Matka serkamolaiseen teatteriin : kohti sanatonta kerrontaa

A travelogue to serkamoan theater deals, just like its name implies, with the molding process of one theater opinion. It has been influenced by both Aristotle's poetry and Bertold Brecht's epic theater. Side by side with theater goes dance, whose development the thesis also considers briefly. Of today's theater makers, Päivi Ketonen (playback theater), Juha Hurme and Nigel Charnock (dance theater) have had a definitive impact on the Serkamoan theater view. Their relation to theater and dance is clarified in the interviews conducted by the writer, which can be found in their entirety among the appendices of this thesis. Serkamoan theater has also been influenced by the writer's studies in Portuguese theater school in 2004. In Portugal the writer had a chance to work a theater piece in a new cultural environment where, for example, a novel and paintings were used as inspiration. The strongest legacy from Portugal however was the desire to do theater that can be understood without words. Serkamoan theater considers the combinations of theater and dance in performing arts, agreeing with, among others, Pina Bausch's footsteps. Serkamoan theater ladles its inspiration from theater, dance, human being, human body and movement. It is theater that cannot be understood through intellect but through the heart.

Selvitys Eduskunnan lisärakennuksen taidekilpailusta

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate how and why an art competition was arranged to select pieces for the parliamentary annexe building in Helsinki. There is an emphasis on the cultural production aspects of the research. For the purpose of comparison, the thesis also examines how art acquisition takes place in the cities of Helsinki, Salo and Vantaa, and how the so-called percentage principle has been used in these cities The research method involved thematic interviewing of four persons with central positions on the competition jury. Questions were also sent by e-mail to experts and other people with knowledge of the subject area. Although art competitions have been arranged in Finland for decades, very little relevant literature exists. In addition to the interviews, other relevant literature was also referred to, including parliamentary records. The crucial questions concerned why the art competition for the parliamentary annexe was arranged and whether, indeed, it is possible to compete artistically in this manner. The thesis also examined the relationship between art and architecture and how the best works were selected from the vast range of submissions. The answers were both honest and interesting. The thesis presents a step-by-step analysis of the competition's progress over two stages, and according to the specific rules for such competitions as laid out in Suomen Taiteilijaseura. Strict adherence to the rules of the competition created a number of problems, some of which are also studied. The primary reason for staging a competition was to be as democratic as possible, and eliminating any possibility of nominating a particular artist or artists to realise their own work within the annexe. The competition opened up the possibility to consider various artistic proposals, and no genres were ruled out in advance. This format ensured a good response and a total of 1719 proposals were received, of which six were eventually selected. One conclusion was that open competition may not be the best way to gather artistic proposals in such circumstances, but it is very democratic.

Hakunilan Kultsa/Urban II hanke : pohdintaa yhteisöteatterin merkityksestä alueelle

This thesis analyses what local community theatre activity means to an area and its residents, and whether this kind of activity is meaningful. The objective was to explore whether and how community art can help urban areas to move in the direction of sustainable development: whether art can be part of regional policy development work. Hakunilan Kultsa was founded in 2003. It is an Urban II, European Union project and part of the Community Iniative Programme 2001-2006, financed by the EU. Hakunilan Kultsa is also a co-operation between Vantaa city council's culture and youth services. The project encourages Hakunila residents of different ages to take part in versatile art and cultural intrests in the Hakunila youth centre. People have the opportunity to participate in theatre, expression, arts, dance, performing arts and writing groups. One of the main aims is to found a sustainable community theatre in the area. The thesis examines what effects Hakunilan Kultsa has had so far. Inquiry form and thematical interviews have been used as research methods. Interviews and questionnaires were gathered between Autumn 2004 and Spring 2005. The whole process lasted from Spring 2004 until Spring 2006. The author also made participatory observations during the research process which in turn affected the conclusions. The thesis also deals with associated topics such as urban programmes, sustainable development, Hakunila as a suburban area, resident stimulation, and community thetare work. Hakunilan Kultsa has proved its importance. Based on the enquiries and interviews, the project has effectively presented the possibility for art forms to become hobbies. There is no cultural, age or economical discrimination. The easily accessible site and the low threshold principle make it easy for people to participate. The community theatre has improved the area's public image, increased participation and initiative, and given a voice to the community.

Intuitiosta esitykseen : Lear-prosessi itsereflektion ja katsojapalautteen valossa

My final project presents the directing process of my experimental production based on King Lear by William Shakespeare. I describe the process from the first visions of the beginning to the completed performance and finally the feedback from the audience. I concentrate on the special qualities of the production, such as interaction, small and moveable audience, cinematic qualities, polyphonic dramaturgy, and use of the video. The Project is divided into six parts. The first part introduces the project as a whole. The second part concentrates on the process before the beginning of the rehearsals. The third part focuses on the rehearsals and co-operation with the actors, whereas the fourth part deals with the performance and its special qualities. Following this, in the fifth part I study the interaction of the performance with the help of the audience feedback. In the final part conclusions are drawn. The focus of this work is the use of intuition even as a starting point of the theatre directing process. My conclusions drawn from the description of the process suggest that the starting point of the theatre production may be an intuitive vision as well as some conscious subject or message.

Pääjohtaja Erkki Raatikainen 26/2 1973

Kirje 26.2.1973

Helsingin äitikirkko

Pentti Lempiäinen

Niin metsä vastaa : työtapoja koreografian ja tanssiteatterin tekemiseen

Käsittelen työssäni sitä, miten tanssitaustaisena teatteri-ilmaisun ohjaajana toimin koreografina ja tanssiteatterin tekijänä. Pyrin kartoittamaan taiteellisen työni, tanssiteatteriteoksen Niin metsä vastaa, valossa minkälaisen synteesin nuoruusvuosien laajat tanssiopintoni ja nyt päättyvät esittävän taiteen opintoni ovat muodostaneet. Pohdin paikkaani nykyisellä ammattitanssin kentällä verraten omia työtapojani ja ajatuksiani muutamaan nykykoreografiin sekä kahteen tanssin väitöskirjaan. Lähestyn työssä tanssiteatterin tekemistä tanssin ja liikkeen suunnasta, koska se on omin ja vahvin taitoalueeni. Oman teokseni syntyprosessia ja lopputulosta tarkastelemalla olen hahmottanut viisi löytämääni työtapaa tanssiteatterin tekemiseen. Selkeästi koreografian tekemiseen rajautuva väline on oman liikkeen hakeminen. Oman tarinan etsiminen liittyy vastaavasti teoksen käsikirjoituksen ja dramaturgian rakentumiseen. En tiedä -asenne, yhteistyö ja tiladramaturginen ajattelu ovat laajempia, yleisesti näyttämöteoksen tekemiseen liittyviä työtapoja. Useat näistä työtavoista ovat saaneet kimmokkeensa esittävän taiteen opinnoistani Stadiassa. Käyttämieni työtapojen kautta olen oppinut paljon itsestäni niin yksityisenä ihmisenä kuin taiteilijanakin. Toivon voivani jatkaa löytämieni työtapojen ja oman maailmani tutkimista ja syventämistä tulevissa töissäni. Näen itseni tasavertaisena, omanlaisenani taiteilijana muiden tanssin ammattilaisten joukossa. Koen vahvuuksinani monipuoliset työkalut tanssin ja teatterin yhdistämiseen sekä kyvyn ja halun hahmottaa asioita monista näkökulmista. Tanssiteatterin tekijänä totean työskentelyni määrittyvän ja etenevän pitkälti teoksen mukaan eli kovin kiinteitä rakenteita en voi työtavoissani sanoa vielä olevan, enkä sitä toivokaan. Rajattomuus on tanssiteatterini voima.