Author Archives: Johanna

About Johanna

artist and curator

Love in the air

My friends Anniina and Tatu got married yesterday in a moving ceremony followed by a fantastic party. It was so wonderful to be one of the guests, hear the beautiful speeches celebrating the lovely couple, see great performances of music, dance, singing and poetry performed by their family members and friends. Everything went well, the food was delicious and I had a great time. Although I do not personally understand the urge to get married, I’m very very happy for Anniina and Tatu about their love, relationship and the wish to share it with all of us. So THANK YOU.

My daughter lent me a pair of earrings for the occasion.

I was wearing my new pink Minna Parikka Women are dangerous animals boots and was surprised I didn’t have to change into anything lower during the whole night. They are high but surprisingly comfy to wear (and even dance in!).

I bought them on sale (-50%) in Minna’s online store where for example now the gorgeous Corona handbag in pink is also on sale. I saw that at least Nelliina and MouMou have purchased that bag which I also desire but I went for the shoes… this time.

This week I’ve had a place in the CityPörssi second hand shop and went to take it down today. Before I’ve been really satisfied with the sales but not this time… Well, I did sell something but not nearly as much as the last time.

Yesterday I drove my daughter to Chrystal Cup in Mikkeli, an international ice-skating competition. Woke up before 5am and left Kuopio at 5.50am… the weather was ok but I was so tired and it was really boring to drive there and back on the same day.

On the way back, we stopped in Unnukka, in the Iittala outlet store and bought a couple of the very thin Kartio glasses designed by Kaj Franck. They are divine, thin, hand-made glasses to celebrate 1oo anniversary of the birth of Franck. By the way, for Iittala members they now have -20% until the 15th of Jan!!!!

Tomorrow I’m back working full time after the Christmas break – meetings, appointments, dentist, a day in Jyväskylä – a busy week ahead.

Johanna

happy New Year everybody!

I spent the New Year’s eve peacefully visiting my parents and grandparents in Hailuoto.

Now I’m happy to be back home, catching up with my own work, reading, writing and exercising this week. Just what I like. And this week my daughter has a ice-skating competition and my friends are getting married so I’m really looking forward to it all.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, the sale started today in Minna Parikka’s online shop. Pretty amazing shoes and bags -30% and  -50%…I’ve already check out from the shop…

Have a great week!

Johanna

images of Amsterdam

Before Christmas I spent five days in Amsterdam where I performed Twirling World as part of the Nordic Gold event.
I haven’t been to Holland since my graduation in 1997 (besides the Schiphol airport) so it was great to visit Amsterdam again. Walking down the canals and narrow streets of Amsterdam brought back so many memories and emotions that it was all a bit overwhelming. Amsterdam has such a special character and feeling and I must say that I’ve missed it!




Walking on Nine Streets, I came across this pop-up party:

And I swear I wasn’t looking for and didn’t even know where the Marlies Dekkers‘ shops are, but this came on my way:





In one of the vintage shops I saw the exact glittery top that I bought in the 1980’s from London and which has been stolen from the performance I don’t have anything to wear.


I had a wonderful Saturday morning at the Farmers’ Market in Nordmarkt and the most delicious apple pie and coffee in Cafe Winkel. I bought tons of Dutch cheeses for Christmas – they are the best. I’m a very big fan of old gouda, especially the ones made of goat’s milk.






We performed Twirling World in Rabozaal, a new space between the city theatre and Melkweg. The space was great, a huge stage with a big seated audience. We just used the stage, cutting of the seating with a metallic wall.



The performance itself went ok, I think, but the day building up the show, trying to do a run through, warm-up, prepare and to get all the necessary stuff was very stressful. Two things I learned: Twirling World cannot be toured without my own technician and I need to have my own private accommodation.
This is the painting of the Amsterdam show:

I’m sorry I haven’t been a very active blogger recently. I’ve been extremely busy and therefor a bit too tired and stressed at times. But now I’m trying to relax and take it easy. A party with a group of girlfriends today – really looking forward to it!

Johanna

Twirling World tonight in Amsterdam! Welcome.

I’m performing Twirling World tonight with Sonja in Melkweg, Amsterdam at 9pm. So if you happen to be here, you are most welcome to the show. The space is great, Melkweg’s crew is fantastic and we are soon heading to Melkweg to start building the set up. Long day ahead of us. But tonight should be fun!

We were rehearsing yesterday in a studio in DasArts but Twirling World is very difficult to rehearse without the set up and the right space.  But I think we are ready and prepared and at least for me, the logic of the performance is very clear.
Ooh, and it’s so nice to be in Amsterdam! What nostaligia, what memories. It’s all a bit too much really.
And yesterday it was so great to see Maija and Jyrki and Tuovi and Pia…

Well, hope to see you tonight!

Johanna

TWIRLING WORLD in Amsterdam as part of the Nordic Gold

Johanna’s latest work Twirling World will be performed on Friday the 16th of Dec in Melkweg, Amsterdam as part of the Nordic Gold Festival. Link to the festival here.

Nordic Gold -tapahtuma nostaa esiin suomalaista populaarikulttuuria Alankomaiden johtavassa konsertti- ja taidekeskuksessa

Kuopiolaisen tanssitaiteilija Johanna Tuukkasen uusin teos Twirling World vierailee joulukuussa kulttuurikeskus Melkwegissä Amsterdamissa Nordic Gold -tapahtuman ohjelmistossa. Monitaiteellisen tapahtuman tarkoituksena on tuoda esiin mielenkiintoisia pohjoismaalaisia teoksia ja tekijöitä tanssin, musiikin, video- ja kuvataiteen aloilta. Tanssin alalta Suomesta tapahtumassa vierailevat myös mm. Karttunen Kollektiv & Vera Nevanlinna, Maija Hirvanen, Cecilia Moisio, Jaakko Toivonen ja Leena Keizer. Kuvataiteilija Essi Utriainen tuo Melkwegiin mediataideteoksia ja performansseja. Katariina Lillqvistin animaatioita voi nähdä koko festivaalin ajan. Myöhäisnäytöksenä esitetään Jalmari Helanderin elokuva Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale.

Twirling World on Johanna Tuukkasen viimeisin esitys, jossa hänen kanssaan nähdään tanssija-performanssitaiteilija Sonja Jokiniemi. Teoksen mieleenpainuvat hahmot Miss Privilege & Miss Million-Ways liikkuvat maastossa, joka muuttuu kutsuvasta kysyväksi ja vinksahtaneeksi. He asettavat itsensä asetelmallisiin kohtauksiin ja samalla kyseenalaistavat, rikkovat ja muuttavat niitä. Miss Privilege & Miss Million-Ways lahjoittavat merkityt kehonsa tapahtumiin, joissa he leikittelevät kimaltelevilla stereotypioilla, itsensä esineellistämisellä ja katsotuksi tulemisella. Teoksen ensi-ilta oli 30.11.2010 Kuopiossa.

Nordic Gold: Finland -tapahtuma 15.-17.12.2011. Twirling World 16.12.2011. www.melkweg.nl/nordicgold

Lisätiedot: Itäinen tanssin aluekeskus, Eeva Suutari-Saatsi, 044 055 3009, eeva.suutari-saatsi@itak.fi, www.itak.fi

Lehdistökuvat: www.tuukkanen.net

Nordic Gold: Finland -festivaalin konsertit ovat osa FIMICin Benelux-maissa syksyllä 2011 tapahtuvaa Arctic Accents -tiedotuskampanjaa. Festivaalia ovat tukeneet Taiteen keskustoimikunta, Zodiak – Uuden tanssin keskus. Twirling Worldin vierailua ovat tukeneet Itäinen tanssin aluekeskus ja Kuopion kaupunki.[/lang_]

Johanna is working in London in December

Johanna is working on a new project in London with Rebecca French! If all goes well, the new work will be launched in June 2012.

Have you experienced a moment that changed your life?

*** Have you experienced a moment that changed your life? ***

*** Can you spare an hour to meet me and tell me your story? ***

I am an artist, researching city-centre Kuopio and the stories of people who live or work here, either now or in the past. I would like to meet up with you and hear about a life-changing conversation or moment that you experienced.
Please call me on 040 7429 091 to fix a time for us to meet, either at your home or I can take you for a local coffee.

Thanks in advance.

Johanna Tuukkanen

Oletko kokenut käänteentekevän hetken, joka on muuttanut elämäsi?

*** Oletko kokenut käänteentekevän hetken, joka on muuttanut elämäsi? ***

*** Onko sinulla aikaa tavata ja kertoa minulle tarinasi? ***

Olen taiteilija, joka tekee teosta Kuopion keskustasta ja Kuopiossa asuvien tai  työskentelevien ihmisten tarinoista – nykyisistä tai menneistä. Haluaisin tavata sinut ja kuulla elämäsi muuttaneen käänteentekevän keskustelun tai hetken, jonka olet Kuopion keskustan alueella kokenut.
Soita minulle numeroon 040 742 9091 sopiaksesi tapaaminen joko omassa kodissasi tai voin viedä sinut kahville.

Kiitos etukäteen.

Johanna Tuukkanen

ANTI SHOP

At ANTI we are concerned of your well-being, health and your sexual health. For those in long-term relationship, we sell the ANTIVERSARY book which highlights our history of 10 years with beautifully documented imagery. It is a great example of growth and development and a fabulous study book for those still waiting for the first anniversary. For the more adventurous, we still have a few PUBLIC SPACE MY ASS hand made t-shirts left. Please visit the ANTI SHOP to get what you want. And remember, our mission is love, wellbeing, health and sexual health!




Have a great time shopping!

Johanna