My research activity is involved with the mutual interrelations between worldviews (including ideologies, religions, science, beliefs and superstition) on one hand, and the visual culture on the other. I apply a longue durée historical approach from antiquity till this day. Specifically, I have been focusing on Late Medieval and Early Modern art and culture in Europe and Finland.
My research shares the traditional interests of the Warburg institute: medieval and early modern iconography, astrological and occult imageries and the history of magic. It also is related to the contemporary research traditions of medieval visual culture and learned magic. Recently I have been focusing on aspects of nature, environment and gender in historical imageries, e.g. in Medieval church paintings in Finland. These historical topics are dealt with modern instruments such as digital methods and contemporary approaches, questions and research theories too. I also have treated the impacts of the historical traditions in modern popular culture in conference presentations. My research interests also include the reception and influence of Vitruvius's De architectura.
My specific research interests cover:
The traditions of Medieval and Early Modern image magic in Europe
Works and thought of Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499)
Hermetic tradition (practical Hermetica in particular)
Symbols and emblems in Late Medieval and Early modern Europe: especially animals and hybrids as disguised symbols in religious and astro-magical art and imageries
Late medieval ecclesiastical wall paintings in the diocese of Turku (Finland)