Performers: Miss Privilege & Miss Million Ways.
Photography: Pekka Mäkinen
So what do you think??? Comments?
Johanna
Category Archives: Art
on blogging
My friend Vilja stayed with us the other day and it turned out that she was having a conversation with someone about my blog. And more specifically, about my relationship to commodities. Vilja explained that trough my art, she had thought or interpreted that my relationship to commodities is more critical than it appears from my blog.
It’s really nice to hear something like that and I wish that she and people wondering about this blog would comment posts more actively. But Vilja hit a point in a way, as I’m struggling a lot at the moment with the blog. Those of you who blog, are all familiar with these problems, I’m sure, but for me there are so many concerns going on that I don’t really know what to write about. And as you know, I tweet, so I use Twitter for micro blogging, writing short tweets daily. And as I’ve wanted to keep this blog as a ‘life style blog’ as supposed to narrowing the theme into something like artist diary, a diary about the process of creating performances, or something specific like a fashion or a diet blog. So I write about my life as an artist and artistic director; about things that inspire me, what I’m busy with, what I’m working on or simply what is happening. So this could be anything.
And as a blogger, you have no control over your readers, and as I’m working somewhat publically, I’ve become acutely aware that there are certain things about my life that I don’t want for example the funders of my work to read. And this, strangely, has partly to do with my love and passion for design and some designers that inspire me and bring joy into my life.
But why is it, that design as a source of inspiration and joy, is often seen as more commercial and superficial than for example literature and music? We all know that creative industries are a big business and literature and music play definitely a huge part in that business.
So, a confession:
I love design. Some people, including Vilja, might think that I’m a brand junkie, but that is not true. I simply love good design where the genius of the designer manifests itself in a brilliant idea. So I don’t care so much about the brand or the designer, as long as the idea hits me, that’s enough. Of course there are some designers that I follow and who’s work I’m interested in, but unless they come up with something that turns me on, I’m just not going to buy their items just for the name sake. Their work has to inspire me intelligently, but of course it has to function well, appeal aesthetically and bring enlightenment to the every day. (Equally, there are designers I dislike or who represent something I don’t want to be associated with. )
A great design item could perhaps be compared to a gorgeous meal. You can eat and get all the nutrition you need from boiled rice, cooked veggies and a piece of tofu or fish or chicken but this all could also be brought to the next level and be eaten in a beautiful dish that brings joy not only for the belly but to the eye and the taste buds – and could be shared in a lovely social gathering of friends and loved ones.
Another confession:
I fancy certain commodities. These are at the moment
1.   a hybrid bicycle
2.   any kind of bicycle for my partner (he doesn’t have one)
3.   hiking boots
4.   iPhone
5.   an armchair (ok, one or two)
Ok, change of subject.
This week has been so busy that I’m not going to match my exercising targets. It’s a shame. But it hasn’t been a bad week. I went twice to Kinesis work out and once water running. And I’ve worked quite intensively although not very physically with Sonja, so I think it’s all ok. Next week I’m off to Helsinki with Sonja to do some background studies for the upcoming show… We’ll check out a Burlesque club and participate in two workshops by Miss Indigo Blue. Should be fun!!!
When I came home from the swimming pool today, this ermine was jumping and running in the backyard & forest.
Photos by Pekka Mäkinen.
Hope you’ll have a nice week. Let me know your thoughts and comments.
Johanna
Long time no see
ANTI – Contemporary Art Festival kept me very very busy but we finished the festival last week successfully. I had a great time, the works were very inspiring, touching, moving, disturbing, fun and everything the works of ANTI should be.
Now I’m moving my thoughts towards my new upcoming performance and although it still feels very distant and strange, I’m beginning to get excited. That’s good. So I’ve been sorting out rehearsal schedules and it looks like it’s somehow going to be possible to create. I think.
I’ve been so happy about my green coat. This is a coat I bought years ago in Stavanger in Norway from a fair trade shop. I somehow fell in love with the color although it was otherwise a bit strange. I thought it was kind of too long for me, the buttons were strange and there weren’t enough of them and it had weird velcro straps that were supposed to close it but it didn’t really work. I think I wore it a few times in Stavanger but I don’t remember having worn the coat ever in Finland because it was somehow…. strange…
Anyway, as I was complaining that I cannot afford to buy a new coat for the autumn (my old black one is seriously worn out), I suddenly remembered the green coat! I thought I could bring it to a dressmaker and get it somehow redone so that it could become my ‘new autumn coat’. So that’s what I did and I’ve been wearing it a lot. Warm, funky color – and it’s new without buying anything new!
Shoes Minna Parikka, stockings Wolford, scarf Marco Polo
I had a little break from training during the extremely busy ANTI days but I did participate in the ANTI 10K – Run Write Run! It was actually the first time I ran 10k after my knee surgery. My knee still feels a bit weird but it was ok. It didn’t hurt but I couldn’t run very hard either. I had a shorter run the other day and my knee was a bit achy and I felt the same yesterday in the functional training. So I have to be careful.
Now I’m off to town with my daughter on our bikes. It’s not winter yet.
Johanna
busy autumn days
Days and weeks just fly past as I’m so busy with the upcoming ANTI Festival, planning my new production, training and just the normal daily life. I caught again some kind of virus and have a flue which is really annoying. It’s not very bad at the moment and I went to quite hard functional training on Friday and Nordic walking today. I also have a Kinesis training today. I hope the flue doesn’t get worse. I was planning to have a dinner with Rosie Dennis tonight but Rosie, who arrived in Kuopio yesterday, had also woken up with a sore throat so we decided to dine another day. But I’m really looking forward to meeting Rosie tomorrow! It’s more than a year ago since I last saw her.
Yesterday I quickly popped into town to see if the local Marimekko shop had this skirt.
Those of you who have seen my Acts of Clothing performance know that I have mixed feelings about Marimekko but there are usually one or two items in their collections that I like. And the Marimekko shops in Kuopio NEVER have them. I don’t understand who makes the choices what they buy in and on what basis! So I already knew yesterday that they won’t have the skirt or that it would be very unlikely that they would, but just to be a pain in the ass, I went and asked anyway. And of course the answer was no. So not much reasons to visit the shops…
On Thursday I finally got my green coat from the dressmaker where it was fixed. It’s a coat I’ve bought in Stavanger, Norway, some years ago but it never really suited me. It was too long and the buttons were strange and one of them came off etc. So as I was feeling fed up with my worn out black coat, I suddenly remembered that maybe something could be done to the green coat to make it wearable. So it was shortened, buttons were changed and more buttons added. And now I love it! I will take a picture of it soon and post it here. The green is rather intense and I’m sure some people will hate it. But I’m really into it. In fact, I bought a pair of Wolford’s green tights to match the coat. And I’m sure it will look great with the United Nude Fold shoes that Gregg in bringing me from London. I can hardly wait!
Oh, last week I was again asked to become a candidate for the parliament election but I said no. I’m honored to be considered a candidate but it’s really not on my agenda, maybe some day, but not now.
Anyway, another crazily busy week ahead but so exciting. It’s almost ANTI time with an amazing selection of international artists and w wonderful conference and seminar programme. I’m sooooo much looking forward to it all.
Hope to see you all around.
Johanna
Helsinki days
Shows of Acts of Clothing in the Ateneum theatre in Helsinki went really well. It was great to experience so many people being touched and moved by the work. It was also a real pleasure to be hosted by the producer Mika Väyrynen and the technical crew which was just great. I want to thank especially Timo who run all the shows. Everything went smoothly and well.
Mika took me to the concert of Paula Koivuniemi which took place in the Huvilateltta. It was just great! And I became a fan of Paula Koivuniemi. So much that I sent my son today in the rain back to town to buy Paula’s Rakkaudesta cd.
In Helsinki I managed to have some business meetings, see some work and some friends, too. It was a luxury to stay in Töölö which is a very nice and central part of Helsinki. At last I remembered to return my Lustwear socks which I’d bought sometime last year but which didn’t suite me at all. Hammi promised me to change them but I don’t know how many times I’ve been in Helsinki and not remembered to take the socks with me… I changed the socks into a kind of scarf since there’s no way I could afford at the moment one of their wonderful coats… In Stockmann I found the new Shock Absorber run bra on sale so now I’m also a very happy owner of a new black running bra.
The only down fall was that I caught a cold which didn’t really effect my show last night but today I woke up in the middle of the night feeling just terrible. The train journey home was a nightmare and I’ve been feeling really ill and bad all day, mostly sleeping and sipping tea. I really would like to go to work tomorrow but I don’t know if I can.
Maybe more about Helsinki in the next post and about one rather disappointing performance I saw…
Johanna
upcoming shows on Acts of Clothing
I’m so excited to perform Acts of Clothing on Saturday the 21st, Sunday the 22nd and Tuesday the 24th of August in Ateneum Theatre in Helsinki.
Reservations: ainfo@ateneum.fi or call +358 (0)9-1733 6401.
Hope to see you all there!
Johanna
Riga & Cesis & Helsinki
Last week I spent five days in Latvia. First I had two days off which I spent with Pekka in Riga and then we travelled to Cesis for the Cesis Art Festival and Care to Create conference where I gave a talk / discussion with Eric de Visscher.
The contemporary are festival was a great experience and I enjoyed both the programme and the conference a lot. And it was wonderful to meet so many collegues from Latvia, Lithuania, Russia and Iceland. The opening of the festival including the concert of contemporary music titled Joy was a real experience.
Riga:
My hair pin from Akiko, sunglasses Ray-Ban Jackie Ohh, handbag LumiAccessories, T-shirt Paco Chicano
Cesis:
My dress Vero Moda ‘Very’ collection, handbag LumiAccessories, shoes Minna Parikka
My glasses Dolce & Gabbana
Right after returning from Latvia, I travelled to Helsinki to work with Gregg and Laura on the ANTI Festival. Despite the heat, we had a great time. By surprise, we also found Gregg telling stories about Bob Dylan in the exhibition in Kiasma! That was part of Johanna Lecklin’s Story Café which has also been shown at ANTI. There were actually quite a few ANTI artists in the exhibition; Antti Laitinen, Eeva-Mari Haikala, Seppo Rennvall, Marja Mikkonen…
Now I’ve been preparing for my ACTS OF CLOTHING performance at the Full Moon Dance Festival in Pyhäjärvi where I’m off tomorrow. It’s been rather sweaty – the all time heat record of Finland was beaten today, +37,2 celcius degree…
Johanna
busy and sweaty summer days
The last weeks have been crazy in the ANTI office. We finally launched the 2010 programme and new website on Monday and I thought I’m able to have some holiday… it didn’t really work out as something unexpected came along and I’ve been busy sorting that out. Oh well. I still have to go to the office on Monday but after that I will be on holiday until the conference in Cesis, Latvia. That isn’t much so I really have to try hard to get my mind off work but it might be a challenge as I have to prepare for my talk in the conference… But I’m really looking forward to spending a few days in Riga and Cesis! 

It has been a bit busy at home, too.
Many passersby on their summer holiday lodging for a few nights and my daughter’s birthday party. But today was a celebration as we finished the home made table for our roof terrace. So far we haven’t had any table and I’ve been complaining about that so much and just dreamed of being able to dine outdoors. Now we finally can and already did! So nice. The table might not be 100% perfect but I love it already. I didn’t do much, only some painting…
The Toy chairs by Philippe Starck, Essence Pitcher by Iittala, design Alfredo Häberli. 
It might be that Iceland is calling again…
Essence glass, wine is my new summer favourite Lindemans Early Harvest Semillon Sauvignon blanc, MacBook Pro, Mondo travel guide. 
Although it has been really hot, I’ve tried to push myself to runs regularly. The running skirt has been excellent in this kind of weather and I’ve really enjoyed my runs. Acts of Clothing shows are coming up so I’ve also been motivated. My operated knee has been better but I’m not up for really long runs with it yet. But that’s ok.
Sunglasses Jackie Ohh Ray Ban, running top Nike Fit, running skirt & shoes Asics, footpod Polar, iPod suffle.  
So yes, my daughter turned 8 and got this gorgeous bicycle as a present from the whole family including grandparents and great grandparents… She was so happy and I’m really pleased we can cycle more together. Her bicycle is Helkama Jasmine, mine is Aino and my son’s Jopo…
Birthday cake and muffins baked by her sisters…
Wishing you all beautiful summer days.
On a rollercoaster
Last weeks have been unusually emotional and tough. In the end of May and beginning of June I worked long days in the ANTI office with Kaisa and Gregg to renew and complete the festival printed brochure and website. Then on Monday the 7th of June, my partner called me and said that my father had tried to reach me many times during the day. I had forgotten to turn the phone forwarding on from my home number to my office phone and my father didn’t have my work number. I was still in the office at about 9pm when I called my dad who told me that I no longer had a sister. My little sister had died at the age of 31. Of course, everything turned upside down, I had to take some time off and we missed the outlined schedule with the brochure. I was forced to spend time with my family, my children, my mom and dad to deal with this unexpected tragedy that left all of us very very sad and full of unanswered questions.
My sister was buried in Hailuoto on the 17th of June in a small, intimate, simple ceremony. Although it was a really hard day, full of sorrow and tears, it also felt like a kind of completion and a really important ritual.
The next morning we drove back to Kuopio and I went straight into rehearsals and prepared for my performances on Sunday and Monday. I think I performed pretty amazing shows of ACTS OF CLOTHING and Physical Artistic deeds 1; Milk. Of course, I could have canceled them but I felt it was important for me to redirect my energy and put some of the very personal emotions on stage. Both of the performances were very packed, there was more audience that we were allowed to take in and we couldn’t fit everyone in to the Milk performance. I got so much positive feedback of the shows and people praised ACTS OF CLOTHING so much that I was all humbled. In the show I talked about my sister’s funeral and many people were very moved and touched about that. Although it felt like a really hard job to pull the performances together, I’m glad I did.
We also managed to get the brochure to the print and we’ll launch the ANTI 2010 programme and website on Monday the 5th of July! Exciting.
Last week I counted my work hours of the spring and realized that I’ve worked overtime more than 235 hours! No wonder I’ve been tired. So I’m desperately waiting for my summer holiday. My family needs my attention, our home and our garden needs attention but I also need to get my mind off from work. I’m trying to organize a long weekend or a small holiday with my children and with my mom somewhere…maybe in Greece, maybe Iceland… we’ll see. But I’m also really really looking forward to performing ACTS OF CLOTHING at the Full Moon Dance Festival in the end of July and in the Ateneum theatre in Helsinki in August.
Now, I wish you all very well.
Johanna
first flowers in the garden
I’ve been so busy that I’ve had no time to focus on the garden -and I’m not a garden fanatic like Aila for example. But still the first flowers in the garden bring me so much joy! My daughter got this idänunikko from Aila last year and it opened its first flower a couple of days ago. Also the japaninakileija in the background (small & delicate) is blooming – and it’s also from Aila…
My daughter is working hard in the garden and it’s beautiful to watch how inspired and committed she is. We had such a lovely time a few weeks ago when we planted seeds of carrots, spinach, salad, peas and sunflowers…which are all growing already.
My weekend will be filled with rehearsals of Acts of Clothing, Milk and ANTI Festival stuff like EU excels… But today I felt inspired as I had a meeting with Sonja and a little chat about my upcoming work.
Johanna