Besenhorster Sandberge fairies

Besenhorster Sandberge ruin area is in the outskirts of Hamburg.

In the days of second world war there was a nazi gunpowder factory with it's slave workers. 

The factory was bombed in the war and today the ruins are surrounded by forest.  

In this picturescue project  these forest ruins were photographed and renamed with

romantic names in the spirit of Schubert and other important german romantics.

The photographing project was a part of the exhibition and research project

 "Mapping a City, Hamburg Kartierung"  and it was shown atKunstverein in Hamburg 

 from november 2003 to february 2004. Photos: Jussi Kivi

House of Enigmas

Haus der Rätsel

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Dwarfhouse

Zwergenhaus

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Tree of Knowing

Baum des Wissen

Hottentot House

Hottentottenhaus

The Pavillon

Pavillon

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Wanderer's Path

Plad der Wanderer

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Dorgarn - the uninhabited areas of Finland part 2 a

RGS camping and mapping department/ Jussi Kivi 1991

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Installation in Ars Fennica 2009 exhibition

Dead spruce - dead pine, installation view (detail)

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Forest edge - primeval forest in moonlight (detail)

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First snow - small forest pond in the boreal forest belt surrounded by old forest and gradually being taken over by swamp vegetation in the moonlight after a snowfall.

Installation by Jussi Kivi in the exhibition Ars Fennica 2009 in Contemporary Art Museum Kiasma, Helsinki.

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Cave 1242 "Theater", Kivikko, Helsinki

Photo: Jussi Kivi

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"Korsvikin kirkko" - Korsvik Church",  Ground plan of a half-cave under huge erratic boulders near Loviisa, Finland.  Explanations: 1= camp fire site, 2= path to the sea (100m)

Cave research department/ Jussi Kivi

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Sewer Rat, Herttoniemi, Helsinki

photo: Jussi Kivi 2007

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An Expedition to the Little Night River 1995

In August 1995 a group of finnish, russian and komi biologists and artists mounted a joint expedition to the Voi-Vozh river valley in Komi, North Western Urals. 

The Voi-Vozh river runs between the Pechora plains and the Urals Mountains. It's a low tributary of the River Bol'shaya Synya which runs to river Usa, which in turn is a tributary of the Pechora River. In the Komi language, the points of the compass and the times of day are indicated with parallel constructions. The small southern branch of the river is called Day-River: the northern branch  is the Night-River.

The area is closed in by thick impassable forest, and is therefore entirely uninhabited.  It constitutes the single largest area of untouched forest on the European side of the continent. This remote and lonely region is dominated by dark forests, bogs, mountains, wild animals and millions of blackflies. Here, the human species (homo sapiens) exerts minimal influence. 

The place therefore affords unique opportunities for obseving  and studying "The UNTOUCHED."  

     The artistic aim of the expedition was to study untouched, pristine nature as a mytchical concept. This entailed viewing expedition itself as a mythical rite converging on pristine nature. The scientific interests focused on botany, zoology, ornithology, ecology and hydrobiology. Homever, the environment seemed supremely indifferent to our aims!

The expedition was organised by Pori Art Museum, Frame - finnish fund for art exhange and Komi University/ Biological department ( Syktyvkar. The Artistic results of the project was presented as a part of the exhibition "Strangers in the Arctic" 

in Rundetaar, Gopenhagen, The Art Museum of Atheneum, Helsinki and The Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto. (1996-97)

Map: Ural mountains and Pechora plains in the surroundings

of River Voi-Vozh and River Vangyr. 1995

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The horizon of Urals from north to south-east seen from the point: 65°57N/55°58E

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Geological formations remind an ancient fortress,

 or a nose of a petrified Nenets soldier.

Jussi Kivi 1995-96

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Melancholic evening at Voi-Vozh River

by the edge of Ural mountains and Pechora plains.

On the way to Pechora, river meanderings seen from the aeroplane.

Panorama Urals 270°,  from west to south

RGS exploration dept. / J. Kivi

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 Sorbus Aucuparia (Uralin Pihlaja), Pinus Sibirica

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Vuosaari Wall, Helsinki, November 2006 

Wasteland department/ Department of Landscape Studies, photo: Jussi Kivi 

(for Albrecht Dürer)

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Ormusmäki hill, Malmi, Helsinki, caves  and battle trenches quarried into rock 

Department of caves and  bunkers,  Jussi Kivi 2006

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Salvation, Jussi Kivi,  2006

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The Uninhabited areas of Finland part 7: Hindsby Forest 1977-1989, 

The Map: Jussi Kivi 1991

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Forest in moonshine, photograph, Jussi Kivi 2005

(Dedicated to Caspar David Friedrich)

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The Coffee Map: Hietasaari - Pajusaari islands, camp site and rowing routes, Pajusaarenselkä, Lake Saimaa, Taipalsaari, Finland,  pencil, dark roasted coffee.  Jussi Kivi 1997

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Meiko (Dorgarn), Kirkkonummi, Finland

" The German romantic artist Oliver Kochta is photographing waterfall in Meiko woods"

End of april 1999, (photo: J.K.) Backwoods & Wilderness archives Nr. 35

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T. Kontinen RGS member of honour, photographed in the wild light of sunset

Repokaira Wilderness, Inari, Lappland

Wilderness & Backwoods archive Nr.  107 (photo: JK)

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Meiko, Kirkkonummi, Finland

 The official first of may camp in Meiko woods 

Backwoods & Wilderness archive Nr. 57 (Photo: JK. 2000)

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Elimyssalo, old camp site in the vicinity of Saunaniemi, 1990

Wilderness & Backwoods dept. Nr. 2

Elimyssalo, camp site in the morning, near by Saunaniemi, Kuhmo, Finland 1990

Wilderness & Backwood dept. Nr. 3 (photos: J.Kivi) 

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Salamanperä, Koirajärvi ( The Dog Lake) 1977

Wilderness & Backwoods photo archive Nr. 6

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Report from the RGS & SEG conference 2008

Next morning walk trought the bushes

The Late night presentation session

  The Jamal Peninsula botanic presentation  

The Openinig ceremonies at rock table, the official RGS meeting place in Vartiosaari island.

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Explorations in a Completed World

First Joint World Conference and Summer Seminar of the Romantic 
Geographic Society (R.G.S.) and the School of Esoteric Geography (S.E.G.)
Vartiosaari Island, Helsinki, Finland, august, 2008

The seminar was a perfect succes.  The program started at afternoon and continued until 2am. and then it was time for sauna. We heard several intensive an exciting presentations from passionate amateurs and professional researchers; artists, photographers , writers, explorers and intruders, geographist, botanists, archaeologists etc.

Program consisted following topics:

Presentations of the activities and philosophy of both Romantic Geography and Esoteric geography, Urban exploration in Finland and Baltic states, Botanic research in Jamal Peninsula, Fortress and bunker archaelogy,  Borderland business  in Africa, Photographic documentation of wastelands and chancing landscapes in between,  Expeditions in the Finnish Archipelago etc.  

(photos: Tellervo Kalleinen)

Sights of East-Helsinki part 1;  Mustavuori and Vuosaari wasteland (former dump).

Exploration and mapping dept. ( J.Kivi 2005)

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Cave survey, Korppivuori cave, Pesolansaari, Finland 

pencil  J. Kivi, 1996-97

EXHIBITIONS 2005 -2008

Department for Studies of Unusual Light Phenomena (detail)

The Mystery of Professor Lemström - A Northern light Project by Oliver Kochta - Kalleinen

"Supernaturalism 2", Momentum - 4th Nordic Festival of  Contemporary Art, 

Moss, Norway 2006

Front: Samples from the RGS collection of romantic objects

Background: Materials from RGS underground departments 

( cave research dept & department of subterranean landscapes)

Samples from RGS backwoods & wilderness department photo archive

RGS Collection in the exhibition: 

 "Friction and Conflicts", Kalmar Art Museum, Sweden 2008

(Propaganda dept.  J.Kivi, O.Kohta-Kalleinen)

Installation view (detail)

Samples from the RGS collection of romantic objects

Wilderness & Backwoods photo archive (detail)

"Supernaturalism 2", Momentum - 4th Nordic Festival of  Contemporary Art, 

Moss, Norway 2006 (J.Kivi, O. Kochta-Kalleinen)

"Lemström museum", Department of strange light phenomenon, (northern light project by O.Kochta-Kalleinen)

Installation view (detail)

Supernaturalism I 

 Lönnström museum, Rauma, Finland 2005

RGS propaganda department: Jussi Kivi, Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen, Tero Kontinen

Crossing the great swamp, Repoaapa, Sompio, Finland  1981

RGS/ Backwoods & Wilderness archive nr.81 (J.Kivi)

Pihlajavesi, Saimaa lake district, Finland,  rowing routes and camp sites 

watercolour, ink, RGS mapping dept. / outdoor investigations department  

 (Jussi Kivi 2005)

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The Geese hunters plastic tee-pee, Martimoaapa marshlands, Autumn 1984

Rgs Wilderness & Backwoods archives Nr.7 / Outdoor investigations department / Documentation dept. (photo: J. Kivi)

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Pötsönpuro Camp in moonshine, November 1990

Text: General description of the campsite near Pötsönpuro creek in dark spruce forest in the north side of Jeremiaanrasi in Elimyssalo backwoods, Kuhmo, Finland, RGS wilderness & backwoods dept. / Hiking and wandering department 1997 (JK)

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Landscape study, Dorgarn, Kirkkonummi, Finland, 

profile from west south west  to east north east, forest, small open swamps, swampy forest, low rocky dry pine woods, two small lakes, old camp sites

scale 1:1000, pencil on millimeter paper, J.Kivi 1997

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MEIKO - LAPPTRÄSK - DORGARN  The Uninhabited Areas of Finland part 12: 

Mapping Dept. / Backwoods & Wilderness Dept.

Field studies 1977-  The map: 1992-97 watercolour, ink  (J. Kivi)

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Caves 1034, 1035, Ormusmäki, Malmi, Helsinki

Cround plan,  basic drawing from ministery of defence underground mapping project 1937-39

(Finnish war archives), updated by J.Kivi 2005

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Vuosaari wall, Helsinki, april 2007

RGS/ Department of Landscape Studies, photo: Jussi Kivi

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Cave 1243, Kivikko, Helsinki, cround plan

Basic drawing from ministery of defence underground mapping project 1937-39 

(Finnish war archives), updated by J.Kivi 2005

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Cave 1425

Mustikkamäki (Blueberry Hill), Kontula, Helsinki, profiles

 J. Kivi 2006

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Cave 1425, Mustikkamäki (Blueberry Hill), Kontula, Helsinki

Department of subterranean landscapes, photo: Jussi Kivi 2002

Cave 1222, Kivikko, Helsinki, ground plan and profiles

JK 2003-2005

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Cave dept. 

Profile Sketches, cave 1245, "Theater", Kivikko, Helsinki

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F o r e s t   o n   a   m o v e  

Landscape dept. photo: Jussi Kivi 2003

Dedicated to Max Ernst

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Cave Dept. Cross-section sketch  of a natural cave, Korppivuori, Pesolansaari Island, Finland

Handwritten markings (translation from finnish): "The scale, Korppivuori, upper cave, cross-section of a cave, camp fire site, entrance."

Scraped on photographic paper, Jussi Kivi 1996

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RGS/Wilderness & backwoods archives nr.54.

 Mysterious abandoned lean to camp in Hammastunturi Wilderness.

Following things were found from the camp:

Camping matress, pullower (wool), Camel boots (in good condition), 

snowspate, kettle, spoon, knife, FOOD: severeal bags instant soup etc. 

dry dog food, hair schampoo, soap

Photo: JK. sept 1998 

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RGS/Wilderness & backwoods archives nr. 18  

Kirakkajärvi, Hammastunturi Wilds, Inari, Finland,  September 1994

Theatrical Landscape, quarry, Ahvensaari island, Finland.

Landscape Department/Wasteland dept. photo Jussi Kivi 2007

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Cave Research Department: Ground plan and profiles of cave (bunker) 1242, Kivikko, Helsinki.  Ground drawing from 1938 ( Finnish war museum). Additional study and markings by RGS cave dept./Jussi Kivi 3.12.05 

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Department of Subterranean Landscapes:

 Ice stalagmits in a cave 

photo: Jussi Kivi 2006

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Muutamia Romantic Geographic Societyn toimintaperiaatteita:

- Maantieteellisiin alueisiin, ilmansuuntiin ja paikkoihin liittyvien mielikuvien,   

   ennakkokäsitysten ja arvojen tutkiminen. 

- Reippaan  ja tervehenkisen leirielämän edistäminen. 

- Pedagoginen toiminta luonnonkauneuden ymmärryksen ulottamiseksi   

  yhteiskuntaan.    

- Edistyksellinen nostalgia.

- Harhailu ja laiskottelu luonnon helmassa.

- Ajan ja paikan tajun  kehittäminen.

- Kauneuden ja haaveellisuuden palvonta.

- Kohdistumattoman kaipuun ilmaiseminen

- Maailmanlaajuisen emotionaalisen luontosuhteen edistäminen paikallistasolla.

- Käsitteellinen ekoterrorismi ja sabotaashi jne.

 - Taiteen alistaminen luonnon havaitsemista ja runollista kokemista syventävien   

   päämäärien poliittiseksi välineeksi.

 - Nationalismin sekä kaikenlaisen imperialismin vastustaminen.

  - Epä-älyllisen ja akateemisuuteen luutuneen lukeneiston vastustaminen.

 - Tieteen ja taloudellisen toiminnan ymmärtäminen tunteelliseksi toiminnaksi siltä  

   pohjalta että ns. tunteettomuuskin on tunnetila.

  - Epäsovinnaisen mielikuvituksen kannattaminen sovinnaisen    

   mielikuvituksettomuuden vastapainona ja ilmankin sitä.

  - Yhteiskunnallinen valveutuneisuus ja hereilläolo edellä mainitulta pohjalta.

  - Luonnonelämän salaperäisyyden tunnistaminen ja tuon ilmiön tunnustaminen    

   ylevän lähteeksi jne.

- Perifeerisen rikkauden ja moniarvoisuuden puolustaminen keskustan hallintaa vastaan.

Mapping Dept. Three Lakes With Surroundings, Vihti, Espoo, The Uninhabited Areas of Finland  (Drawing: Jussi Kivi 1992).

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