"Prendre" is a French term encompassing various meanings: it signifies seizing, grasping, choosing from multiple options, receiving, and solidifying.

Derived from Pääkkönen's creative residency in France during the spring of 2023, "Prendre" is an audiovisual journey delving into the ambiguity of seeking novel ideas and uncharted routes.

The work was a part of the NG Art Creative Gallery’s autumn 2023 collective showcase in Maussanne-les-Alpilles, France.

In Finnish culture, silence holds profound significance, often viewed as a form of communication in itself. Silence is valued for its ability to convey respect, contemplation, and emotional depth, serving as a means of connection between individuals.

The silent party served as both a cultural experiment and an artistic challenge. On a February Monday morning, the artist traversed the Helsinki metro route while wearing headphones, dancing through the journey. The entire experience was documented on video, capturing the unique fusion of personal expression and public space interaction.

Excerpts from the video documentation by Alex Mervereux.

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The only statue in Helsinki in the likeness of an actual woman is Alpo Sailo’s memorial to Larin Paraske.

20%

Only 20% of Helsinki’s almost 500 public art pieces and monuments are made by a female artist.

Public space is subject to constant negotiation and articulation between the individual and the collective. As such, it reflects the power structures of society as well as the socio-spatial experiences of individuals.

The performance seeks answers to questions such as; who gets to be seen in the public space? Who’s life and legacy is celebrated? Who has the privilege to participate?

”Representations of Power”, a performance by Hanna-Maija Pääkkönen and Katriina Haikala makes the dynamics of power in the urban public space visible through performative art while exploring, and possibly dismantling, the existing power structures.

Supported by City of Helsinki.

The space allowed for women in the society is constantly controlled and restricted by the concept of ’decency’. Being decent defines whether a woman is accepted and valued in the society.’Decent Women’, a performance by Hanna-Maija Pääkkönen and Katriina Haikala, dismantles this balance of power by drawing in to light the rules, contradictions and restrictions imposed on women.

The interplay of dance and drawing brings to light the rules, contradictions and restrictions imposed on women, underlined by questions of power and agency.

The artists explore the interfaces of motherhood, sexuality, power and corporeality through a multifaceted interactive performance that challenges both the artists and the audience.

Decent Women premiered in Gallery Forum Box Helsinki, Finland in 2021 and has been performed also in 2022 at Gallery Pirkko-Liisa Topelius, Helsinki, Finland.

Work supported by Kone Foundation and City of Helsinki.

Pictures by Alex Marvereux and Martina Näreharju

Exploring the dynamics of connection and isolation, as well as the impact of physical distance on our perceptions, Moving Recollections debuted in May 2021 within an unoccupied retail space amidst a lockdown that shuttered all of Helsinki's cultural venues.

Spectators observed the performance through the windows, turning casual passersby and traffic into unintended spectators against the backdrop of ever-changing visual landscapes.

This duet for two dancers transformed the empty store into a poignant stage, offering a reflection on human interaction and spatial constraints during the challenging times of the 2021 lockdown.

Concept and choreography / Hanna-Maija Pääkkönen

Dance / Hanna-Maija Pääkkönen & Alejandro Flores Monroy

’bitchcfrat - the exhibitionist’ delved into the rituals of beautification, examining their transformation into objectification. The performance contemplated the significance of feminine rituals and symbols when showcased in an exhibition setting that reduces adornments to symbols of societal expectations.

The work prompted reflection on societal perceptions and expectations surrounding beauty, vanity and exhibitionism.

Performed in two public events in Helsinki 2021.

A multidisciplinary work that combined stories by the audience, algorithm poetry and dance improvisation. The work explored encounters and their interfaces; instants turned into encounters, stories of these moments turned to texts and text interpreted as emotions through motion.

Creative director, concept and production / Hanna-Maija Pääkkönen

Assistant Director / Alejandro Flores Monroy

Text / Henrik Pathirane

Motion / Elina Valtonen, Meri-Tuuli Hirvonen, Veera Leppänen, Taru Miettinen, Hanna-Maija Pääkkönen

Voice / Outi Ikonen, Heikki Mäkäräinen

Costumes / Minna Paussu Design

Pictures / Martina Näreharju

Solo delved into the exploration of social privileges and the assertion of women's visibility and voice within society. It immersed viewers into various female experiences.

Drawing from Pääkkönen’s own life, including her diaries, poems, and personal reflections shaped by gendered encounters, the artwork resonated with broader societal discussions. Inspired by anthropologist Roberto DaMatta’s contrast between social spheres—domestic versus public, private versus communal—the piece depicted embodied encounters within these realms, elucidating gendered social structures.

Choreography, dance, costume design / Hanna-Maija Pääkkönen

Lighting design / Milka Salonen

Sound / Juho Pääkkönen

Pictures / Martina Näreharju

Premiere in May 2018 at the Cultural Center STOA in Helsinki, Finland.