A I S T I T / coming to our senses sets its course in an evolving programme of exhibitions and performances in five European cities to explore the complexity and wonder of our sensorial perceptions and how they shape us as human beings.
The Finnish Institutes in the Benelux, France, Germany, and the UK and Ireland are proud to invite visual artist Hans Rosenström and curator and choreographer Satu Herrala to reflect on the topic of “senses” (“aistit” in Finnish) and their physical, political, and technological dimensions today. Bringing together multiple visual and performing artists working across different geographical locations, A I S T I T / coming to our senses unfolds a fragile world that is interconnected and full of nuances.
A I S T I T gradually unfolds from May 2021 to mid-2022 in Paris, London, Berlin, Helsinki, and Ghent. Newly commissioned artworks, as well as adaptations of existing works, are shown in each city by artists whose practices are grounded in the sensorial and whose works nurture a mindful relationship with the world. The multifaceted programme, composed of a series of exhibitions, public artworks, performances, screenings and a catalogue publication, is presented in collaboration with local art institutions and festivals. In 2021, with social distancing measures continuing globally, all the exhibition spaces (including public outdoor spaces) comply with government regulations and guidance.
The first chapter of A I S T I T / coming to our senses launches in France in May, both in Paris and the neighbouring village of Bazoches-sur-Guyonne. The first of the two exhibitions, When our eyes touch, is open in the most intimate of locations; Maison Louis Carré in the village of Bazoches-sur-Guyonne, 40 km southwest of Paris. On view until August 1, 2021, the modernist villa designed by Finnish architects Alvar and Elissa Aalto, hosts a myriad of works by artists Etel Adnan, Axel Antas, Simone Fattal, Terike Haapoja, Anna Maria Häkkinen, Kapwani Kiwanga, Maija Mustonen, Laure Prouvost, and Hans Rosenström. A simultaneous exhibition takes place in the gallery of Institut finlandais (the Finnish Institute in France) from March 28 until August 1, 2021, presenting works by artists Axel Antas and Laurent Millet. A newly commissioned work Leaky Teeth by Dafna Maimon takes over the Great Hall of the Institut finlandais in July 2021.
From May 13 through June 22, A I S T I T / coming to our senses presents a public artwork Weaving, yearning in London, a commissioned work by Kalle Nio and Hans Rosenström that takes form as a large-scale sound installation in the bustling King’s Cross area. The song, composed by Aino Venna in dialogue with the artists, plays once a day for a duration of 20 minutes around the hour of sunset. The piece starts every day at 9pm at Pancras Square.
The third chapter, Resonant bodies, takes place at KINDL – Centre for Contemporary Art in Berlin from May 22 through June 20, with works by Christine Sun Kim, Dominique Knowles and Kati Roover, as well as a newly commissioned work by Terike Haapoja.
In August 2021, as part of the prominent Helsinki Festival, the largest annual multi-arts festival in Finland, the fourth chapter Coming to our senses will unite all commissioned works from A I S T I T, as well as a group exhibition at Kunsthalle Helsinki.
The fifth instalment of A I S T I T / coming to our senses unfolds at Kunstencentrum Vooruit in Ghent at the beginning of 2022 with a new commissioned performance work by Kid Kokko: Disappearing - passion.
A I S T I T / coming to our senses in 2021:
Weaving, yearning: May 13 – June 22, 2021, Pancras Square, London
When our eyes touch: May 22 – August 1, 2021, Maison Louis Carré (2 chemin du Saint-Sacrement, 78490 Bazoches-sur-Guyonne, France) & Institut finlandais (60 Rue des Écoles, 75005 Paris, France)
Resonant bodies: May 22 – June 20, 2021, KINDL – Centre for Contemporary Art (Am Sudhaus 3, 12053 Berlin, Germany)
Coming to our senses: August 19 – September 5, 2021, Kunsthalle Helsinki (Nervanderinkatu 3, 00100 Helsinki, Finland)
Curators: Satu Herrala and Hans Rosenström
Artists: Maryan Abdulkarim, Etel Adnan, Axel Antas, Simone Fattal, Terike Haapoja, Anna Maria Häkkinen, Christine Sun Kim, Kapwani Kiwanga, Dominique Knowles, Kid Kokko, Sonya Lindfors, Minna Långström, Dafna Maimon, Laurent Millet, Maija Mustonen, Kalle Nio, Laure Prouvost, Monira Al Qadiri, Kati Roover, Hans Rosenström
A I S T I T / coming to our senses is generously supported by the Alfred Kordelin Foundation, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, the Ministry of Education and Culture (Finland), The Niilo Helander Foundation, Saastamoinen Foundation and The Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland.
