A selection from the Nordic Outbreak exhibition with accompanying public programs was be presented at Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma and Media Facades Festival Helsinki between August 21 – September 1, 2013.
The Nordic Outbreak program in explored the theme PERFORMING ANTINARRATIVES, concerning how our lives are built around narratives, real and imagined. Narratives structure and prescribe the rules of the “scenes” that we act in our lives, implying logic of order and invisible cultural “instructions”. Through narratives, we know what to expect, which conventions to follow and how to act in the world. Antinarratives, on the contrary, break with these conventions and allow for different constellations of meaning in our digitally re-organized world. Performing Antinarratives presents a series of performative moving image artworks that invite for reflection on our time and presence in questioning the validity of our narratives. Through irony, absurdity and play with audience perspectives and expectations, the artworks call attention to traditional conventions of both filmic and cultural narratives, exploring new modes of performance that reflect how we perform in our everyday lives.
The exhibition included both an outdoor screen installation in Kallio by the Sörnäinen metro station between August 22-25, which coincided with the Media Facades Festival Helsinki. The screening was up daily 11 pm to 1 am (next day). The exhibition also included a screening program in the Mediateekki at the Kiasma, on view between August 21-September 1.
Nordic Outbreak at the Kiasma was a program of Streaming Museum and presented in collaboration with Media Facades Helsinki Festival. The installation, including a selection of artwork from the Nordic Outbreak exhibition, and the public program, were curated by Tanya Toft and Kati Kivinen. The exhibition was supported by AV-arkki.
Artworks screened at the Kiasma: Jette Ellgaard, West Coast (2009) Styrmir Örn Gudmundsson, First Level (2012) Kaia Hugin, Motholic Mobble, Part 1 (2008) Hanne Ivars, Good Will (2009) Dan Lestander, Dreams and Wishes (2010) Vibeke Jensen, SLEEPER_CELL (2003/2013) Eva Olsson, On Non-Freehold Property (2011) Birgitte Sigmundstad, Morning (2011)
Artworks presented on Media Facades Festival Helsinki screen: J. Tobias Anderson, The Wind (2009) Styrmir Örn Gudmundsson, First Level (2012) Eeva-Mari Haikala, Vie Coye (Fin) (2010) Dan Lestander, Dreams and Wishes (2010) Iselin Linstad Hauge, The Foreignness of Her (2011) Hannu Karjalainen, Towards an Architect (2010) Antti Laitinen, Snowman (2006) Pernille With Madsen, Transition (2008–2009) Magnus Sigurdarson, 1001 Dreams of Occupation (2012)
A Seminar on August 21: Moving Image – Performing in public space held at theKiasma included presentations and perspectives byTanya Toft, curator of Nordic Outbreak;Minna Tarkka, director of Media Facades Festival Helsinki;Hanna Maria Anttila, director of AV-arkki and artistsHannu KarjalainenandMar Canet & Varvara Guljajeva, introduced by Kati Kivinen, curator at the Kiasma.
More documentation from Nordic Outbreak – Helsinki here.