The topic of my doctoral research is esotericism and alternative spirituality in contemporary arts of 2010’s and 2020’s. During the 20th century individual orientated spirituality separated from traditional religiosity and gained cultural significance. The process resulted in phenomenon that is often called alternative or new spirituality. This phenomenon is the wider framework for my research. In this process esotericism has had great influence.

In my research I map esotericism and alternative spirituality as multifaceted phenomena in contemporary arts using also the concept of occulture. I link these themes with the questions like corporeality, ecopaganism and depiction of mortality and spiritual experience. I also handle the question of esotericism as a historical phenomenon, which brings the themes of recognition and recycling of esoteric pictorial tradition. I’m also researching the question of how esotericism and spirituality are linked to topical discussions like posthumanism and decolonization. From these perspectives I analyze the artworks of Timo Vaittinen, Eeva-Riitta Eerola, Linda Roschier, Joel Slotte, Venla Helenius and Pauliina Feodoroff.