After Malaria: Animated Exchanges in Health Heritage

Application summary

After Malaria, re-examines the largely forgotten histories of malaria cessation in Finland and Cyprus, framing them as a form of health heritage with contemporary relevance. Despite its association with tropical climates, malaria was a major health threat in both regions until its disappearance in 1950. Today, both countries face new public health challenges with the arrival of new mosquito species and microbes, driven by climate change. Yet, the lessons from their successful malaria cessation histories remain underexplored. After Malaria is a bold, transdisciplinary initiative that brings together artists, scientists, health practitioners, and local citizens to draw on these histories and create new ways of thinking and exploring public health in the context of climate change. Through collaborative artistic works—including musical compositions, visual arts, and documentary films—the project will explore these emerging challenges. Additionally, it will foster a comparative dialogue in Finland and Cyprus on health development, while engaging broader global conversations around mosquito-borne diseases. The project aims not only to explore these health heritages through multimodal research but is both an innovative approach to contemporary public health issues and an inspiration for them. By integrating the past with current challenges, After Malaria seeks to enhance societal resilience and contribute to cultural discourse on the intersections of health, climate change, and artistic practice.