KOHTA – HEAR @ Aholansaari 1.7 – 11.8.2023

Sound artist: Jaakko Autio / Choir: Kauhava churchchoir / Choir leader: Heli Turpela / Singers: Liisa Erkkilä, Helena Visti, Kaija Pelanteri, Minna Karjalainen, Liisi Marttinen, Annina Hyytinen, Eeva-Maria Laakso, Seija Ventä, Raija Olli, Anne Rasivirta-Kivimäki, Leena Erkkilä, Olavi Luoma, Jukka Luomala, Jaakko Perälä, Jorma Kari, Pekka Keltto, Jorma Marttinen, Markus Luoma, Seppo Ruotsala, Vuokko Sulkakoski, Mari Rajamäki, Katariina Koivisto, Raija Tenolahti / Chief Executive Officer: Päivi Korhonen / Service coordinator: Outi Väätäinen/ Installing helpers: Enna Rinne, Aliina Rantala, Valtteri Pulkkinen/ Special thanks to: Hilla Väyrynen, Satu Järvinen, Toni Lappalainen / Work is Supported by TTKT & Aholansaari säätiö.

“KOHTA – HEAR” outdoor sound installation is located on the Aholansaari vacation and museum island in Nilsiä, Finland. The installation is set in the forest and derives its energy from the sun. As visitors walk along “Paavo’s Path” on Aholansaari, they encounter a white monolith in the middle of the forest, topped with a push button. Pressing the button triggers the 16 channel sound installation of the Kauhava Church Choir’s rehearsals emanating from the forest. The installation features three hymns sung in polyphony, including both practice sessions and playful exchanges between the singers of the choir. A distinctive aspect of the work is the use of the Kauhava dialect (Nurmoon ärrä) and the coming together of male and female voices.

In my installations, I am fascinated by the interpersonal space between people and their ability to merge with a larger entity, in this case, nature and polyphonic music. The work provides a space for contemplation and rest. The duration of the installation is approximately 20 minutes. The speakers are designed and 3D-printed by myself, with each speaker being unique. Each speaker also produces a distinct vocalist’s voice, and together, the voices create a choir within the forest.

Here are some pictures from the recording session with the Kauhava Church Choir. Each singer was recorded with their own microphone. The choir is led by conductor Heli Turpela. The recordings took place just before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the pandemic, the opening of the installation was cancelled twice in 2020 & 2021, except as a virtual version. Now, the piece finally finds its spiritual home in the forests (Paavon Polku) of Aholansaari.

I designed the speakers using SketchUp software and then modified the 3D model in Meshmixer software. Each speaker has a unique shape. Afterward, I printed the speakers using a large-scale 3D printer. I used a PETG plastic blend that can withstand temperature variations in outdoor weather. Next, I sanded and painted the speakers. Finally, I drilled holes for the wires and sealed them with plastic to make the speakers weatherproof. Below are two videos that provide a brief overview of working with the speakers.

KOHTA @ VIRTUAL REALITY 3.7.2020

Director and sound artist: Jaakko Autio / Choir: Kauhava churchchoir / VR–artist: Timo Elsilä / Visual Artist: Jukka Herttua / Choir leader: Heli Turpela / Producer: Inka Hannula / Singers: Liisa Erkkilä, Helena Visti, Kaija Pelanteri, Minna Karjalainen, Liisi Marttinen, Annina Hyytinen, Eeva-Maria Laakso, Seija Ventä, Raija Olli, Anne Rasivirta-Kivimäki, Leena Erkkilä, Olavi Luoma, Jukka Luomala, Jaakko Perälä, Jorma Kari, Pekka Keltto, Jorma Marttinen, Markus Luoma, Seppo Ruotsala, Vuokko Sulkakoski, Mari Rajamäki, Katariina Koivisto, Raija Tenolahti / Supported by AVEK and TAIKE

Since the Kauhava herättäjäjuhlat and the sound installation was canceled this summer (corona), we decided to make a virtual choral installation instead. You can view the work with VR headset at home, with cell phone or on a computer screen. The work is made in unity, by VR artist Timo Elsilä and visual artist Jukka Herttua. The choir’s parts were recorded in the spring in Kauhava, conducted by Heli Turpela, just before the epidemic began. Each singer was recorded with his own microphone. The title of the work from TREE is a reference to the significance of singing, living and dying together.