Artists Felicia Honkasalo, Akuliina Niemi and Sinna Virtanen formed a collective in 2015. Their collaborative projects span the realms of history, art and science, blending myths, history, experiences and interpretations. The artists describe their work in Helsinki Biennial as reflecting on how human life begins and ends in water. In doing so, they propose a new way of looking at the world.
Felicia Honkasalo (b. 1986), Akuliina Niemi (b. 1987), and Sinna Virtanen (b. 1987) formed a collective in 2015. Their collaborative projects span the realms of history, art and science, blending myths, history, experiences and interpretations. Projects are born from their curiosity and by chance — be it the story of an ichthyosaurus fossil, geological time, radioactive matter, or trauma and the destruction of life. Their practice is process and research-based, often working closely with experts from various scientific disciplines such as palaeontologists, physicists, archaeologists and microsurgeons. Final works are typically hybrids of visual arts, theatre and music in the form of large-scale installations.
Honkasalo-Niemi-Virtanen: Lazarus, 2021 ©Maija Toivanen/HAM/Helsinki Biennial 2021
Lazarus, 2021
Myth, fact and fantasy are interwoven in this multimedia installation by the Honkasalo-Niemi-Virtanen artist collective. Combining video, text, sculpture and sound, it is located in a former armoury used by the military. The artists describe it as reflecting on how human life begins and ends in water.
In doing so, they propose a new way of looking at the world. Rather than dwelling on menacing doomsday images, they strive to broach difficult topics with empathy, humour, light-heartedness and fantasy.
The installation was produced with the kind assistance of the Finnish Navy and the plastic surgery unit of Töölö Hospital.
Honkasalo-Niemi-Virtanen: Inverted Creation Story
Photo 1: Sofia Okkonen
Honkasalo-Niemi-Virtanen
Lazarus
2021
multimedia installation
Camera Operators: Stig Gustafsson, Minna Gustafsson, Mitja Harvilahti, Nina Riutta, Jonatan Sundström
Lighting: Jaakko Kukkonen, Lauri Tuura (Valofirma)
Performers: Tommi Korpela, Pyry Nikkilä, Ian Barner-Rasmussen (Plastic Surgeon, HUS Helsinki University Hospital), Laura Ora (Nurse, HUS), Finnish Navy Diving School
Sound Designer: Jussi Liukkonen
Stitching and Colour correction: Ernest Protasiewicz
Thank You:
Finnish Navy Diving School (Coastal Brigade, Finnish Navy), Sami Sorri, Mikko Pöyhiä
Finnish Defence Forces Combat Camera
Navy Command Finland
Otso Lehtinen, Mikrofokus Oy
Alf Norkko, Professor, TvärminneZoological Station, University of Helsinki
Markku Kuisma, Head of Division, Emergency Medicine and Services, HUS
Annina Haverinen, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, HUS
Michael Blomqvist, Equipment Manager, Maritime Safety Training Centre
Sami Raappana, Head of Survival Training Unit, Maritime Safety Training Centre
The plastic surgery unit of Töölö Hospital
Fomast Oy
Valofirma
Rukka
Kone Foundation
Commissioned by HAM/Helsinki Biennial 2021