Sculpt your Finnish
Artist workshop with Özgü Gündeşlioğlu
Date: 12.11.2025
Time: 16:00 – 18:00
Catalysti + Vuotalo come together this Fall 2025 for a series of 6 artist-led workshops celebrating dance, drawing and sound, zine-making, language understood through clay, symbols of protection, and mushroom imaginations.
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Can language be understood through clay? What does the word lämmin (warm) feel like in your hands? Is rauhallinen (calm) smooth or textured? Can you sculpt the koti (home)?
In this clay-based workshop, we explore the Finnish language not with textbooks or teachers, but with clay. We’ll use our hands to feel our way into words, transforming feelings and meanings into tactile forms. No right or wrong answers here; just curious, playful exploration.
Together, we’ll build a temporary, collaborative sculpture where your personal word-sculptures meet and mingle with others, just like words in a conversation. You’ll practice Finnish in a relaxing, low-pressure way, surrounded by the gentle, forgiving nature of unfired clay.
Come with a willingness to get a little messy and leave with a new, sensory connection to the Finnish language.
Image credit: Özgü Gündeşlioğlu
Participants: This workshop is designed for adult learners of Finnish at basic to intermediate levels (A1-B2). It is a space for peer-to-peer practice among non-native speakers. Although facilitated in Finnish, it is not intended for native speakers. If necessary instructions can be given in English.
Age: Adults (18+)
Number: 8-12
How long should the participants commit for? A single 2-hour workshop
Cover Illustration ©Dahlia El Broul
More images from the day!
Image credit: Aman Askarizad
Image credit: Aman Askarizad