Nordic decadence visited Käsmu

On August 26–28, 2025, a workshop was held at the Käsmu Creative House as part of the research project “The Emergence of a Civilized Nation: Decadence as a Transition 1905–1940,” where manuscripts for articles to be included in a special issue of the journal Volupte were discussed.

In addition to the grant members, specialists in Finnish and Estonian decadence and nationalism from various disciplines participated in the workshop. Literature and visual arts were analyzed to examine, among other topics, national stereotypes, artistic representations of race, and gender tensions.

Manuscripts by the following authors were discussed: Mirjam Hinrikus, Viola Parente-Čapková, Riikka Rossi, Mikko Välimäki, Antti Ahmala, Timo Huusko, Ian T. Gwin, and Leo Luks. In addition to the authors, Tiina Ann Kirss, Hasso Krull, Kristjan Haljak, and Aare Pilv also contributed to the critical discussion.