The new performance weaves together the ways of being of fungi and humans, with choreography formed by themes of decay, renewal, cycles, and transformation. Performances in Finnish: 5 & 7 September and in English: 9 & 10 September.
Photo: Finnish National Gallery / Pirje Mykkänen
Maija Hirvanen and her working group’s new work, Sienet, sumu / Fungi Feel, weaves connections between fungi and human ways of being. Through her fungus-like performance, Hirvanen also examines the relationship between art and ecological models, as well as the boundaries of humanity. The work is fueled by themes of decay, renewal, cycles, and transformation, which form the choreography of the performance with speech acts.
Hirvanen has been working on this fungus-like performance for several years, now in the form of a stage production. Inspired by years of working with ‘fungal performativity,’ Hirvanen also collects and cultivates mushrooms. She describes a ‘fungal sensation’—a state shaped by forest formations, terrain textures, and non-human species:
A decade ago, I began searching for connections between my choreographic processes and mushroom foraging trips. I’ve loved both art and fungi since childhood. My mushroom excursions are expansive, and the conscious wandering they involve leads to shifts in bodily states, feelings of deep reverence, incomprehension, and emptiness. Willfully getting lost dissolves self-awareness, releasing the need to know and to control. The sense of time changes.
Fungi Feel brings this sensation to the stage, inviting audiences curious about fungi, the human body, performance, time, and the unknown. The premiere coincides with peak mushroom season.
Maija Hirvanen’s works have been presented at major festivals and venues including Helsinki Festival, Tanz im August (Berlin), ImpulsTanz (Vienna), SPRING (Utrecht), Seoul Performing Arts Festival, and London’s Sadler’s Wells and Southbank Centre. She was appointed Professor of Dance Art by the Arts Promotion Centre Finland for 2024–2028.
Lighting design is by Minna Tiikkainen, an Amsterdam-based international designer. Sound design is by Tatu Nenonen, known for his immersive and spatial compositions.
Performances are either in Finnish or English as follows:
Fri 5 September, in Finnish
Sun 7 September, in Finnish + artist discussion after the performance (in Finnish)
Tue 9 September, in English
Wed 10 September, in English
Performance, text & dramaturgy: Maija Hirvanen
Light design: Minna Tiikkainen
Sound design: Tatu Nenonen
Technical implementation of Sound design: Antti Suomalainen / Kiasma Theatre
Co-production: Kiasma Theatre & Fyysillisen aikalaistaiteen ystävät ry
Residency: BAU Amsterdam