SuomiVocal Portraits
I have performed vocal portraits in various contexts since 1998. Basic situation has remained almost the same; a person sits on the chair and says his/her/their name, I cover his/her/their eyes and voice the portrait, using the phonemes of his/her/their name. The concept ‘portrait’ is a bit mis-leading. I don’t describe the person on my… Read more
Cinderella
I made Cinderella together with visual artist Jaana Partanen, to medieval Häme Castle, Hämeenlinna, in July-August 2003. It was commissioned by Hippalot 03, art festival for children and youth. Visually and spatially Cinderella had its roots in Jaana Partanen’s “daily alchemy”, installations made of gold-plated everyday objects. I used these objects in my two different… Read more
Pipings
The pipings are improvised concerts where, more or less, the focus lies on a two-meter-long organ pipe. I’ve piped at Small Music Theatre, Athens (05/03, with Dimitris Kamarotos and Katerina Zenz); Taju 03 in Hyvinkää (08/03); Espa bandstand (09/03), Malmitalo (11/03, with Markku Veijonsuo and Jarkko Lievonen), Forum Box (01/04), all three in Helsinki; von… Read more
Huttunen ja Valkeapää: Exercise
Kantele player Riitta Huttunen and I did 11 different sound performances at Koetila in Helsinki in May 1-11, 2002. We commissioned works from eight artists, had guest performers and rebuilt the space every day. Don’t recall clearly, what we did with Riitta, but remember quite well, how my 2 and 5 year old sons took… Read more
Siberia trilogy
My Siberia is a story of my Siberian year. This is the first performance where I combined live voice and pre-recorded soundtrack. I guided people through spring, summer, autumn and winter. I was a fish, mosquito, dog and raven, shaman. I performed the first version, My first Siberia, at Ferens Gallery, deep_ROOT Festival, Hull, 10/01. Next… Read more
City Talk
During City Talk, I voice inspiring city objects: statues, newspaper stands, hydrants, trash cans, skyscrapers, phonebooths, police cars, show windows, drain covers. I am equipped with a portable amp and a megaphone. Mountain Standard Time, Calgary, Canada, Apr 17-21, 2001 Urbani Festival, Zagreb, Croatia, July 12-16, 2002 Vocal Walk, City Talk, Szczecin, Poland, July 9,… Read more
Getting Old Project 2
A vocal piece with Tomi Humalisto, lighting designer, and Jyrki Häyrinen, sound designer. The Getting Old Project 2 is intense, warm and sensitive. It is a boxing ring and a dove’s nest. Forces of the Light at the VR makasiinit, Helsinki, Dec 2 and 3, 2000. Photo: Tomi Humalisto
Summer
Partiture: -giving manuals for audience (SUMMER MANUAL 1 Make yourself comfortable 2 Close your eyes and see more 3 And if you feel to, move around, go to the stairways and upstairs 4 This Summer lasts 40 minutes Helsinki University 3 August 2000) -going upstairs as swallow -downstairs as buzzing of fly -on ground floor… Read more
MuseumTalk X: Getting Old Project
MuseumTalk X: Getting Old Project is an audio play about getting old. The Ateneum Art Museum is an instrument Juha Valkeapää’s voice plays. As a sum of Valkeapää’s voice, Jyrki Häyrinen’s mix and Tomi Humalisto’s lights the Ateneum’s inner yard rages and riots by puberty’s defiance, the entrance whines by crisis of thirties, until in… Read more
Spring
Partiture -welcoming people with a tin megaphone -rain with the earth that drinks the water, from balcony -in a red kalmuk woman’s dress I walk smaller and smaller circle, until at the center of the circle I whirl like a mad man: grass, leaves, flowers, bees, birds, sun -final duet. With flutist Katerina Zenz. Duration… Read more
