Utopianizing Hope through Public Art

This study explores the potential of public art to evoke hope in people who directly engage with it or actively participate in its creation. Applying an instrumental case study approach, utilizing the concept of utopianizing, and introducing the new concept of utopian potential, the research examines three socially engaged contemporary public artworks, all located in Turku, Finland. The findings highlight that in public spaces, hope for the future is often produced in action – through elements such as participatory art-making, movement, and multiple locations. These can be further perceived as characteristics of citizen art-making.