Category Archives: Art

endless applications

Sometimes it really does feel like this vicious grant application & project proposal cycle never ends. And if you work as an artist, I guess it never does end. So I don’t really know why I’m writing and complaining about it. Maybe because all my neighbors and friends are visiting relatives, skiing somewhere, hiding away in cabins in the woods or taking a mini-break somewhere. And what am I doing? I’m at home, sitting in front of my computer 12 hours a day or more, writing applications, proposals and taxes. Well, I can look at the gorgeous landscape from my home office, I can see that the sun is shining and snow melting. How glorious.

But I have taken some nice walks and yesterday I went for a short run on a snow and ice free pavement. Bliss!

Ok, enough fun for now. Back to work bunnies!

Johanna

Thoughts for the week

I will be working all week in Kuopio. I’m doing EU admin and stuff like that, so during the day time pretty much sitting in the office. Being in Kuopio allows a good exercise rhythm at the Element Studio (today indoor cycling and dynamic stretching) which is great. I will be doing some more indoor cycling this week, as well as cross training, Kinesis and kettle bell. I passed today the newly opened restaurant Urban and I think I have to go and have lunch there this week. It wasn’t open as I walked by early in the morning but it surely looked great. It’s definitely the only restaurant in Kuopio with Eames DSW chairs with wooden legs! Hey, it’s about time…

Lately I’ve been reading a lot about space, place, urban planning and cities (for example Massey and Lehtovuori). It’s so inspiring and exciting. I still have to complete a chapter of Massey’s For Space and then read some articles for my next essay. I recently received support from the Finnish Cultural Foundation for my upcoming work and all this reading is very important for that piece, too. I also need to get going with the process of the upcoming work but it’s always such a big step for me to start pinning down ideas… I rather leave things open and undecided as long as possible – but that’s not so great always.

The spring is approaching quickly and days are filled with more light and sun. The week before last I cycled to work a few times but now we again have more snow and it’s again colder. But I’m so much looking forward to the ice free roads, runs and cycling to work!

My spring looks very busy and challenging. Lots of work, several trips abroad and a lot to read and write. But I’m really looking forward to my trips to Oslo, Dublin, Brussels, Chicago and New York. Of course exercise is going to be a great challenge because of the traveling. For me it’s really difficult to maintain a balanced work out routine when I’m traveling and away for home a lot. I wonder if it’s ever going to get any easier… Probably just more difficult! But oh how much I’m looking forward to the Marcolini chocolates in Brussels! And what to do and get from New York? I’m so happy to be revisiting Chicago and New York – it’s almost embarrassing.

My adopted sister Maija is currently in Australia. Earlier this year I found out about the Chanel CC cream but unfortunately, it’s not available in Europe or North America – at least not yet. But Maija flew via Singapore and I asked her to check out if the CC cream would be available there… So yesterday she texted me saying that she’s got the CC cream for me! Isn’t it weird how excited one can get about make up and cosmetics..? I bought the Armani Maestro make up fluid from Berlin earlier this year (with Maija) but I haven’t been 100% happy with that product… Maybe the Chanel CC cream is the solution, especially for the summer…

Are you a fan of the HBO series Girls? I’m going to watch a few episodes now.

Happy belated international women’s day!

Johanna

gigs in Oulu were great

This is a long overdue post but I had such a great time in Oulu with the MAP OF SCARS team earlier in Feb that I just have to post a few lines about it.

Of course it was such a pleasure to hang out with my gorgeous performers and light designer Ainu but also the technical team at Valve was fantastic to work with. Everything went so smoothly, they did a great job, the space looked good and both shows were full. Here are a couple of photos of the space by Ainu:




Besides all this, I also really enjoyed spending a week in Oulu. My top things were the beautifully renovated swimming hall Raati, the numerous Indian, Sushi and Thai restaurants, Stockmann department store (with i.e. Armani make up), Nanso shop with Lumi Accessories handbags, Non Boutique selling Finnish designer clothes and for example Finsk shoes and of course Pikisaari, where I stayed. So in short, Oulu gave a really good impression! Well done.

Right now I’m on my way to Helsinki to give an interview but other than that, the last weeks have been filled by usual beginning of the year admin work for ANTI Festival, myself and Live Umbrella. But the spring and summer seem to be shaping up rather nicely – more later!

Johanna

MAP OF SCARS in Oulu this week!

I’m so much looking forward to the shows of MAP OF SCARS in Oulu this Friday and Saturday. I’m travelling there tomorrow and we are rehearsing on Wednesday with the dancers, then our light designer Ainu joins us on stage on Thursday and then we perform the piece on Friday and Saturday at 7pm at the cultural centre Valve.
Oh I’m so much looking forward to these three gorgeous ladies go crazy and silly with great self irony!

I’m also really looking forward to experience again some intimate, strong, sensual and physical duets.



And seeing some visually stunning images.



All photos @ Pekka Mäkinen.

Maybe some new scars? Who knows.

It will be just great to get together with Ainu, Pirjo, Sannamaria and Tuovi! And will be good to be in Oulu for a few days.

As I was browsing I found this blog post (in Finnish) about the performance which I hadn’t seen before: http://ledanseurterrible.blogspot.fi/2012/11/johanna-tuukkanen-map-of-scars.html.
Also there’s a post about the ICE HOT quality panel from which was held in Helsinki last December. It’s also in Finnish and you can find it here: http://www.liikekieli.com/archives/5510.

Anyway, book you tickets and come to see us this weekend!

http://www.kaleva.fi/menot/tapahtuma/map-of-scars/967412/?sdate=2013.02.01

Johanna

2012

In 2012 I enjoyed immensely my return to the position of a choreographer in MAP OF SCARS. Directing a piece in which I don’t perform myself was a fantastic experience and I had a great team to work with. So thank you Sannamaria, Tuovi, Pirjo, Ainu, Tatu, Pekka and everyone who was part of that process.
Photo by Pekka Mäkinen.

I also really enjoyed creating Follow me with Rebecca French but was sad how little visibility the audio walk received. In Finland it still seems very difficult to create works outside the mainstream artistic forms and to get media’s or people’s interest to participate in works that are not in the ‘safe’ environment or form. As a contemporary artist, I think this is very sad and depressing.

Although it is sometimes difficult, I still feel that there’s a need and interest for my work and to improve the production processes and overall working conditions, I set up an organization called Live Umbrella with Pekka and Maija. I’ve postponed that for several years but now it’s the time to really give it a try!

I made several work trips in 2012. To Vienna, Gloucestershire, Montreal, Uppsala, Stockholm, Helsinki, Kajaani, London, Brussels…all the trips were really inspirational. The most exciting adventure was however to Montreal and I was so happy to visit the Les Escales Improbables Festival and meet many new collegues there. And my morning run to the Parc Mount Royal was unforgettable! The best teaching experience I’ve ever had was in Brussels at Cifas Summer University.

I had an unforgettable summer holiday with my children in London in the summer. We had such a great time and it was a much needed break for me. Thanks for our wonderful hosts Rebecca, Andrew & VP!!!!!

Although studying can and has been at times really hard and tiring, it has mostly been a true inspiration. I’m so happy I’ve gotten to know new amazing academics, thinkers, theorists and fellow students as well to deepen my own understanding and knowledge in the fields of cultural policy and art theory.

I saw some touching performances. 100% London by Rimini Protokoll, For Those Who Have Time by Maija Hirvanen and In Human Disguise by Eeva Muilu and Milja Sarkola made me cry.

Photo Pekka Mäkinen.

ANTI 2012 was a fantastic festival. It was a kind of a dream come true to have Annie Sprinkle & Beth Stephens, Heather Cassils, Kris Grey, Alejandra Herrera and Jukka Huitila in one festival – not to dismiss any artist at the great festival! Up To Nature project was also a great experience and I was very happy to collaborate with Thomas, Helen, Jon and Gregg on it. It was fantastic that Vilja joined the ANTI production team!

Photo Pekka Mäkinen.

During 2012 I still got a lot of happiness in my daily life from the shoes of Minna Parikka, exercising at Functional Team (now Element Studios), hanging out with friends, good Riesling wines and of course my family. I’ve had some health problems which have annoyingly effected my metabolism so somehow the year has not been a great improvement physically but more mentally and theoretically. And that has been great and more than welcome.

Looking forward to the challenges of 2013!


Happy New Year!

Johanna

 

Olitko ANTI-festivaalilla Kuopiossa vuonna 2011? Osallistuitko Avustettuja kadunylityksiä Kuopiossa –teokseen, jossa festivaaliyleisöä ja kaupunkilaisia kannettiin suojatien yli kolmessa eri paikassa?

Mikäli näit teoksen tai osallistuit siihen, olisitko kiinnostunut tulemaan mukaan ryhmähaastatteluun, jossa pyritään keräämään tietoa teokseen osallistuneiden ihmisten kokemuksista? Osallistuaksesi ryhmähaastatteluun sinun ei ole välttämättä tarvinnut itse olla taiteilijoiden kannettavana, mutta on tärkeää, että sinulla on henkilökohtainen kokemus teoksesta – katsojana tai osallistujana. Voit myös osallistua ryhmähaastatteluun, jos olit yleisön kantajana mukana teoksessa.

TRYST-kollektiivin Avustettuja kadunylityksiä Kuopiossa -teos oli esillä osana ANTI – Contemporary Art Festivalia 28.9. – 1.10.2011 Asemakadun ja Puijonkadun risteyksessä, Tasavallankadun ja Saaristokadun risteyksessä sekä Haapaniemenkadun ja Tulliportinkadun risteyksessä.

Haastattelu toteutetaan Kuopiossa yhteisesti sovittavana ajankohtana marraskuun lopussa tai joulukuun alussa. Mikäli olet kiinnostunut osallistumaan ryhmähaastatteluun, ota yhteyttä sähköpostitse johanna@tuukkanen.net tai puhelimitse 040 7429091 23.11.2012 mennessä.

Ryhmähaastattelun tekee Jyväskylän yliopiston kulttuuripolitiikan maisteriohjelmassa opiskeleva Johanna Tuukkanen pro gradu –tutkielmaansa varten.

in the process of Map Of Scars


it’s a bit challenging to be a choreographer, producer, set designer and costume designer at the same time. Luckily I don’t have to be a performer, light designer, photographer nor sound designer for this upcoming show!




I have three gorgeous performers Sannamaria Kuula, Tuovi Rantanen and Pirjo Yli-Maunula, my favourite sound designer Tatu Metsäpelto, wonderful performance photographer Pekka Mäkinen and a new collaborator, light designer Ainu Palmu, and of course the great graphic designer Tomi Leppänen.

Aren’t you just dying to see the show? A few weeks to go!!!

Johanna

towards a new work

Now the approaching premiere of MAP OF SCARS has started to become more and more concrete. Last week I worked with Sannamaria Kuula and this week Tuovi Rantanen joined rehearsals. What amazing, beautiful, gorgeous women, dancers and performers they are! I feel so blessed. On Sunday Pirjo Yli-Maunula will join the team. Although our rehearsal period is short, I have a very positive and confident feeling. The team includes light designer Ainu Palmu, sound designer and composer Tatu Metsäpelto and photographer Pekka Mäkinen.
This week we also got some performance costumes from Tyra Therman and I have to say that they are just stunning.

I feel like we are on our way to something very special, very beautiful, touching, intimate….

Premiere is on the 16th of November. In Kuopio, Finland.

Johanna