26.9. Club III

It is not going too well for nature nor the arts.

Unfortunate exceptions and isolated cases. A National Coalition (Kokoomus) politician managed to convince folk on X that the freshwater pearl mussel (raakku) is not a viable species at all, and that it was actually a miracle that it had survived for so long. The same can probably be said of the many arts communities, ensembles and events that have ended up going out of business. With both nature and art, local and specific destruction accelerates the destruction of other species, and in both nature and art, we talk about isolated incidents until it is too late.

Nature and its species change, repair themselves and adapt to the destruction we cause; in a similar vein, art continues to live and finds new forms. What is less certain is that the environment will remain conducive to the Western culture of over-consumption and that the so-called high culture, which relies on institutions, will be able to respond to the changes in societies quick enough.

With both nature and art, it is those who should not suffer at all that suffer first. The ecocrisis and nature loss will be the first to fall on those least to blame, and the art scene will see the demise of the most interesting actors in the free arts scene, while the dwindling cultural resources will be used to save the more ossified institutions.

Unlike the many a species on the brink of extinction, perhaps the capitalist elite culture should die out. But for now it is still alive, and on 26 September we have the chance to marvel at vanishing species, the shortcomings of nature conservation laws and the kind of music nature inspires in the age of romanticism versus mechanised clear-cutting.

The spoken programme will feature forest activists from different generations of activists, with Emma Kähkönen and Risto Isomäki discussing forests and their protection, Salli Uljas exploring the problems of the Finnish Nature Conservation Act, and Eugenie Touma van der Meulen’s poems on the importance of forests and nature for identity when changing place of residence.

Dancers Pääsky Miettinen and Viki Konto poulou bring live movement to Kalle Hamm and Dzamil Kamanger’s video work ”Garden of Invasive Alien Plants”, in which familiar invasive plants also make sound. The traditional dimension of classical music will this time be performed by a string quartet, hailed as the ”King of Chamber Music” and hallowed in the royal courts. In Antonín Dvořák’s song cycle ’The Cypresses’, one weeps in the forest for the difficulties of love and stares at the trees as images of the beloved. In the 19th century, it was common and possible to romanticise nature without any real concern for its destruction. This is not the case with Lauri Marjakangas’ new string quartet, inspired by the non-fiction book ”Metsä meidän jälkeemme” (The Forest After Us).

A project choir ”Ensemble 1/9” has been assembled for this club particularly, performing songs about whales on the brink of extinction, swans saved from extinction and a Venezuelan plea for life. The progressive folk band Vimma also writes about the relationship with nature, the ecocrisis and the hectic modern world – we will certainly hear thematic and frantic bursts of energy.

spoken programme

Risto Isomäki, speech

Emma Kähkönen, speech

Otto Snellman, facilitation

Salli Uljas, speech

Eugenie Touma van der Meulen, poetry

Lauri Marjakangas, music intro

music programme

Vimma, band

Eeva Rajakangas – vocals
Roope Jokinen – violin
Kalle Outila – acoustic guitar
Aino Kallio – piano
Santeri Kettu – bass
Vilho Louhivuori – drums

Ensemble 1/9, choir

Caroline Shaw: and the swallow (2017)
Sirut: Joutsenlampi (arr. Lotta Hyvärinen)
Carlos Cordero: ¡Ayúdame! (Venezuelan Plea for Life) (2019)
Christopher Tin: Wild Swans (2022)
VUK/Maj Karma: Valaiden laulu (arr. Lotta Hyvärinen)

Singers: Wilhelm Blomberg, Johan Dahlbo, Petra Haapio, Lotta Hagfors, Lotta Hyvärinen, Otso Kallio, Oliver Kollberg, Salla Laisi, Veera-Selina Lajoma, Pyry Kantonen, Tyyni Kantonen, Juho Rantonen, Emiel Riiko, Ville Romanov, Elissa Shaw ja Aliisa Talja.

Eriikka Maalismaa, violin
Siljamari Heikinheimo, violin
Vuokko Lahtinen, viola
Joanna Hanhikoski, cello

Lauri Marjakangas: String Quartet nr 1 ’Aarniometsä’ (2020-21)
– part II ”Myrsky käy ja metsä pauhaa” (Aleksis Kivi)

Antonín Dvořák: Cypresses (arr. for string quartet) (1887), parts:
– In The Deepest Forest Glade I Stand (Zde v lese u potoka)
– Nature Lies Peaceful in Slumber and Dreaming (Nad krajem vévodí lehký spánek)

Pääsky Miettinen & Viki Konto poulou, dance

Kalle Hamm and Dzamil Kamanger:
Garden of Invasive Alien Species (2013, video)

accessibility

Tiivistämö is located in the heart of Suvilahti, Helsinki. The nearest metro station is in Kalasatama, but it is also a short distance from Sörnäinen. Suvilahti is also easily accessible by bus and bike. Read more about how to arrive here. here.

Almost all of the spaces in Tiivistämö are accessible, with the exception of the downstairs. There is an accessible toilet upstairs and a wheelchair lift is available. Read more about Tiivistämö’s accessibility here.

The club’s programme (speeches and songs) will be translated to Finnish and English. Translations will be made available to the public with separate instructions on site.