After a six and a half hour drive we arrive at the summer house in Louhioja in Northern Karelia. The journey went surprisingly quick with myself and Anna catching up on life and a Hess burger along the way. The Puhakka family house has two wooden homes and we are staying in the smaller abode. The house is filled with family ephemera, photographs and pictures are displayed on the walls. I am sleeping in the bedroom near the wooden fire which meant that I was warm and toasty last night. Anna’s sister was in labour during the night and we celebrated the coming of her niece with a few extra ciders. After a late night we woke up early and after breakfast I went for a run through the forest. The soft ground felt good beneath my feet a contrast from the concrete city streets. There is no shower or bath here so I had a quick dip in the lake. We foraged in the forest for mushrooms and although it looks like we gathered many, a lot were thrown away as they were poisonous. Right now I feel super relaxed and looking forward to a sauna this evening. The weather here is warm and I feel relieved of my daily home routine. My days here will not be routine less as later in the evenings the fire will have to be lit, water drawn from the well and the sauna prepared. Anna and myself agreed to just relax into our residency. Although Anna really wants to get started on her grant application for her solo show. At this moment in time I have no idea what to make. What has catched my eye is the old school speaker in the living room which makes the little bits of paper on top dance to the base of the music.
When we go to the forest I will not have regular access to the internet so I will be using the old fashioned method, pen and paper. As I have mentioned before in my previous Chongqing, China blog there’s something about airports and travelling that frees my mind from my worries and anxieties. I feel like I am open to making new work and would like to make a piece which doesn’t end in the usual anti-climax. What if I could really take the audience somewhere else, like the trusty calming voice of a pilot preparing passengers for take off. It’s crazy busy at Heathrow this morning and I am waiting for my gate to open. I just saw two air hostesses from Thai airlines glide through the departure lounge in their eye catching fuchsia uniforms. I would love to wear one of those outfits. This is the first time I have taken an existing work, The Evente and replicating the same performance. I have no idea how the humour will go down in Helsinki, or if I will even get a laugh. At the end of the performance I lead a group countdown which I would like to do in Finnish. I am terrified of speaking a different language as I feel I sound like a right ‘Del Boy’. Ironic really as it may be perceived that I am from a foreign country and assumptions could be made that I speak another language. We leave for the forest in the morning and I am not sure when my next post will be.
As the brilliant white clouds ended
My view was filled by the open sea
Three more days to go before I depart for Helsinki and instead of packing the first thing I want to do on my day off is write my blog. Making a new post is giving me a space to structure my thoughts and plan what I need to do. Today I need to get euros and travel insurance. I have a small suitcase to take although I am worried that it will only hold Miss Eventé performance wardrobe leaving little space for regular clothing. It’s difficult to know what to take as I will be in the forest for ten days and I don’t own any proper outdoor gear. I need to buy more party bag ephemera and print labels for my promotional material. It is quite expensive in Helsinki and it makes sense for me to buy my materials here although it means it’s taking up more room in my suitcase. The sensible thing would be to take a bigger suitcase although I don’t own one and haven’t got myself organised enough to borrow one. I like to travel as minimally as possible making the packing phase a bit stressful, although I know that when I leave it will be easy and quick to pack up. I have been working for the past 6 days at my various jobs. However I did manage to get into the studio on my day off and develop an idea for a promotional performance. I like the idea of doing a half performance using name boards. I printed off the script and I could see the potential of using the performance directions as a way of interacting and communicating with the audience. All week my mind has been wrapped up thinking about were to live, applying for jobs, considering how my life is going to radically change when I get back. I hope to find some peace and inspiration in Finland, fronting up some foreign confidence through Miss Eventé.
To find out more about Gallery Jangva, Night of the Arts please follow this link:
http://www.jangva.fi/tapahtumat.html
I have been away down in London visiting my family and getting support as I am going through a difficult time at the moment. This was the first visit were I did not go to an art exhibition, the last thing I wanted to do at this present time. I am not feeling particularly creative and just trying to get through the next few days before I go to Finland. I have re-named my blog IN/OUT studio from previously named Beyond The Studio as I noticed how the word ‘Beyond’ is used by two fellow bloggers on Artist Talking. I like the title IN/OUT as most of my work is thought through, out of the studio and it’s only when I am further on with an idea that I go into the studio. With my personal circumstances changing I have been considering giving it up as I am worried about how I am going to financially support myself. However I am making it in once a week, being productive and it will be needed even more when I move out. I am also looking for full time jobs in retail to support myself, and my art so fingers crossed with this. I do feel living in Manchester I can work full-time and make work, although if I re-located to London this would not be possible. I know that to become an artist it was necessary for me to move away from London. Although I really miss my family I need to try and stay in Manchester for the future of my work.
