Karolina Kiil's (MA) doctoral dissertation, Forbidden images - forbidden themes expressed through drawings by young people in Finland and Estonia, will be examined at the University of Art and Design Helsinki (Sampo Hall, Media Centre Lume, Hämeentie 135 C, Helsinki) on Friday, 11 December 2009, at 12 noon. Reijo Kupiainen, Ph.D. (Education), will serve as opponent.
"I have a pupil in the seventh grade, who constantly draws church boats. He made a coat of arms using linoleum printing, which resulted in an image of a coloured church boat. He included the same symbol in a still life drawing - it is an incredibly important symbol for him. At the same time, the symbol helps him learn different techniques and to study pictures. I let him do that.” (art teacher)

”The picture on the left is of a kissing couple. The figure with the baseball cap has dark skin, the other person is white. The middle picture displays pale figures, who have surrounded the couple. The white-skinned figure on the right is alone in tears. (Caption to the drawing Doomed love)

What is forbidden? How is the forbidden displayed in visual expression? The doctoral dissertation Forbidden images discusses the theme of the forbidden through drawings and definitions produced by young people in Finland and Estonia. Karolina Kiil seeks to find answers to how young people define what is forbidden and how the forbidden is displayed in visual expression. Clarification is also sought on the wider significance of the definition of what is forbidden in relation to the surrounding world.

The study presents drawings on forbidden acts, forbidden events and that which is symbolically or visually forbidden. A seemingly simple question was asked in the context of the study: What are forbidden themes in art teaching at school?. As a response, Kiil studied 186 drawings by young people and interviewed 7 teachers.

”A comparison between two countries and sensitivity to gender issues indicate that the forbidden differs both between Finland and Estonia and between boys and girls. Communal values influence the visual expression of young people as a group. Various habits present in everyday activities have a particularly close relationship with the classification tradition and sustainment of that which is forbidden", describes Kiil.

The theoretical examination links the forbidden images drawn by young people with their surrounding world and commercial and institutional context. The analysis employs visual culture approaches, such as translation methods from image to word and a comparative approach. The forbidden emerges as multifaceted and unpredictable. Image subjects and interpretations are challencing. The research questions result in the doctoral dissertation generating comparative information on a topic, which is current in social discourse, art teaching, art education and educational policy.

Karolina Kiil graduated as an art teacher and Master of Arts from the University of Art and Design Helsinki in 2002. She graduated as a fashion designer from Tallinn Polytechnic in 1986. In fashion, her most recent work comprises the costume design for dance performance 'Faravidin maa' (choreography by Paula Tuovanen). After teaching for a year, Kiil began her postgraduate studies and research in 2004. Kiil's most renowned work of art, the performance 'Uhraus' is captured in Timo Peltokoski's film 'Tuomittu mies'. Multidisciplinary art studies have steeredr Kiil towards interdisciplinary research and the theme of the forbidden.

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Doctoral dissertation Forbidden images - forbidden themes expressed through drawings by young people in Finland and Estonia is published in the publication series of the University of Art and Design Helsinki. To order: TaiK Publications, Tel. +358 (0)9 7563 0319, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , online bookshop: www.taik.fi/kirjakauppa