SuomiSilence
2007: I bought Didier Comes’ comic book Silence 20 years ago. I was impressed by its mystical atmosphere, witchcraft and superstition and I liked the love story. 2005: I found it in my bookshell and read it again. This time I was hit by the muteness and kindness of the title character, and of course, I… Read more
Male Spaces
“Now I know what daddy does in the daytime.” Äijä is full of desire. Äijä is a pal and friend you can trust. Äijä has big lap. Äijä makes lot of noise. Äijä can make tiny sound. Äijä has power. Äijä is feeling. In every one of us there lives a little Äijä. I directed… Read more
Elephant march
A naiv, foolish act in the middle of the town, wearing longjohns, trunk on face and plastic animals on rope. Kajaani, Finland, May 6; International Street Theatre Festival, Halmstad, Sweden, August 9-10, 2006. Photo: Arto Tulima
Children, birds and flowers
Houkka Bros. (Tero Nauha, Pietu Pietiäinen, Kristian Smeds, Juha Valkeapää) Children, birds and flowers is a do-it-yourselves living-room musical. It is made of 13 scenes and contains 16 songs. The duration is 1 h 30 mins, and there is no interval. The main character, Frank, is based on the Italian saint, Francis of Assisi. His… Read more
A pole-bloke
After the Wanderer, which I made with Tero Nauha and Kristian Smeds, we started to think about the second part of our religious trilogy. We read a lot about stylites. In autumn 2005, Heikki Törmi called and asked, if I wanted to climb up to a tower for two days in Ristijärvi, in June 2006. Sure. In… Read more
Ena
A piece about a woman & her plastic bags. Directed by Sibylla Klein, danced by Pia Karaspuro, voiced by JV. Five performances in Helsinki in 2006: Forum Box, Feb 3-4; Railway station & Kaisaniemi metro station, Oct 6; Esplande Park, Oct 7. Photo: Pekka Pitkänen
It’s Onni here, hi
Onni means luck and happiness, and it’s also a man’s name in Finnish. I composed soundscape for the Myrskyryhmä piece; choreography was made by Pia Karaspuro. Myrskyryhmä is two dancers: Elli Isokoski and Pauliina Tyni. They take dance to places where you don’t see it, to homes for elderly people and other such institutions. It’s… Read more
Memory Works
Exhibition of three artists, visual artists Nea Lindgren and Sándor Vály & JV. Vály’s & JV’s collaboration was called Pro Deo et Patria. It contained an installation with two videos, opening performance and final concert by SV & JV, and two solo concerts by JV, theme being our grandfathers. Galleria U, Helsinki, February 3- March… Read more
TAUKO/PAUSE
A Finnish-German-Italian living work by musician Andreas Fulgosi, dancer Pia Karaspuro, director Sibylla Klein, lighting designer Pekka Pitkänen and JV. Two weeks of work, three performances, October 26-28, 2004, at Hurjaruuth, Cable Factory, Helsinki. Photo: Pekka Pitkänen
Joel and the Night of Stars
A theatre piece for over 8-year-olds, based on Henning Mankell’s youth novel. Director Minna Kivelä, lighting designer Jarkko Lievonen, on stage JV. Valtimonteatteri production. Performances at Vara-Q, Helsinki, Sept 14-Oct 30, 2004. On tour 2004: Lainsuojattomat Festival, Pori, Sept 16-17; village school tour in Northern Carelia, Dec 7-10 – Ahveninen school in Eno, Koli school… Read more
