Street Art and Sustainability: An Interview with the co-Curator of Kosmos Festival
Artists, ever wondered how your incredible vision can also nurture our planet? The call for eco-friendly art is growing louder, transforming creative landscapes and sparking vital conversations.
Join us as we dive deep into this evolving world with Veera Vartiainen, the visionary co-curator of Kosmos Festival and a true creative trailblazer. Guiding our exploration is Veronika Vegesent, Vice Chair and a sustainability leader of the Helsinki International Artists community, helping shape a future where art and ecological responsibility thrive together.
Prepare to hear directly from an expert who isn't afraid to challenge the status quo and share the raw realities of making art more eco-conscious.
Artist spotlight: Veera Vartiainen (website).Vegesent: Veera, you're a true creative all-rounder. Tell us, what initially sparked your journey into the world of sustainable art, especially through your work with the Kosmos Festival?
Veera: My connection to Kosmos goes way back, over a decade. It's always been this incredible playground for my wildest ideas. Last summer, for instance, we created a site-specific installation using fish leather, pushing for completely plastic-free production.
What I quickly discovered was just how challenging it is. It truly opened my eyes to the sheer volume of plastic the art process demands. And honestly, it felt like too big a burden. Artists already struggle so much just to survive, so taking on this huge ecological cause on top of everything else can feel overwhelming.
Vegesent: That burden is something many artists feel deeply. But you also mentioned a sense of responsibility. How do we reconcile that feeling of overwhelming responsibility with the practicalities artists face?
Veera: It's a paradox, right? We have this immense responsibility as artists to lead the way ecologically, but the reality is tough. The key, I believe, is to drop the "black and white" thinking. We need to be more encouraging, softer in our approach.
This isn't about shaming anyone for not being perfect. It's about building a community where we openly share information – even the "secrets" of plastic-free processes. It requires cooperation, looking beyond political divides, and moving past the polarized communication we see everywhere today. Because, ultimately, if we value the art, if we value the creative process, taking up this challenge adds so much more value to everything.
Vegesent: You've worked with diverse festivals. Do these larger platforms, like galleries and festivals, genuinely inspire change within the cultural community, or is it more complex?
Veera: Absolutely, they play a huge role. I had an experience at a different festival in Lapland – Solstice and Kosmos.
I’ve been fortunate to work within a range of cultural environments — from more free-spirited, alternative settings to highly formal, established institutions — each with its own production methods and budget realities.
In my experience, there’s a genuine desire for change across the board. However, since nearly everything in our industry still relies on plastic, what you’re able to achieve often comes down to budget.
It’s also very easy to prioritise other issues over reducing plastic use, as the idea of being 100% plastic-free can feel almost impossible. That’s why we need to move away from black-and-white thinking and instead focus on step-by-step progress.
What matters is a sincere commitment to gradually seek out more ecological solutions for our creative practices.
Vegesent: It sounds like you value credibility deeply in materials. But do you also pay attention to other properties, or is it solely about being eco-friendly? And how do we tackle this pursuit of "perfection" in sustainability?
Veera: Credibility is definitely important, and it's a process. I started with recycled materials, then moved to supposedly "biologically branded" products, only to find they were 30% plastic! It's a constant learning curve.
The most crucial thing is to have a goal and be gentle with yourself. Don't be black and white, thinking, "Oh my god, this piece isn't ecological if there's glue in the plywood." We need to drop the perfectionism. It's too much otherwise.
Why do we demand 100% in ecological conversations? It’s idiotic. Nothing is 100% sustainable. Can you show me an artist who never uses the internet, or gasoline? It’s about being sensible. Let’s make that kind of stupid argumentation unfashionable. '
Let’s own the narrative, be soft, and not shame anyone. We can all try in our own comfortable way.
Artist spotlight: Veera Vartiainen (website) featuring #1: Forever isn't endless afterall ( edition 7/15 ) from Vector Meditation series. #2: Portal of Datanomes in Solstice Festival 2024Vegesent: That's a vital message. Many artists fear judgment for not being perfectly sustainable. So, how can we truly reframe sustainable choices as possibilities, not limitations?
Veera: It’s all about the way we communicate. Let's own the term "sustainable art" to mean "art that tries to be sustainable." We need to normalize the journey, not just the impossible ideal. Look at how Western culture has reframed beauty standards; we now appreciate diverse body types.
Let's apply that same logic to sustainability: we can all try to be sustainable in our own comfortable way. Don't lower yourself to polarized "yes or no" arguments. It’s a slow, frustrating process sometimes, but like any artistic practice, you learn more and more with patience. Don't be too hard on yourself if something isn't perfect this time; you've learned something important for next time.
Vegesent: Beyond the material and the ethical, you speak a lot about resilience. How does that quality, often forged through life’s tougher experiences, apply to being an artist, especially an eco-conscious one?
Veera: Being an artist, especially self-employed, builds a unique kind of resilience. You learn that "everything is sh!t all the time" – there’s constant uncertainty, no guaranteed income. You have to grind, little by little, and learn to find happiness in small details.
My personal trick for achieving dreams? Understanding it happens incrementally. You don't just set a goal like "$10,000 in a year" and expect it. It's the daily grind, the small steps. This perspective is vital for sustainable art, too. It’s a long game, a continuous process of learning and adapting, much like navigating an unpredictable artistic career or indeed, an unpredictable world.
Top 10 Tips for Eco-Conscious Artists
from Kosmos Festival co-curator Veera Vartiainen
Embrace the Journey, Not Perfection: Don't aim for 100% sustainable art from day one. It's a continuous learning process. Be gentle with yourself and acknowledge that every small step counts.
Drop "Black and White" Thinking: Avoid rigid, all-or-nothing attitudes towards sustainability. Focus on progress and continuous improvement rather than immediate flawlessness.
Prioritize Community & Open Sharing: Collaborate with fellow artists and actively share information, techniques, and "secrets" for plastic-free or eco-friendly processes. Collective knowledge makes the burden lighter.
Reframe Sustainability as Possibility, Not Limitation: See sustainable choices as opportunities for new creative avenues and expressions, rather than constraints on your artistic vision.
Challenge the Narrative of Perfection: Help reshape the understanding of "sustainable art" to mean "art that tries to be sustainable." Fight against the idea that one must be perfectly eco-friendly to contribute.
Seek Out Demanding Platforms: Look for festivals, galleries, or clients that specifically require ecological materials and practices. These demands, especially when coupled with fair pay, can be powerful motivators for change and learning.
Be Realistic About Practicalities: Acknowledge that maintaining perfect eco-practices in real-world scenarios (like festival installations) can be challenging. Be honest about limitations but always strive for improvement.
Develop Resilience: The artistic path is unpredictable, much like the journey of sustainability. Cultivate resilience, learn to adapt, and find joy in small achievements along the way.
Lead by Gentle Example: Instead of engaging in polarized debates, communicate your sustainable practices softly and educationally. Inspire others through your actions and open perspective.
Value Your Work & Demand Fair Compensation: As entrepreneurs, artists deserve proper payment. Don't be ashamed to ask for what your work is worth, especially when incorporating the added value of sustainable practices. This financial recognition helps make sustainable choices more feasible.
Artist spotlight: Veera Vartiainen (website) featuring Eaglelity (edition 1/15) from Vector Meditation series.
And so, to all artists reading this: embrace the journey. Every conscious choice, every experiment, every shared insight brings us closer to a truly sustainable art world. Be gentle with yourselves, fierce in your purpose, and remember that your art has the power to inspire not just beauty, but vital change. Keep creating, keep learning, keep leading.
🌿Follow Veronika on social media and be part of the discussion on responsible art choices.
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