Diverse Universe

 "Historically, performance art has been a medium that challenges and violates borders between disciplines and genders, between private and public, and between everyday life and art, and that follows no rules."

RoseLee Goldberg

 Awolnation – Sail

 

 This week (Wednesday, 15.05) an abandoned factory building (tulitikkutehdas) was transformed into a Live Art and Performance area, in the context of a slightly underground, international, nomadic performance art festival "Diverse Universe". This festival involves over 200 international artists and unites about twenty cities all over Europe, at Tampere were performing such artists as: Amber Lee, Hiroko Tsutsimoto, Christine Olsen, Non Grata: Anonymous Boh and Devilgirl, Peter Rosvik, Mathieu Sylvestre, Terho Sire and J.K. Ihalainen. 

 It was a unique evening, showing pure art with no artificial boundaries. I was especially spellbound and captivated by a visual aspect of performances. I see no need  in verbal explanation of "acts"; as performance art is something that can be only seen, it is born in the moment of performance, and lives only in it.

Fruits of Insomnia

 A few months ago, during a long sleepless nigh, we created a beautiful photo story, together with my friend Marina K. The story about strength, apathy and fragility, with a slight taste of madness.

 First, an inspiration for the shoot was this photo of Anne Hathaway for Vogue. Originally i wanted to do something classy and lady-like, but Marina brought her insane "Marla" (Fight Club) energy into picture, eventually transforming the idea into something exciting, thought, as usual. 

 The Pixies – Where Is My Mind

 Preparing for the shoot, we started with smoking of a nicotine-free hookah tobacco and it logically occurred to us, why not to take some "smoky" pictures.

Vappu Tampere Style

In Finland, Vappu (May Day/Walpurgis day) is one of the four biggest holidays along with Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and Midsummer (Juhannus). Vappu is a traditional festival for students and laborers marking the end of winter and the beginning of summer. On the eve and the actual day of the 1st of May, the whole of Finland is celebrating a merry carnival! (About history of Vappu you can read here and here) 

Rännirock vol.3

Living is learning
Earlie this month I got a chance to take pictures at "Rännirock" music festival, organized by TaYT (Tampereen Ylioppilasteatteri).
 Guys from the theater did a grate job in putting on a show. Two stages, great lightening, amazing groups and friendly faces. If you missed it this year, you should definitely try not to miss it next.
 The show was hosted by beautiful Alma and evening atmosphere was upheld by Dj:s Sumu-Antero and Strobo-Ellu.

 Among the performers were "Happy Birthday Wanda June" team, with some songs from the play, theater's very own street-performance band "Kuluttajat", Tapio Ylinen (not only a great artist, but also Wanda's director) and show-stoppers "Lili", "Hyvästi, Nikolai" and "Weirdship".

Getting ready for the show

"Happy Birthday Wanda June" team performance

A Breath of Scandal

“Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.”
― Robert A. Heinlein

One of the first photosets this year was one with artistic Yana. She came to visit us for Christmas holiday and we couldn't leave this grate opportunity unused :) 

Inspiration for this set were Italian movies, passionate women, lonely evenings and a bit works of Terry Richardson (terryrichardson.com).

Amy Winehouse – You Know Im No Good