Category Archives: Travelling

At home

A lot of time spent home with family this summer. Somehow nice and relaxing, although at times hard for me. During the last year, Iâ€™ve been away travelling so much that now I actually have been able to enjoy being at home, not on my way anywhere. Of course it helps to know that some trips are approaching â€“Copenhagen in August and London in September… A chance to see friends and collegues, to feel connected to the field Iâ€™m working in.
I had the most terrible throat infection for almost two weeks, which really slowed me down. Then there was the funeral of my 32 year-old cousin. That was really really hard emotionally. Oh my god. Besides the work on the house, Iâ€™ve been concentrating on my exercise routine -jogging, gym and functional training. At the moment I really enjoy this period of preparing for my new work and working on my fitness, having time to think and prepare the work â€“although it feels thereâ€™s never enough time for this period.
ANTI Festival is approaching but this week Iâ€™m off from that business. Next week we are back full on and itâ€™s time to get to serious business.
Today we painted one wall and hang some curtains. Painfully slow, but things are getting there. Sometimes I wish I wasnâ€™t so impatient, but only sometimes. Impatience can be a great force, an energy.
I cycled with the kids to a park today and went swimming with them. Felt like a proper person for a moment. Iâ€™ll try to enjoy these last days of summer holiday with them but to be honest, cannot wait to get back to work.

Johanna

Report from Stavanger

Days in Stavanger have been a long but exciting. Annie Sprinkleâ€™s and Beth Stephensâ€™ work and them just being part of TW1 project (and Stavanger 2008) have caused a great controversy in Stavanger. There have been attacks against their work and especially Annie as she has been a porn star and a prostitute in her past -and of course us and TouScene as organisers of this project. So since yesterday we have been in interviews by newspapers, radio and television. And mostly all we have done, is talk about porn and prostitution â€“although Annieâ€™s and Bethâ€™s work is not about either of those things. Their work is about love and the seven year project they are involved in at the moment can be viewed on their website www.loveartlab.org in more detail.
Anyway, Annie and Beth are just amazing artists and incredible women and feminists and Iâ€™m so proud that I have been able to curate them into the project.

Annie & Beth had posted this email out to their fellow artists to tell a little about their experiences:

“Fellow performance artists,

Today’s performance piece in Stavanger, Norway.
By the Love Art Laboratory.

1. Sensationalist press writes about prostitute/porn star (Annie) and her lesbian lover coming to “give away free sex in norway as art”!!!! ??? (SO not true)
2. Anti-porn feminists protest Sidewalk Sex Clinic with Beth and Tom Garretson (fellow artist from Oslo). And also protest the curators of art exhibit and harass the funders of art project we and other artists are doing. Saying art org supports prostitution and porn!!!! ???
3. A tall man (Neo nazi?) in ski mask walks up to our window and spray paints a Jewish star and writes JEW on the windows of the building we’re doing our performance in. (Annie is Jewish blood–Unitarian actually)
4. We, the friendly performance artists, then go stand among the crowd of anti-porn (“all porn stars are victims or perpetrators”) feminists while wearing our white lab coats and holding daisies. Confusing the anti-porn feminists and the media and amusing ourselves.

It was an interesting day.

Annie”

Yesterday was the first day of the showing period so there were great tours by the artists, sculptures, installations, sound, performance etc. happening. Iâ€™m quite pleased how it all went and the works were very well attended by audiences and very covered in the media. Here are some images Iâ€™ve taken during the last couple of days.

The demonstration by Ottar yestrday:

Free Sidewalk Sex Clinic by LoveArtLab & Tom Garretson:

Annie & Atle, the owner of the Love Shop:

Geir, our producer and Per Arna, the general manager of Tou Scene:

Elaine Kordys floating in Badedammen:

Helge Olav:

Mariela Limerutti:

Mona & Torunn:

A tour on Nytorget:

Torunn by the sculpture of Nils Thomas & Rune:

Kristen Gustavson from Urban SjÃ¶front:

TW1 artists with Kirsten:

Pedersgata:

Trond from the Svop/t -team:

The Pedicab:

Tom & Beth & Annie:

Links:
http://aftenbladet.no/webtv/?id=654228
http://www.rogalandsavis.no/nyheter/article3603208.ece
http://www.aftenbladet.no/kultur/2008/article653510.ece
http://www.rogalandsavis.no/puls/article3599402.ece
http://www.aftenbladet.no/debatt/article653242.ece
http://nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/rogaland/nord-jaeren/1.5984981
http://www.aftenbladet.no/kultur/2008/article654522.ece
http://www.rogalandsavis.no/puls/article3604256.ece
http://www.stavangeravisen.com/art.asp?id=41974
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/rogaland/stavanger2008/1.5905196
http://www.rogalandsavis.no/puls/article3557723.ece
http://www.ostpluss.no/urban/public/openIndex?ARTICLE_ID=958&PROJECT_ID=287
http://www.regionstavanger.com/?c=25&intro=85_614_8&PR=292_11_115&mi=mct6&sp=NO
http://web3.aftenbladet.no/kultur/hvaskjer/?instanceid=12077575
http://www.trafo.no/nyheter/2008/06/er_prostitusjon_kultur-1366/
http://www.rogalandsavis.no/puls/article3466323.ece
http://studyfeminism.blogspot.com/2008/03/tou-works.html

More updates coming shortly.

Johanna

Iceland…

was great. I absolutely loved it. Here are some images of the trip.

Gullfoss:

The Geysir area was quite magical. I have never seen a hot spring that shoots up the sky every couple of minutes. The images of this are quite ridiculous of course, it was quite amazing to experience this.

Thingvellir; Iceland is situated on the boarder of the tectonic plates of America and Europe which are slowly drifting apart. This was another absolutely magical site:

Blue Lagoon:

and a few more from Reykjavik:

I went to see this great performance called mammamamma in which my frend Thorey was acting. I loved the performance, not only because of the pink. It really made me cry.

It was an intense week, meeting a lot of artists and organizers, seeing work as much as I could. The only downfall of the trip was a 13 hour flight delay on the way home which caused maybe a little too much stress caused by lack of sleep and getting home almost 24 hours later than planned.

Johanna

The latest column

MitÃ¤ on onnellisuus?

Katselin Euroviisuja Islannissa, jossa muutaman pÃ¤ivÃ¤n ajan Reykjavik hoilasi â€This is my life…I donâ€™t want to change a thing!â€. Viisuviikonloppu osui samaan ajankohtaan kuin koulujen pÃ¤Ã¤ttyminen ja ylioppilasjuhlat, joten Islannin finaalipaikka nukenkasvoisine diskolaulajineen sopi tunnelmaan hyvin. Euroviisufinaalin ajan koko Reykjavik oli autio, mutta sen jÃ¤lkeen kadut tÃ¤yttyivÃ¤t ylioppilaaksi pÃ¤Ã¤sseistÃ¤ nuorista ja muista koulunsa pÃ¤Ã¤ttÃ¤neistÃ¤. Hetken aikaa muuten jÃ¤rkevÃ¤sti tuulelta ja sateelta suojautuvat islantilaiset tepastelivat vaaleissa coctail-mekoissa ja korkokengissÃ¤ baarista baariin. Nuorten This is my life â€“biletystÃ¤ oli kadehdittava katsella. MikÃ¤ onni, helpotus, ilo sekÃ¤ usko tulevaisuuteen heidÃ¤n kasvoiltaan paistoi! Viikon Islannin matkalla pohdin, miksi islantilaiset ovat tilastollisesti maailman onnellisin kansa. Se on ymmÃ¤rrettÃ¤vÃ¤Ã¤ siitÃ¤ nÃ¤kÃ¶kulmasta, ettÃ¤ Islanti on rikas maa ja ihmiset keskimÃ¤Ã¤rin hyvin toimeentulevia. Mutta islantilaiset tekevÃ¤t tÃ¶itÃ¤ rutkasti enemmÃ¤n kuin monissa muissa Euroopan maissa, esimerkiksi Suomessa. TÃ¤mÃ¤ on ristiriita jota en ymmÃ¤rrÃ¤. SelittyykÃ¶ onni sitten hyvÃ¤llÃ¤ ruokavaliolla, paljon Omega 3 rasvahappoja sisÃ¤ltÃ¤vÃ¤llÃ¤ kalalla ja lampaalla? Vai vÃ¤hÃ¤isellÃ¤ alkoholinkÃ¤ytÃ¶llÃ¤ (=kallista), sÃ¤Ã¤nnÃ¶llisellÃ¤ kÃ¤ymisellÃ¤ geotermisissÃ¤ uimaloissa joita Islannissa on paljon ja joiden ahkeria kÃ¤yttÃ¤jiÃ¤ he ovat, leudolla ilmastolla vai hÃ¤mmÃ¤styttÃ¤villÃ¤ luonnon ilmiÃ¶illÃ¤, joista he ovat hyvin ylpeitÃ¤? Tai kenties sittenkin puhtaalla vedellÃ¤ ja ilmalla sekÃ¤ pinta-alalla, jota Islannissa on noin 1 neliÃ¶kilometri asukasta kohden?
Juttelin asiasta islantilaisten kanssa, jotka kertoivat rakastavansa maataan ja sen luontoa. LisÃ¤ksi he arvostavat lÃ¤heisiÃ¤ perhesuhteita ja kiinteÃ¤Ã¤ yhteyttÃ¤ sukuun. Mutta he eivÃ¤t halua paljastaa mahdollista asemansa heikentymistÃ¤, masennuslÃ¤Ã¤kkeiden suurta kulutusta, elintason yllÃ¤pitÃ¤miseksi ottamiaan luottoja – vaikka nykyÃ¤Ã¤n Islanninkin on pakko myÃ¶ntÃ¤Ã¤ kasvavat luokkaerot ja pankkikriisin aiheuttama uuskÃ¶yhyys. MikÃ¤ siis selittÃ¤Ã¤ islantilaisten onnellisuuden, en osaa sanoa. Mutta toivotan kaikille ylioppilaille ja koulunsa pÃ¤Ã¤ttÃ¤ville onnea ja rauhaa pohtia oman onnensa palasia tulevaisuuden suunnitelmia tehdessÃ¤Ã¤n. Se on monimutkainen yhtÃ¤lÃ¶.

Johanna Tuukkanen

Finnish visibility

Finnish brands I have so far spotted in Reykjavik: Marimekko, Iittala, Ruskovilla, Tonfisk Design and Fazer. The only Finnish artists that have come across are Tea MÃ¤kipÃ¤Ã¤ and Alvar Aalto.

Update: also spotted Ivana Helsinki, Secco and Golla.

Johanna

Strange morning

… I woke up 5.20 am local time and just couldnâ€™t sleep. So I decided to go for a jog by the seaside. It was quite windy but beautiful and although I havenâ€™t been able to exercise for more than two weeks because of my flu, it felt ok. Somehow the seaside, its plants and the views remind me of Azores.
Yesterday was a full day. I met one actress, Thorey, and she has set up some meetings for me with local artists. I also went to two galleries, walked a lot around the city and went to Kringlan, a huge shopping mall outside city centre. Kringlan was a big disappointment to me, I guess I wasnâ€™t at all into shopping at Topshop, Adidas or Puma stores, Next, Warehouse etc.! From there I continued to Laugardalslaug, one of the citys many geothermal pools. That was relaxing but a bit strange, too.
I ate a delicious vegetarian meal at the One Woman Restaurant and went to bed.

Today Iâ€™m up for a couple of meetings and in the evening a get together at Thoreyâ€™s place with local artists. Great!

Johanna

Views

…from the hotel Arnarvoll’s 8th floor restaurant & balcony in Reykjavik, Iceland

I love the Eames plastic amrchairs they have in the hotel, also in the rooms. They are just so beautiful. We need some chairs at our dining table at home and I must say I really like these ones. I have looked at them before and wasn’t so fond of them but I might have changed my mind! They are quite comfy. I definitely prefer the ones with the arm rests.

I’m off to have walk in the Reykjavik city centre. I’m meeting some artists in the afternoon and then might go swimming in one of the thermal pools after that.

Johanna

On the way

At Stockholm Arlanda airport, on my way to Reykjavik, Iceland. Although itâ€™s just afternoon, Iâ€™ve been traveling now for 9 hours and have a slight headache. I donâ€™t know if itâ€™s because of the short sleep or lack of coffee. And of course, I forgot my paracetamol at home.
Iâ€™m going to see some performances, exhibitions and have arranged meetings with people. Iâ€™m really looking forward to all that, and experiencing some of Iceland of course, but more importantly, Iâ€™m hoping this trip would somehow enlighten me in terms of my new work that Iâ€™m working on. As always, there isnâ€™t enough money to do what I have set myself to do and Iâ€™m struggling where to cut. Drop one of the performers? The dramaturg? All the videos? I have already made a cut down budget but I somehow donâ€™t know where to cut any more without changing the work completely.
So, I need to get a revelation concerning this matter and Iâ€™m hoping the time in Iceland would help me. I have of course packed my cameras and Iâ€™m open to get inspiration for my ongoing interest in the body/landscape.

Johanna

Sleepy days

I performed with Jaana & Jaap I donâ€™t have anything to wear on Friday in Helsinki. Since then, Iâ€™ve been somehow really tired. I donâ€™t know why Iâ€™m never able to estimate the amount of work and exhaustion caused by traveling, warming up a performance and working it out in another language, staying in some B&B or cheap hotel and in the end, performing? Yesterday I was determined to go to the gym after grocery shopping. But while I was in the supermarket trying to get my head together about what to buy and cook, I realised I was so tired that it didnâ€™t make sense to force myself to exercise. And this really wasnâ€™t about feeling lazy, just for once understanding that I actually was exhausted. But today I hit the gym, enjoyed my work out and although I feel good, Iâ€™m nowhere near recovered.
The performance went well although it was the first time we performed it in English and that caused some mixed feelings. But we got some very positive feedback so I guess we managed ok in the end. It would be just really important to perform the work more in English and of course, just to perform it more in general. We actually will perform in about a week again here in Kuopio, so thatâ€™s really good. As the work somehow deals with the pressures of looking good and success as well as the ridiculousness of it all, and as we constantly talk in it about good fats, body balance, styling, the appearance, trying to find something comfortable to wear etc., the work can easily pull you to the world of never feeling satisfied about yourself and the mundane reality of living with the imperfect aging bodyâ€¦
Next week seems really busy, lots of work to do and most of it is exciting. Iâ€™m planning to hold an audition for my new performance in the end of May or early June. At the moment Iâ€™m waiting to hear about one more grant as the budget of the work of course determines the amount of performers, length of rehearsals etc. in the end. So letâ€™s see what happens with that.
Although my days in Helsinki were extremely busy, I ate with Jaana everyday in Silvoplee. It was just amazing to eat really good reasonably priced vegeterian food everyday. And what a variety of beautiful dishes they have! That, amongst others, is something I miss in Kuopio. But I made today a delicious salad with tofu, avocado and sesame seeds.

Johanna

Proud to be a Finn

I know there’s talk and writing about Ilkka Kanerva going on everywhere, but since I’m in Stavanger at the moment, I couldn’t help but notice the scandal on the front page of Vardens gang today. Oh boy.

Johanna