Hans Rosenström (b. 1978) is a Finnish-born artist who works at the intersection of sound and space. His practice centers on the intimacies of the voice and the act of listening as a way to give attention to our surroundings.
Our voice originates deep within our bodies, but to be heard, it must separate from us and engage with the body of another living being. When we speak, whisper, or sing, we close the distance between ourselves and others, essentially touching others through our voice. Rosenström’s art explores this border-crossing quality of the voice, its ability to transcend the physical separation between us, and the deeper implications of this connection.
Through his site-specific installations, Rosenström uses sound to heighten awareness of our presence and connection to the environment around us.
In his work for Helsinki Biennial, the visitors’ presence activates a voiced soundscape that mimics the natural sounds of Vallisaari’s nature—both those audible to the human ear and those beyond its reach.
The Tiftö Foundation enables Hans Rosenström’s new work.
Artwork location: Vallisaari Island
Photo: Nordic Embassies/Bernhard Ludewig