Sound Artist: Jaakko Autio / Music Composer: Jussi Mattila / Singers: Narva music school Ensemble «Yakub-bend-A»: Alissa Milovidova, Valentina Starodubtseva, Evelina Koop, Kristel Treinbuk, Sille Reinsalu, Marija Eroshkina. Teacher Alla Yakubova / Nomad Vocals: Tatu Huotarinen, Emma Jämsén, Kaisa Karhunen, Juulia Karppi, Vilppu Kekkonen, Lasse Kettunen, Eero Lahtinen, Tiina Leskinen, Emma Pitkänen, Joona Rytkönen, Jaakko Örmälä, Kasper Omenasaari & choir director Jussi Mattila / The work has been supported by: TAIKE and Kimmo Kaivanto Säätiö.

OrigiNation (AlkuLähde) through the medium of sound, calls people back to their original homeland, to the right to experience innocence in a world disrupted by geopolitical forces. OrigiNation is a crossing of borders into the origin where the world is still whole, where people haven’t had to divide the world in half to exist.

The purpose of this piece is to initiate a dialogue about identity, roots, and what it means to belong to a place, especially a place that has undergone such a complex history and transformation. “On The Border” was exhibited at the Joensuu Art Museum during M_Itä Biennale 2023 and at the Tampere-Maja gallery in Tartu.

OrigiNation (AlkuLähde) reflects contemplation on one’s own origin and belonging to the world. The piece originated during Jaakko Autio’s four-month residency in Narva in the spring of 2022. OrigiNation is a collaboration between Finnish and Narva (Estonian-Russian) singers. In the piece, you can hear fragments of the national anthems of Finland and Estonia (Maamme Laulu/Mu Isamaa). The sound work consists of fragments of a song composed by Friedrich Pacius, which has been included in the national anthem by both Estonia and Finland. The work consists of three improvised takes based on material composed by Jussi Mattila, specifically created for this installation. Improvisation allows singers to make internal choices during singing, expanding the emotional range and freedom together with others.

The work was completed in 2023 in Estonia (Narva) and Finland. Pop & Jazz students from Narva Music School participated in the recording sessions, as well as Nomad Vocals from Finland. Together, a new homeland was formed, incorporating everyone regardless of ethnic background. Anyone who wished to sing and breathe could be a part of this work. Narva currently has a population that is 96% Russian-speaking. In the 1920s, the Narva built in the 1600s was destroyed by Russian bombings, leveled to the ground. The surviving Estonians were transported to Gulaks, forced labor camps, and were not allowed to return to Narva. A new Russian style Narva was constructed, and a population from various parts of Russia was brought in. The commonality among the people was the language, but roots were no longer shared. Today, the population is mixed, living through the fifth generation. Even 17% of Narva residents have the designation “Alien” in the nationality section of their passports.

Before the OrigiNation piece, there was the “On The Border” artwork, a collaborative effort of 53 singers. The composition differed from OrigiNation, but the piece is so vast that it practically lacks a sufficiently large venue in galleries and museums. Hence, I created an entirely new improvisational-based work, “OrigiNation,” which can also be performed in smaller 100m2 spaces.

OrigiNation – Part III @ Vene Teatern (Russian theatre) Tallinna “COMPOSTER” 23 – 25.11.2023

COMPOSTER
ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC MUSIC FESTIVAL

Sound Artist: Jaakko Autio / Installation Builders: Artur Onno, Merily Prii, Yuliya Deriabina, Denis dzyuba / Consept and production: Aleksandr Žedeljov, Heili Vaus-Tamm, Miina Martensoo, Svetlana Mar / Artists: Taavi Varm, Nuno Correia, Sten Saarits, Tatjana Kozlova-Johannes, Tarmo Johannes, Jaakko Autio, Aleksandr Žedeljov, Malle Maltis, Diana Kiivit, Gerhard Lock, DJ Bandit, Daniil Zandberg, Darja Tokranova.

Electroacoustic music festival transforms the house of the Russian Theatre into a temple of alternative art. Lecturers and students from different universities will create audiovisual spaces, while audiences engage in workshops and experiment with the latest technological solutions during the performance Hominem quaero.

Evening concerts, daytime film and theatre workshops, student thesis presentations, art installations on different floors and much more. Electronic music workshops will be accompanied by installations to highlight the festival area.

OrigiNation – Part II @ Tampere-Maja galleria, Tartu, Estonia 21.10.-20.11.2023

Sound Artist: Jaakko Autio / Installation setup: Jaakko Autio & Hilla Väyrynen / Curator: Sakari Neuvonen / The work has been supported by: TAIKE and Kimmo Kaivanto Säätiö.

“I am particularly pleased with the Tampere lodge’s connection to Tartu. The Estonian version of the tune was sung precisely in Tartu in 1869 at the first Estonian song festival”, says Autio. “The words are different, but our country’s song has one thing in common.”

OrigiNation – Part I / AlkuLähde – Osa I – M_Itä biennaal, Joensuu Art Museum, 12.5 – 17.9.2023

Sound Artist: Jaakko Autio / Installation setup: Daniel Rodriguez, Mikko Santaniemi, Lauri Niemelä & Anssi Jukarainen / Curator: Giovanna Esposito Yussif / Artists selected: Jaakko Autio, Baran Caginli, Disconnected Space Research Group (Jaakko Ruuska, Kati Korosuo, Timo Jokitalo, Hanna Koikkalainen and Pavel Rotts), August Joensalo, Nana & Felix, Katriina Rosavaara, Lebohang Tlali and Riitta Turunen & Outi Särkikoski / The work has been supported by: TAIKE and Kimmo Kaivanto Säätiö.