Aaron Edvard Vilkama

Aaron Vilkama is currently studying Sociology, Politics, and Economics at Zeppelin University in Germany to become an interdisciplinary thinker and problem solver. With a background in classical singing at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and years of independent music production and songwriting, his interest in the arts has long been part of how he engages with the world – personally and academically.

As part of the Tawasol Cultural Production and Policy Network, he co-developed a film project in Cairo exploring how independent artists navigate their creative work within a complex cultural and political landscape. What interests him most is not the dramatization of restriction, but the everyday practices of making art under complex conditions – and how these practices reflect the values, tensions, and aspirations of the communities involved. Rather than working from a fixed expertise, Aaron Vilkama approaches creative and research-based projects as spaces for learning, connection, and experimentation.

Aaron Vilkama is particularly drawn to cross-cultural exchange and sees listening, rather than speaking, as a starting point for meaningful engagement. He sees projects like Tawasol as valuable opportunities to understand more about the diverse ways in which people create, live, and connect through the arts. Through Tawasol and future projects, he hopes to deepen his understanding of how art functions across borders – not only as resistance, but also as everyday expression, joy, and connection.