year in 2019 and the Below Zero Art Prize in 2023. Her art explores the foundations of humanity, social relations, and radical change in today’s era of transformation.
In her own words, Rönkkö reflects on the intent behind her work: "Survival Guide for a Post-Apocalyptic Child was created for everyone living in this era of radical social upheaval, climate change, and inner transformation. The underlying idea behind the piece is that an unstoppable chain of events affecting all life on Earth has already begun. An irreversible political, social, or environmental chain reaction has thrust us into the midst of a world-changing event. What should we remember about the present era? What should we learn and pass on? How can we dream up new ways of living?"
This exhibition invites a profound exploration of both global crises and personal transformation, urging each of us to consider what it means to survive and thrive in an uncertain future.
Dates: 1st - 31st August 2025, Thursday to Sunday 10-5pm
Venue: Fort Burgoyne, Dover, UK
