Category Archives: Travelling

busy autumn

September and October are always such busy months for me. Partly because the ANTI Festival takes place in the end of September but not only. Autumn is also the time that artists and cultural organizations have to submit an insane number of applications in order to fund next year’s activities and also the period, when most of these activities are performed or shared with audiences. So there’s a lot going on, lot’s of future planning and grant writing – so much that it’s impossible to see everything that one is interested in. That’s a shame but at the same time, it’s ok, too. One shouldn’t really feel that it’s possible to see and follow everything, because it isn’t.

My autumn has also been unusually busy this year because I’ve started a new job in August as the arts programme manager of Finnish House of Dance in Helsinki. I’m super excited about the new and challenging job! It means I will spend more time in Helsinki and work in the field of dance much more closely than during the past few years. I’ve already visited Tanz Messe in Düsseldorf, Germany and seen quite a few performances. I saw the premiere of the new work Morphed by Tero Saarinen Company, Joona Halonen’s Nolla Nolla, Anne Hiekkaranta’s Conus Marmoreus!!! and Paula Tuovinen’s remake of Blondi as well as several works at Tanz Messe.

This week I attended Social Innovators Connected SIC!2014 conference in Helsinki. It was a very inspiring meeting of activists and organisers who run different kind of urban projects in different cities and countries. The participants were active individuals, communities and organizations working in the fields of culture, arts and sustainability and projects included cultural events, recycling, ecological lifestyles, local area development, promoting cycling, street carnivals, street art, multiculturalism, integration of immigrants and charity work. It was really nice to meet new people with whom I share similar values and who are active in their own cities encouraging dialogue, participation and sustainability.
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The conference was organized during Helsinki Design week which I haven’t really attended before, I don’t think. I’ve once visited Habitare fair a few years ago but that’s about it. I didn’t really have time to visit the different events this week but it was nice to notice them just by walking on the streets. But I did get to visit the HDW Design Market at the Cable Factory. What a great event! On the website it says that “the Design Market is the largest design outlet event in the Nordics and, year after year, one of the favourites of the Helsinki Design Week programme. For the tenth consecutive year, big and small brands gather to Kaapelitehdas to sell designs ranging from fashion and interior design to housewares. This time the event is bigger than ever”.
And yes, it was really busy and yes, there were great brands selling their designs at relatively good prices, some better than others. I had to check out my favourites like Terhi Pölkki, Lumi Accessories, Minna Parikka and Secto. There was also a quite a good representation of smaller and younger brands there such as Tauko Design whose Leijat trousers I tried on for the first time… and bought them, too! It was also nice that there was some street food, cafes, a wine bar etc etc. Me & my son enjoying the busy market on Saturday morning:
IMG_1178 IMG_1174 Upcoming weeks will be even busier as the ANTI Festival is in couple of weeks and before that, I will attend a meeting in Berlin and some events in Helsinki, too.

But tomorrow, I will have a day off! And I will sleep in, rest, stay at home and keep my hands off my computer.

Johanna

 

Map of Scars at Full Moon Dance Festival this week

This Sunday we are performing Map of Scars at the Full Moon Dance Festival in Pyhäjärvi, Finland. I’m so happy to re-visit Pyhäjärvi as it is the festival where my works have been performed more than at any other festival. I’ve performed Milk, Outstanding Performance and Acts of Clothing there. On Friday we are rehearsing in Kuopio and then travelling to Pyhäjärvi on Saturday and performing on Sunday, on the opening day of the festival. Hope to see you there!

The rest of my days 11-28 in Australia were busy with IETM Satellite meeting in Melbourne and the caravan to Sydney, my talk at the Arts House and research for my upcoming project and PhD. But I had a day off when I visited Healsville Sactuary, which was quite magical! And I’m so happy I did that day tour.

Walk in the rainforest:P1080210 P1080214At the William Ricketts Sanctuary:P1080353
My first ever Espresso Martini in Melbourne:IMG_1013
Spotted Marimekko magazine at the local laundry in South Melbourne: P1080360
A surprise guest at my door:P1080362Melbourne skyline from Footscray:P1080370
Wearing Marimekko and Minna Parikka:P1080514Visiting Heide Museum:P1080528NGV: P1080530 P1080532 P1080535A view from St Kilda where I went to watch pinguins at sunset:P1080539 P1080542 P1080545 P1080553 P1080555 P1080566Oysters at a premiere, Melbourne style:P1080587On a walk: P1080600 P1080603 P1080606 P1080608 P1080609 P1080611My talk:P1080589Australia was magical, inspiring, fun and an amazing opportunity to focus on my work and thoughts! So thank you ITAK, the regional dance centre of Eastern Finland and Moriarty’s Project in Melbourne. Also a big thank to Angharad Wynne-Jones, Sophie Travers and Alison Halit and everyone I met and hang out with!!!

When I came back from Australia, my days were busy with the upcoming ANTI Festival, my son’s graduation and Meet Johanna Tuukkanen performance.

Days of happiness, emotions, work, family, exhaustion, grief and disappointment…

Hope to see you in Pyhäjärvi!

Wishes, wishes,
Johanna

Melbourne days 6-10

 

 

My time here seems to fly!

The last days I’ve spent working in the studio, reading about cities by Nigel Thrift, on work emails, seeing performances at the Next Wave Festival (saw Fluvial and Kids killing kids on Saturday which were both great), meeting up with some friends, artists and organizers and wandering about in the city and in Fitzroy… It’s quite inspiring to be on my own!

I’m aware that my aspirations for this month are ambitious – too high. But I’m trying to make most of it! Working on my new project, my PhD, letting myself to be inspired and excited about works I see, artists and curators I meet…

Melbourne city with its famous Lanes is buzzing but quite relaxed. Melbournians are famous of their hospitality – and they deserve to be! I’ve had only one very rude encounter at the Next Wave Festival club Shebeen where a waitress treated me like I was the most irrelevant person on earth. Well, it was a busy Saturday night and I’m not a young trendy hipster but still… I don’t particularly feel that I want to spend my money there – since my order wasn’t really much of an importance to that particular waitress.

Some pics of the famous Lanes:
P1080153 P1080154 P1080156I don’t really understand what’s going on with the horses on Swinston St.?
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A Saturday afternoon walk from South Melbourne to the Queen Victoria Market:
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Had a great coffee at the Market Lane Coffee:
P1080167 P1080164 P1080169Popped into Uniqlo, one my favourite shops! They’ve just recently opened the first shop in Australia and it’s in Melbourne! So it’s pretty packed and busy… I love their ultra light down jackets, I have a few… But I spotted some Finnish design there as well! Horray Tove Jansson and the Moomins! Horray Paola Suhonen and Ivana Helsinki!
P1080170 P1080171 P1080173 Melbourne offers a great variety of amazing food… Here some Vietnamese steamed dumplings.
P1080176Another morning run in Albert Park: 
IMG_0957My home street! P1080184All Australian made! Leggings by Zoya. A treat for myself from Smith St., Fitzroy. IMG_0965Tomorrow I’m off to Healesville for a day trip. Have to get some sleep now!

Johanna

Melbourne day 5

Yes, good day of reading and research! Non-representational theory – very inspiring.

Since Melbourne is a city of great cafes and coffee, I googled for the best cafe in the neighborhood. The best recommendations by far were for St Ali on Yarra Pl so I that’s were I headed for a coffee. I wasn’t hungry so I just had a cappucino with a double shot of espresso and it was really smooth. I really liked the warehouse style of the place and probably will return for a breakfast or brunch one day. Anyway, really nice vibe, good looking trendy customers and great coffee!

Today was also a day of shoe repairs. Last night I was wearing Minna Parikka Cuniculus and realised at some point that I had lost a rubber sole of the other heel. So I had to find a shoe repair which was ok as I had brought a pair of shoes that needed rubber soles put on the leather sole anyway. So I got them both fixed today for 67 AUD which I think it’s a bit pricy but hopefully the quality is good. So my Minna Parikka Aurora pair got a rubber sole today, too!


After I picked up my shoes from the repairs, I popped into Melbournestyle, a beautiful shop on Clarendon St. which I also discovered online. The shop was absolutely beautiful with exhibition space upstairs and Lex from the staff was really generous and friendly. They had a great selection of books, accessories and jewelry, bags, scarfs, cards, cups and the like. I also spotted Marimekko and Iittala brands there. What a delightful visit! And since it’s…well mother’s day soon, I got myself a little present.

The evening I spent studying non-representational theory and sipping some Swords Pinot Grigio.

Johanna

Melbourne day 4

My sleeping is still all weird. But got some reading of non-representational theory done. Very good. And I’m really into it, but need to read more.

In the evening I saw three performances at the Next Wave Festival. Natalie Abbots Maximum, Madonna Arms, and Club 3.0. Great night! Was also really nice to catch up with Sophie and Angharad.

On my way to Arts House Meat Market I popped into the Vans store to have a look at shoes that my daughter would like to get. Didn’t buy shoes but got a coffee cup for free! Nice, I actually need it.

Johanna

Melbourne day 3

Slept well, thanks to melatonin! Went to South Melbourne Market in the afternoon, really nice.
P1080109 P1080110 P1080111 P1080114Me and Terhi Pölkki shoes: P1080116 P1080119I love Melbourne! Bought this gorgeous Swords red wine at the South Melbourne Market in a returnable 3 AUD deposit bottle.
“These wine bottles are sanitized and refilled in our North Melbourne facility making them a environmentally friendly choice to drink from. When a bottle is returned to one of our retail stores or alternatively left out when we deliver your next order a $3 per bottle or $36 per case refund is credited to your account.” And every 10th bottle is free! P1080124P1080130

The afternoon was spent with emails & a skype meeting… Not really as I planned but I’m happy that I had a proper night’s sleep. Back to research and studio tomorrow.

In the evening I went to the city to ACMI to see Hello There, We’ve Been Waiting For You as part of the Next Wave Festival. P1080126 P1080127 P1080128 P1080131After the show, had a wonderful dinner with Angharad and Rajni. Thank you! Feeling happy and grateful.

Johanna

Melbourne day 2

Jetlag.
An early morning run/walk to St. Kilda. 11 km.
Strength training at the studio.
Alexander technique and stretching.
Music and a short improvisation.
Smoked salmon and feta salad.
Emails.
Facetime with my son.
Fireplace lit.
Non-representational theory.
A sleeping pill.

After a rather restless and sleepless night I went for an early morning walk/run/jog around Albert Park and St. Kilda. It was windy and raining on and off but I really enjoyed it. I was carrying my camera, iPhone and keys.


Johanna

greetings from Melbourne

So here I am, in Melbourne, Australia!
Clarendon St, South MelbourneMy journey Kuopio-Helsinki-Singapore-Melbourne went very well. I had a few hours in Helsinki and managed to briefly see my son who very kindly came to meet me at the airport. I had planned to buy him a hoverboard as a gift after researching the best one from https://sprousebros.com/best-hoverboard/ but as time was not on my side, thus will be going back and ordering it from back home for him. I also purchased a few necessities…I always buy my cosmetic products duty free and Helsinki airport is actually a very good place both in terms of selection and price to do that. I was out of Chanel Mousse Douceur which is my absolute favourite cleanser so I got that and a new BB cream. I think I’ve only ever used one BB cream, can’t even remember the brand now, so I don’t have much experience of them. Recently I’ve been using either the Chanel CC cream or Armani Maestro and since I’m running out of my Maestro, I wanted a lighter foundation for the summer. So I got Guerlain’s Lingerie De Peau BB Cream and I must say that it feels pretty amazing…! It has a lovely coverage, it blends into skin beautifully, the finish is luminous and it has SPF30. I think this will be my number one product for the upcoming months!

The flight from Helsinki to Singapore was about 11 hours but I got some sleep and felt pretty ok at the Changi airport. It was my first time there, so it was great to be able to go outdoors. It was so strange to sit in the Cactus Garden – totally dark but hot and humid night. I also wanted to check some cosmetic items at Changi as some are available only in Asia – like the Chanel Jardin de Camelia exclusive spring 2014 collection. The Jardin Zen eye shadow collection was just so beautiful and perfect that I had to get that. I had also run out of blush… Unfortunately, the Sakura powder blush of the collection wasn’t available anymore but I got the Pink explosion, which is also a really beautiful shade. It’s a bit lighter and ‘pinkier’ than the Rose initial which I had previously. Nice for the summer, I think! And to accompany my new BB cream, I got Chanel’s Les Beiges Healthy glow sheer powder… So I’m all sorted at least for a year with my new BB cream, powder, blush and eye shadow! Great.

The flight from Singapore to Melbourne was just under 7 hours and also went pretty smoothly. I slept a little and watched a movie. My host Helen picked me up from the airport which was really nice as although I was feeling fine, I was and am quite tired. Helen drove me to my apartment in South Melbourne and showed me around a little bit. I’ve been settling in, had a nap (grrr, the building site next door….), a shower and a little walk in the neighborhood. Bought some food at the supermarket, had some Barracuda for dinner at Honey Bar and Restaurant on Clarendon St and now I will skype home and then go to bed!

Johanna

So I’m about to travel to Australia…

 

Hectic weeks and days! I will be in residency in Australia for a month and have so much work and all kinds of stuff to complete before I travel! Starting from various ANTI Festival related things to tax papers, my son’s graduation party, research stuff, grant applications…and what does one need to pack for Melbourne in April-May??? C’mon! I don’t have anything to wear…

So over the Easter, I’ve been working on mine and Live Umbrella’s tax papers, doing laundry, packing winter clothes away and trying to find summer clothes from storage. And since my son’s graduation is in the end of May and I’m going to be away for a month right before (good timing!), we’ve been cleaning the house, planning the party from making guest lists to planning the menu and making checklists of what we need to buy, borrow and rent! Sounds like a huge party but really is not – but still there’s a lot to do.

Our Yorkie Pimu has probably an infection in her eyes so I’m taking her to vet on Wednesday…
pim 13 piPimu photographed by Pekka.

But I’ve enjoyed the days as well; being with the whole family, weather has been really nice & I’ve made some nice kale drinks, smoothies and cocktails…

Johanna

Network meeting in Milan

I’m part of the Space2 Destination project and the last meeting of the current network was last week in Milan. I’ve never visited Milan before so it was really inspiring to get to know the city a little bit, visit different areas and sites and of course to meet with my collegues. The meeting was organized during Uovo performing arts festival so I also saw performances each night.

An afternoon walk in the city centre around Duomo:

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A visit to Museo delle Culture which is still being built and under construction. Can you see the Alvar Aalto shapes or is it just me?

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Near the Liveinslums Headquarters:

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A visit to HangarBicocca:
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HangarBicocca‘s exhibition spaces were just insanely massive… Insane, indescribable…

Milan offered lovely risottos and pastas, amazing ice-cream, good wine and Spritz and of course the weather in Southern Europe is just really nice in the spring… And style… I’m not sure any city in the world can beat Milan!

Johanna