Romantic Geographic Society R.G.S.
Documentation, 2012
PRINCIPLES
The Romantic Geographic Society shares knowledge and strives to unite the activities of otherwise isolated workers in the field of exploration and of Romantic geography, and to amplify their voices.
HISTORY
RGS was founded in 1994 after long lasting romantic and geographic activity & field work. It is a hypothetical – poetic construction, a conceptual frame and somehow a working organization. RGS has organized expeditions, picnics and adventurous explorations.
MEMBERSHIP
RGS has only hang around members and members of honor. In practice activities are not based on fixed membership, but on the co-operation with independent operators and other organizations.
ORGANIZATION
RGS is divided at least to the following departments: Department of landscape studies; Bunker dept. (sub dept. of cave department); Camp engineering department/ sub department of camp fire dept.; Catering (picnic) department; Cave research department & department of subterranean landscapes; Department of ancient relics; Department of political geography; Drawing office; Exploration department, sub-department of the executive department of scientific expeditions; Film and documentary propaganda film department; Hiking and wandering dept.; Joke department; Mapping department; Orienteering dept.; Outdoor investigation department; Propaganda department;
Downshifting? The concept is not too familiar as a concept, but there is something familiar which touches me as an artist and human being: There is a supposition that good artist should successfully take part to international art world. The best which could happen to the artist is that one became an internationally known name, part of The Art Jet Set. That needs many things, like lot of traveling by air. So, success means flying, but if I fly, I feel looser, because flying all the time around the world is ecologically and socially irresponsible. As an example: I cannot imagine the situation that all poor 19eing19po and 19eing19 would fly as much as 19eing19pon and north 19eing19pon (and artists) do. I think it’s not possible: cheap oil means wars and we don’t have enough air & sky too. There is no more space for all pollution...etc. So, I rather try to be part of the solution than a problem. Stay calm, stay down!
Artist's Bio:
Jussi Kivi lives and works in Finland. He studied at the University of Art and Design Helsinki in 1976–1978 and at the Finnish Art Academy School in 1978–1982. He walks in the footsteps of old landscape painters. He makes outdoor expeditions on foot and skis and records what he sees and experiences by drawing, photographing, writing and videotaping. His notes record the times, places, weather conditions and maps. They tell of both the ruggedness of nature and traces left by humans. Kivi’s conception of nature is not the opposite of civilization. Instead, it is somewhere between wild nature and human civilization. He has also written a trekking guide for art lovers (Kaunotaiteellinen eräretkeilyopas, 2004). Jussi Kivi’s work has been exhibitedin KIASMA (Helsinki), Veniece Biennalle Pori Art Museum, Kunstverrein Haburg, etc.