Field Guide by ONCE WE WERE ISLANDS + joni judén

A spell. An incantation. An effect in the world.

Field Guide is a list of one-hundred-and-sixty-eight flowers and plants that grow in Finland, their names translated into the Queer language Damiá, and then recited by four voices. The list was compiled and translated by ONCE WE WERE ISLANDS. The voice recordings were combined with field recordings of two gardens in North Karelia and Central Finland at the tail end of winter and transformed by Joni Judén into a looping sound composition. This soundwork is presented in the group show SORRY in November 2025 at Loisti Gallery and simultaneously in the forests surrounding ONCE WE WERE ISLANDS’ hometown, Outokumpu, as well as being released digitally here on True Aether.

Field Guide is the tenth chapter of the constellation artwork With Forests in Our Mouths — Speaking Queer Utopias into Being by ONCE WE WERE ISLANDS (2024-25). Supported by Kone Foundation and part of the Metsän puolella community of arts and research projects. SORRY also includes works by Yujie Zhou, nadiye, and Ora H. and is curated by Micol Curatolo.

www.withforestsinourmouths.com

Tracklist

1.	ONCE WE WERE ISLANDS + joni judén - Field Guide	18:02

Credits

released November 2, 2025
Concept, text, vocals: ONCE WE WERE ISLANDS
Sound design, composition, vocals: Joni Judén
Additional vocals: Coco Amen

Recordings made:
28th February, Outokumpu, Finland
11th March, Brasília, Brazil
20th March, Joutsa, Finland

License