Our postdoc Sara has an article out with her previous project!

A photo of Sara Norja, University of Jyväskylä, presenting at the Dies Medievales 2026 conference, with a slide introducing medieval alchemy as a discipline.

And finally, English historical linguist Sara Norja gave a talk comparing medieval discussions of alchemy and image magic.

A photo of Miika Kuha, University of Jyväskylä, presenting at the Dies Medievales 2026 conference, with a slide on amulets and talismans in the medieval texts of natural magic.

Book historian Miika Kuha examined the presence of and justifications for talismans in 16th to 18th-century literature on natural magic.

A photo of Janika Aho, University of Helsinki, presenting at the Dies Medievales 2026 conference, on magical images and the question of their (mis)uses around the turn of the 16th century.

Art historian Janika Aho discussed how magical images were used and misused around the turn of the 16th century, including questions of idolatry.

We had a great project session a week ago at the Dies Medievales conference! Our postdocs presented on medieval and early modern image magic. We had a lovely time at Dies! #kukuproject #imagemagic #talismans @koneensaatio.fi

Kuvittamattomat kuvat – talismaanikuvien historiaa magneeteista aseensalvaukseen - Koneen Säätiö Hanke tutkii kuvaperinteemme ja -käsityksemme pitkää historiaa, maagisten kuvatyyppien resilienssiä ja kadonnutta visuaalista kulttuuriperintöä.

Miten maagiset talismaanikuvat kulkivat halki Euroopan vuosisatojen ajan? Kuvittamattomat kuvat -hanke (@kukuproject.bsky.social) tutkii kuvaperinteemme pitkää jatkumoa, maagisia kuvatyyppejä ja kadonnutta visuaalista kulttuuriperintöä. Tutustu tutkimukseen FT Miika Kuhan Kaivolla-blogissa!