SuomiI am Juha Valkeapää (b. 1967), a vocal artist and performance maker with a 30-year long career of performances, installations, radio pieces and soundscapes – solos and various group works – vocal & sound & performance art, theatre, music, dance. The key elements of my art are voice / sound, presence, playfulness, improvisation, and a live contact with the audience.
In 2022–26 I’m working on a 5-year grant from the Arts Promotion Centre Finland.
Below the latest and the most important works:
Photo: Tani Simberg
PERFORMING ARTS
2025
The Truth, av-installation with video & light artist Pietu Pietiäinen, Ärjä, 08/19; Joutsa, 11/19; Helsinki, 11/19 & 01/25
2024
Animal beings, performance, Trevi, 03/23; Helsinki, 09/24
Firehead, street performance, Helsinki, 02–06 & 08–09/22, 02–06 & 10/23, 02–05 & 11/24; Espoo, 03/22; Gothenburg, 01/23; Västanfjärd, 11/23
2023
Oblivia Pleasure, Stuttgart, 01–02/23; Salzburg, 03/23; Berlin, 06/23; Bremen, 06/23; Helsinki, 12/23
Vocal Portraits, Anti festival, Kuopio, 09/03 ja 09-10/11; Signal&Noise, Vancouver, 04/05; Tampere Theatre Summer, 08/05; Suomi Art Fair, Cable Factory, Helsinki, 09-10/05; Muu galleria, 11-12/06; Vooruit, Gent, 12/07; Pori Art Museum, 05/11; Supermarket, Stockholm, 02/13; Annikki Poetry Festival, Tampere, 06/15; Sideways, Helsinki, 06/18; LAPSody, Helsinki, 02/19; Kehä, Oulu, 09/23
Vocal Theatre Iki-Turso: Solos and Hiien hirvi ja karhun morsian, two concerts, Kaustinen Folk Music Festival, 07/23
Wanderer, table theatre with Tero Nauha and Kristian Smeds, Kajaani Poetry Week, 07/23
2022
Water Concert, with sound artist Juhani Liimatainen and video & light artist Pietu Pietiäinen, Hangö Teaterträff, 06/22; Ykspihlaja Culture Week, 07/22; Savonlinna International Nature Film Festival, 08/22
Vocal Theatre Iki-Turso: In the footsteps of the Kalevala, festival on runosong & vocal expression, Helsinki, 02–03/22
2021
Life as we know it, with choreographer, performance maker Maija Hirvanen, TTT Theatre, Tampere, 09/20; Baltic Circle, Espoo City Theatre, 11/20; SAAL Biennaal, Tallinn, 08/21
Bakehouse, Festival Norpas, Taalintehdas, 08/21
2020
Vocal Theatre Iki-Turso: Ode to the Runo Song. 20-year anniversary festival, Helsinki, 02/20
Juha Biitsillä, a theatre performance with Biitsi, Lainsuojattomat, Pori, 09/18; Monologue Competition, Oulu, 02/19; Kutomo, Turku, 04/19; Teatteri Telakka, Tampere, 11/19; Mad House Helsinki, 11/19; Tehdas Teatteri, Turku, 01/20
2019
Pelko/Fear, theatre performance with musician Taito Hoffrén, Hangö Teaterträff, 06/19; Kajaani Poetry Week, 07/19; Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Visual Arts, 09/19; Kanuti Gildi SAAL, Tallinn, 10/19; Meteor, Bergen, 10/19; Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Mäkelänrinne, 12/19
Silent Death, lecture performance with sound designer Heidi Soidinsalo, Kiasma Theatre, 12/19
10 journeys to a place where nothing happens, with Taito Hoffrén, Baltic Circle, Helsinki, 11/10; Kajaani Poetry Week, 07/11; Homo Novus, Riga, 09/11; Spielart, Munich, 11/11; brut, Vienna, 01/12; PAZZ, Oldenburg, 04/12; Göteborgs Dans & Teater Festival, 05/12; Summer Street, Viiala, 06/12; Baltoscandal, Rakvere, 07/12; Bastard, Trondheim, 09/12; Seurasaari, Helsinki, 07/13; Nordwind, Dresden, 11/13; Heidelberger Stückemarkt, 04/14; Baltic Circle, Helsinki, 11/14; MMCA, Seoul, 09/19
Bird Concert, a sound piece with Juhani Liimatainen, Saaren kartano, 05/18; New Performance Turku, 09/18; Lavaklubi, Helsinki, 01/19; Kontula Electronic, 05/19; Mad House Helsinki, 06/19; Kiilan Äänipäivät, 06/19; Volter Kilpi Kustavissa -kirjallisuusviikko, 07/19; Puistofilosofia, Ikaalinen, 07/19; Savonlinna International Nature Film Festival, 08/19
2018
Mad House / NoMad House, one of the makers of a house for performing arts, Helsinki, 10/14; 09-12/15; 02-04/16; Berlin, 06/16; Helsinki 01-04/17; Helsinki 01-03/18
Hospital Symphonies, as performer in Heidi Fast’s concert-installation, Musiikkitalo, Helsinki, 01/18; Lapinlahden Lähde, Helsinki, 02/18
2017
Private Dancer, as performer in a WAUHAUS work, Zodiak, Helsinki, 10/17; Kanuti Gildi SAAL, Tallinn, 12/17
Executed Stories, lecture performance, Fin La La La!, Sao Paulo, 08/13; Lokal, Reykjavik, 08/13; Bastard, Trondheim, 09/13; Baltic Circle, Helsinki, 11/13; Nordwind, Hamburg, 12/13; Mousonturm, Frankfurt, 10/14; Barents Spektakel, Kirkenes, 02/15; Bora Bora Platform, Aarhus, 03/15; Theaterdiscounter, Berlin, 07/15; Spielart, Munich, 11/15; Theaterformen, Braunschweig, 06/16; Teaterfestivalen i Fjaler, Dale, 09/16; Mad House, Helsinki, 02/17; Lainsuojattomat, Pori, 09/17
A Guy and a Wooden Guy, performance, Gallery Emil, Tampere Biennale, 04/16; Wäinö Aaltosen museo, New Performance Turku, 10/16; Sinne, Helsinki, 11/16; Kajaani Poetry Week, 07/17
2016
From Bark til Tail, vocal performance, Brussels, 01/15; NoMad House Berlin, 06/16; New Performance Nights, Turku, 08/16
Juha Valkeapää 50 yrs, theatre performance, Baltic Circle, Helsinki, 11-12/14; Pixelache, Helsinki, 09/15; AUAWIRLEBEN, Bern, 05/16
B Funeral, a Dadaistic performance with Jovanka Trbojevic and Petri Kekoni, Mad House, Helsinki, 03/16
2341 AD, audio-visual poem with Renzo Van Steenbergen and Emer Värk, Kanuti Gildi Saal, Tallinn, 01/16; Mad House, Helsinki, 02/16
2015
Houkka Bros.: Vaeltaja/Wanderer, table theatre, Kajaani Poetry Week, 07/03; Tampere, 08/03 & 04/05; Helsinki Festival, 09/03; Baltoscandal, Rakvere, Estonia, 06/04; Von Krahli, Tallinn, 05/05; Kunsten Festival Des Arts, Brussels, 05/05; Taju 05, Hyvinkää, 07/05; Homo Novus, Riga, Latvia, 09/05; Festival NET, Moscow, 11/05; Fondation Cartier, Paris, 12/05; Oslo & Bergen, Norway, 02/06; Vilnius, Lithuania, 05/06; Budapest, 11/06; Nordwind Festival, Berlin, 10/09; Olavsfestdagene, Trondheim, 07/11; Rigas Laiks, Riga, 11/13; Theaterdiscounter, Berlin, 07/15
2013
It seems a good place to build a house, with Kaja Kann, Nordwind, Kampnagel, Hamburg, 12/11; Baltic Circle, Helsinki, 11/12; New Dance, Haapsalu, 04/13
Talk to me, as performer in Mart Kangro’s choreography, Zodiak and Helsinki Festival, 08/11; Kanuti Gildi SAAL, 08-09/11; Baltoscandal, Rakvere, 07/12; Baltic Bubble, Tallinn, 09/12; Foreign Affairs, Berlin, 10/12; Golden Mask, Moscow, 03/13
2012
JIRK, sound poetry with Dirk Hülstrunk, Jyväskylä, 04/11; Frankfurter Lyriktage, 05/11; Turku Poetry Week, 11/12
Ear, sound and wig in a tree, audio play with Eleonora Tikas, Kanuti Gildi Saal, Tallinn, 10/12
2011
In the Lokaal tonight Kann/Valkeapää, concert-performance, Juuksur, Tallinn, 03-04/09; KokoTeatteri, Helsinki, 04/09; Genialistide klubi, Tartu, 05/09; Sulattofestivaali, Karkkila, 07/09; Manifesti festival, Turku, 09/09; Sidestep festival, Helsinki, 02/10; Nordwind, Volksbühne, Berlin, 12/11
MASKI, procession, with Geert Vaes, Art in Odd Places Festival, New York, 10/11
La siege de l’air, concert with Sándor Vály, Pori Art Museum, 05/11; Servataguse Muusika Klubi, Tarto and Tallinn, 12/09
Talkie-Walkie, a living sound installation with Geert Vaes, Sidestep Festival, Helsinki, 02/11
Jargon, a year-long series of performances at the politicians’ statues in Helsinki, on the politicians’ birthdays
Digested, a year-long series of performances at the writers’ statues in Helsinki, on the writers’ birthdays
2010
Kallocain – an opera for two voices, with Girilal Baars and Kaja Kann, Kalv Festival, 08/10
No I Be Yonder, concert-like theatre piece with Geert Vaes, Eveline Van Bauwel and Eva Schram, theaterMalpertuis production, s’Hertogenbosch, 03/10; theaterMalpertuis, Tielt, 03-04/10; Berchem, 04/10; Hasselt, 04/10
2009
50 Lovely Ways to Die, a piece of society theatre with Kaja Kann, Tartu, 03/08; Baltoscandal, Rakvere, 07/08; Baltic Circle, Helsinki, 11/09
Houkka Bros.: Children, birds and flowers, do-it-yourselves musical, with Tero Nauha, Pietu Pietiäinen and Kristian Smeds, Baltoscandal, Rakvere, Estonia, 06-07/06; Helsinki Festival, 09/06; Lainsuojattomat Festival, Pori, 09/06; Budapest, 11/06; Helsinki, 10/07; Meteor 2007, Bergen, 10/07; Turku, 10/08; NET Festival, Moscow, 11/08; Homo Novus, Riga, 09/09
2008
Cinderella, vocal piece, space: visual artist Jaana Partanen, Hippalot 03, Hämeenlinna, 07-08/03; Assitej, Reykjavik, Iceland, 05/04; Oulu, 02/05; Helsinki, 05/07; Vaasa, 11/08, Kajaani, 12/08
Male spaces, direction of a vocal piece for group of four singers, Äijä (Girilal Baars, Taito Hoffrén, Pekko Käppi ja Eero Turkka), Muu galleria, Helsinki, 12/06; Helsinki, 03/07; Pori, 09/08; Helsinki, Tampere & Turku, 11/08
Silence, vocal performance, Helsinki, 02/07; Kontiolahti, 10/07; Kunstbanken, Hamar, 10/07; Oulu, 10/08
Amorph!08, artistic curator of the festival for performative arts, organizer Artists’ Association Muu, Paris, 05-06/08 and Helsinki, 08-09/08
Houkka Bros.: Radio Doomsday, a direct radiotalkshow with Pietu Pietiäinen, Kristian Smeds and Tero Nauha, Baltic Circle, Helsinki, 05/08
2007
Who was Minna Canth? vocal performance, Kuopio, 09/07
2006
Ena, live music for a dance piece, direction Sibylla Klein, dance Pia Karaspuro, Helsinki (Forum Box [02/06], railway station, Kaisaniemi metro station and Esplanade park [10/06])
A pole-bloke , a performance, IRTI festival, Ristijärvi, 06/06
Rakki, a vocal piece, Forum Box, Helsinki, 02/06
2005
Joel and the night of stars, theatre monologue, Valtimonteatteri production at Vara-Q, Helsinki, 09-10/04; Lainsuojattomat, Pori, 09/04; Eno, Lieksa, Liperi, Kitee, 12/04; Vantaa, 02/05; Oulu, 02/05; Pieksämäki, 03/05; Helsinki, 03/05
2004
Mamma Meedio, live soundscape for a performance, Puoli-Q, Helsinki, 01-02/04; Hippalot 04, Hämeenlinna, 08/04
Tauko / Pause, a performance, dir. Sibylla Klein, dance Pia Karaspuro, music Andreas Fulgosi & JV, Helsinki, 11/04
My first Siberia/Minun Siperia, a vocal piece, Hull, UK, 10/01; Baltoscandal, Rakvere, 06/02; Kajaani Poetry Week, 07/02; Helsinki Museum of Cultures, 10/02; Tarto University, Estonia, 12/03; Wäinö Aaltonen museum, Turku, 03/04
2003
What do you need to live? a vocal performance, Mannerheimintie, Helsinki, 04/03 ; Taju 03, Promenadigalleria, Hyvinkää, 06/03
matka maahan – expedition, as performer-musician, dir. Sibylla Klein, Puoli-Q, Helsinki, 01/03; Bremen, 10/03
2002
Cry of the Iman, Voice Theatre Iki-Turso, Ateneum, Helsinki, 04-05/02; Cairo, Egypt, 09/02
City Talk, a vocal performance, Mountain Standard Time -festivaali, Calgary, 04/01; Urbani Festival, Zagreb, 07/02
2001
Trombi, as performer, dir. Minna Vainikainen, Q Theatre, Helsinki, 06–08/01
2000
Getting Old Project 1-2, vocal pieces, Ateneum, Helsinki, 09-10/00; VR warehouses, Helsinki, 12/00
Leporello, theatre work shop, dir. Tine Madsen, Baltic Circle, Oldenburg, 11/99; Helsinki, 01/00
1999
Kalevala, live soundscape with Taito Hoffrén, dir. Atro Kahiluoto, Q theatre, Helsinki, 11/97-02/98; Baltoscandal, Rakvere, 06/98; Bombajuhlat, Nurmes, 07/98; Tampere Theatre Summer, 08/98; Reykjavik, 12/99
Iki-Turso, as a singer at Heikki Laitinen directed series of rune singing concerts, Omapohja, Helsinki, 09-12/99
Boy’s Toys, a vocal piece, Q Theatre, Helsinki, 09/99; Manifesti-festival, Turku, 12/00
Namedays, 9 short vocal pieces, Helsinki, 06/99
1998
BOY, a vocal piece, Museum for foreign art, Helsinki, 11/98
ToF, as a performer, chor. & dir. Ismo-Pekka Heikinheimo, Stoa, Helsinki, 08/98
1992–2000
Vocal work based on improvisation called kesken with Jaakko Nousiainen: live performances in Finland and abroad, tape pieces for radio, exhibitions and concerts & happenings in Finland and abroad, workshops etc. The latest: kesken vocal bus, Tampere Theatre Summer 1995–96; live soundscapes with dance for two choreographies by Ismo-Pekka Heikinheimo – AKTI in Ateneum, Helsinki, 08–09/96, plus Bubble Speaks at Bagnolet Finland, Stoa, Helsinki, 01/98; kesken – document, cd and 6 concerts, HecRec and Esplanade bandstand, Helsinki, 02/00
SOUNDSCAPES, COMPOSITIONS AND RADIO WORKS
2019
Bird Concert, radio version of the Bird Concert, Radio Variaatio, Yle 1, Finnish Broadcasting Company
2013
Ear, voice and fork in a tree, an audio image, with Eleonora Tikas, Radio Theatre, ERR, Estonia
2011
Eolenius the witch, direction of a radio play, Radio Theatre, Yle 1, Finnish Broadcasting Company
The dean’s last journey, direction of a radio play, Radio Theatre, Yle 1, Finnish Broadcasting Company
2007
Who was Minna Canth? a radiophonic work, Yle 1, Finnish Broadcasting Company
What did you see? a radiophonic work, Yle 1, Finnish Broadcasting Company
Dream of a telescope and a horse, a radiophonic work with Kristiina Wallin’s poems, Yle 1, Finnish Broadcasting Company
2006
The sun is dangerous, sound composition for a radio play, The Finnish Radio Theatre
2005
It’s Onni here, hi, music and sound design for a Myrskyryhmä dance piece, chor. Pia Karaspuro, Helsinki, 10/05
Final Countdown, music and sound design, dir. Katarina McAlester, Finnish Theatre Academy, Helsinki 09/05
2004
Princess, sound composition for a radio play, The Finnish Radio Theatre
2003
Kiven napa, soundscape for Valtimonteatteri performance, Helsinki, 11/03-01/04
2002
My Siberia, soundscape for the Helsinki Museum of Cultures’ Siberia exhibition, 05/02-09/03
WORKS IN GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS
2019
The Truth, a live audio-visual installation with video artist Pietu Pietiäinen, Ärjä Art Festival, Ärjänsaari, 08/19; Flash2, Helsinki, 11/19
2018
Wooden Guy, sound sculpture, Gallery Emil, Tampere Biennale, 04/16; Kontula Electronic, 04/18
2017
Electric WoMan, audio-visual installation with video artist Christopher Hewitt, Muu Kaapeli, Helsinki, 09/17
Star Rain, sound installation with architect Kari Sivonen, Gallery Lapinlahti, Helsinki, 07–08/17
2015
Bone Garden, Stone Ageish sound installation in three parts, with sound archaelogist Riitta Rainio, Floating Platforms, Aboagora and New Performance Turku, Turku, 08/15
2014
Haloo!, Ear Channel, Cloud Nest, sound sculptures with architect Kari Sivonen, Pori Art Museum, 02–05/14; Concept Summer, Kokemäki, 06–08/14
2013
Year, a sound installation with architect Kari Sivonen, Rikhardinkatu library, Helsinki, 01-06/11; The Finnish Institute in Stockholm, 02/13
2009
DADAilylife, audio-textual installation by 10 Nordic sound & text artists, scenerum.org & Roskilde, Denmark, 09-10/04; Museum of contemporary art, Roskilde, 06-08/09
2006
What did you see? an exhibition: vocal portraits & video, Muu gallery, Helsinki, 11-12/06
Dream of a telescope and a horse, an av-installation with poet Kristiina Wallin and visual artist Niina Hartikainen, Lönnström art museum, Rauma, Finland, 06-09/06; Rikhardinkatu library, Helsinki, 11-12/06
2005
Memory works, an exhibition with Nea Lindgren & Sándor Vály, 2 videos, 2 performances & concerts, Galleria U, Helsinki, 02–03/05
2004
Whole, an audio installation with visual artist Peter Morrens, Dortmund Künstlerhaus, 05–07/04
2003
Boy and his toys, a sound installation, Rauma Art Museum, 01–03/03
TRANSLATIONS
Prose, poetry, plays, pulp fiction and films to Finnish from Hungarian, Modern Greek and English.
EDUCATION
Master of philosophy, Helsinki University, theatre science and Hungarian language & culture, 1987–1995
MEMBERSHIPS
Artists’ Association Muu, Mad House Friends, Charm of sound, Voice theatre Iki-Turso, Finnish Throatsingers Society, Tarihstan Academy
THE LATEST & THE MOST IMPORTANT GRANTS & AWARDS
2021 Arts Promotion Centre Finland
2019 Kone Foundation
2018 Arts Promotion Centre Finland
2017 Arts Promotion Centre Finland
2016 Arts Promotion Centre Finland; Avek
2015 Arts Promotion Centre Finland; Nordic Culture Point; Kone Foundation
2014 Finnish Cultural Foundation; Arts Promotion Centre Finland; Nordic Culture Point
2013 Nordic Culture Point; Arts Promotion Centre Finland
2012 National Council for Theatre, 5-year grant for artistic creation
2008 Finnish Cultural Foundation, 3-year grant for artistic creation
2007 The Arts Council of Helsinki Metropolitan Region Art Award; Prix Italia honorarium for the soundscape of radio play “Sun is dangerous”
2004 Finnish Cultural Foundation, a year grant for artistic creation
2000 Finnish Cultural Foundation, a year grant for artistic creation
