BIO
Jaakko Autio is a Finnish sound artist whose immersive multi-channel installations interweave choral voices, collective listening, and environmental dialogue. Drawing from both contemporary sound art and over a decade of experience as a theatre sound designer, Autio’s works have been exhibited in museums and festivals across Finland and internationally, reaching over 75,000 visitors in 2024 alone. Recent highlights include large-scale participatory installations “OWLA” (Oulu Art Museum, 56 singers, 2023), “Harmony in Displacement” (26 Ukrainian and Finnish performers, 2024), and the ongoing “ON THE BORDER” series (2022–), exploring questions of identity, empathy, and borders at the Estonian–Russian frontier. Autio’s installations treat listening as a civic practice, shifting attention from representation to lived, embodied presence. By making room for people rather than representing them, the work often reveals unexpected clarity: when given time, trust, and attention, people speak with wisdom.
Autio’s practice is defined by community engagement, experimental recording, and the use of both analogue and digital tools, ranging from cymatics, prepared piano, and spatial choir techniques to real-time EEG interaction and generative video art. In addition to gallery works such as “RE-VERB,” “RE-FLORIS,” and “ORIGINATION,” his current major projects include “RE-BIRTH” (MUU Gallery, Helsinki 2025), a 40-channel installation combining a breath choir, spatialized piano, performance, and poetic headphone monologues, and “INTER SPECIES” (2025–2026), a transnational eco-acoustic initiative with residencies and community workshops across the Baltic Sea region, in collaboration with scientists, choirs, and local communities.
Educated at Metropolia (BA, 2008) and the Theatre Academy (MA, 2013), Autio now works from his studio in Toijala, Pirkanmaa, developing new models for ecological, participatory, and interspecies sound art. His portfolio spans immersive installations, community-based projects, published essays on the poetics of sound, and collaborations in theatre, performance, and contemporary art contexts.
ARTIST STATEMENT
My artistic work emerges from curiosity, radical empathy, and a deep commitment to listening, both inwardly and together. I compose with voices, breaths, bodies and places, using sound to question our boundaries and invite embodied presence. My installations bring together people and technologies: choir workshops, prepared instruments, EEG-driven generative visuals, tactile sound sculptures, and rituals of shared silence.
In today’s cultural climate, the human question is often reduced to claims about who people are. My installations move that question back into lived experience. Through breath, proximity, and shared silence, the work invites a non-essentialist encounter with identity, as something relational and changing rather than a fixed destiny. Listening, for me, is a form of care and a way of knowing.
I am interested in how art can heal, connect, or transform, especially in a time of ecological crisis and shifting communities. Much of my process is collaborative: site-specific and community-driven, reflective, and respectfully experimental. I am inspired by the fragility and interdependence of all living things, and by the stories, memories, and wisdom found in local traditions and silent moments. Through layered sonic environments, I hope to open space for vulnerability, contemplation, and renewed belonging, each project an invitation to breathe and listen together, within and beyond ourselves.
Curriculum Vitae
Jaakko Autio.
Sound and media artist.
Education.
2010–2013 Uniarts Helsinki / Theatre Academy (TEAK), Sound Design (MA).
2003–2008 Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Film Sound Design (BA).
Collections.
2025 Aine Art Museum (Tornio): RE-VERB, collection acquisition.
Upcoming or ongoing installations.
2026 Oulu City Museum / Arrival (Saapuminen).
2026 Ylivieska, Akustiikka galleria hall / Inter-Space (Odotus).
2026 Helsinki / Inter-Species (Lajien välissä).
Installations and exhibitions (selected).
Lead artist works.
2025 Aine Art Museum (Tornio) / Snowball Effect / Re-Verb, Chapter II.
2025 MUU Galleria (Helsinki) / Re-Birth.
2025 One-to-One Festival (Oeiras, PT) / Nature Within.
2025 One-to-One Festival (Oulu) / Nature Within.
2023–2025 Oulu Museum of Art – care homes in Kainuu & Ostrobothnia / The Song of Time.
2025 Möhkönvirta Contemporary Art Exhibition / Re-Ditus.
2025 Galleria Villa Suruton (Savonlinna) / Re-Floris.
2025 KITA Galleria (Joutsa) / Re-Verb, Chapter I.
2025 Aletheia Fest / TransLate.
2024–2025 NART Galleria (Narva, EE) / Possible Worlds.
2025 ARS Kunstilinnaki (Tallinn, EE) – Under the Surface / Mirror.
2024–2025 Tartu Art Museum (EE) / The Secrets of the Leaning Building.
2024 Demolition Art Exhibition (Helsinki) / OrigiNation.
2024 Taidekeskus AHJO (Joensuu) – Urbana Hortus / Nature Within.
2024 Haihatus Summer Exhibition / Harmony in Displacement.
2024–2025 Annantalo (Helsinki) / Table for Two (Pöytä kahdelle).
2023 Oulu Museum of Art / Owla.
2023 Vene Teatern COMPOSTER Festival (Tallinn) / OrigiNation, Part III.
2023 Tampere-Maja (Tartu, EE) / OrigiNation, Part II.
2023 Voipaalan taidekeskus (Sattuman Vaara) / Table for Two (Pöytä kahdelle).
2023 Varsinaista kulttuuria -project / Table for Two (Pöytä kahdelle).
2023 Joensuu Art Museum, M_itä Biennial / OrigiNation, Part I.
2023 Museosaari (Aholansaari) / Kohta.
2023 Malmitalo Gallery (Helsinki) / Table for Two, Part V (Pöytä kahdelle, osa V).
2023 Volter Kilpi (Kustavi), Literature Week / Table for Two, Part IV (Pöytä kahdelle, osa IV).
2023 Olohuone Festival (Turku) / Table for Two, Part III (Pöytä kahdelle, osa III).
2022 Porvoo Art Factory / On the Border, Part V (Rajalla, osa V).
2022 World Cities Culture Summit (Helsinki Opera House) / On the Border, Part IV (Rajalla, osa IV).
2022 KOGO Galleria (Tartu, EE) / On the Border, Part III (Rajalla, osa III).
2022 NART Galleria (Narva, EE) / On the Border, Part II (Rajalla, osa II).
2022 Turku Main Library, Music Department / Table for Two, Part I (Pöytä kahdelle, osa I).
2022 Tallinn Music Week (Narva, Kreenholm) / On the Border, Part I (Rajalla, osa I).
2022 Galleria Aarni (Espoo) / Intimacy, Part III (Läheisyys, osa III).
2021 Kehä Festival (Oulu) / Intimacy, Part II (Läheisyys, osa II).
2021 Ääreen Event (Oodi, Helsinki) / Helsinkini (3D animation).
2021 Galleria5 – Pimento (Oulu) / The Eye of the Source.
2021 Kulttuurikauppila Residency (Ii) / Piste Iin päälle.
2021 M_itä Biennial (Mikkeli Art Museum) / Sound Time, Part II.
2021 Retretti (Punkaharju) / Sound Time, Part I.
2020 VR choir installation / From the Same Tree.
2020 Akusmata Gallery (Helsinki) / Kinaesthetic Poetry.
2019 Nivala Körtti Festival / Grace (Armo).
2019 Free Art Space (Helsinki) / The Other Space.
Collaborations
2025 Galleria Aski (Turku) / Re-Sound (Autio & Akasaka).
2024 YÖ Galleria (Helsinki) / Meeting Point (Autio & Akasaka).
2021 Seinäjoki Art Hall / Waiting Room (Odotustila). dir. Haapoja & Gustafsson.
2021 Galleria Nykyaika (Tampere) / Helmipunoja. dir. Hokkanen.
2021 Mad House (Helsinki) / Sati Dérive. dir. Matruka.
2021 Gallery Hippolyte (Helsinki) / Topics of Weightlessness. dir. Rantama & Holländer.
2019 Zone2Source (Amsterdam) / Waiting Room (Odotustila). dir. Haapoja & Gustafsson.
2018 Gjesteatelieret (Vadsø, NO) / Clown Conference. dir. Autio & Rämä.
2012 Theatre Museum / Did You Hear? exhibition / Singer.
2008 Design Museum (Helsinki) / Fennofolk New Nordic Oddity / Turndramatiks. dir. Masalin.
Selected theatre productions (sound design).
2026 Stoa (Helsinki) / Body Notes (MimoArt Company). dir. Lindahl. Sound design: Autio.
2025 Helsinki City Theatre – 12 Gifts for Santa Claus. Dir. Virtanen. Sound design & music (Autio). Annual Christmas run, 2017–present.
2024 Tanssin talo (Helsinki) / Body Notes – Special Edition. dir. Lindahl.
2023 Café de la Dance Festival (HU) / Body Notes. dir. Lindahl.
2018–2024 Helsinki City Theatre / 12 Gifts for Santa. dir. Virtanen.
2021 Turku City Theatre / Gladys. dir. Maharaj.
2021 Kulttuurimylly – Valon juhla (Kalasatama) / Liekki. dir. Baric.
2020 Cultural Centre Caisa / 30%OFF. dir. Mäkinen.
2019 Helsinki City Theatre / Angry Widow. dir. Virtanen.
2019 Ahaa Theatre / Bette-D. dir. Vapaavuori.
2018 Tsuumi & ensemble / Beyond Space and Time. dir. Mäkinen.
2018 Hurjaruuth / Touch. dir. Rämä & Autio.
2017 MimoArt Company (Stoa) / Body Notes. dir. Lindahl.
2017 Kouvola City Theatre / Gravity Problem. dir. Linnapuomi.
2016 Kuopio New Summer Theatre / Tapsa’s Star. dir. Sorjonen.
2015 Swedish Theatre / Nicken – My Love. dir. Hasselblatt.
2015 Ahaa Theatre / Wolf. dir. Virtanen.
2015 Kuopio New Summer Theatre / Olavi Virta (Soloist). dir. Virtanen.
2015 Kokkola City Theatre / Happy Family. dir. Moila.
2015 Kokkola City Theatre / Jumpy. dir. Ojala.
2014 Kokkola City Theatre / Forest Giant. dir. Aho.
2014 Kokkola City Theatre / Maria’s Children. dir. Pesonen.
Teaching (selected).
Uniarts Helsinki / Theatre Academy (TEAK): Fundamentals of sound design for dance artists (guest lecturer).
Uniarts Helsinki / Theatre Academy (TEAK): From designer to convener and director of works (guest lecturer).
SAMK (Kankaanpää): Media art course (2025).
Rantasalmi Upper Secondary School: Studio basics and sound dramaturgy.
University of Lapland (Rovaniemi): Sound art (upcoming teaching engagement).
Written works.
2013 Wholesome Sound, MA thesis, Theatre Academy (updated 2019).
2008 Space, Time, and Silence in Theatre Sound Design, BA thesis, Metropolia.
Grants (selected).
2025 TAIKE General Fund, six-month working grant.
2025 Oulu2026 / Arrival (group working grant).
2025 Oulun Valistustalo / Arrival (group working grant).
2024 SKR, project grant.
2023 TAIKE, Northern Ostrobothnia & Kainuu Fund.
2023 TAIKE, North Karelia Fund.
2023 Kimmo Kaivanto Foundation.
2023 EVL Foundation for the Support of Science and Art.
2022 TAIKE / Table for Two (Autio & Väyrynen).
2022 City of Turku / Table for Two (Autio & Väyrynen).
2022 TAIKE, COVID grant.
2021 SKR, 3-month residency grant (NART).
2021 TAIKE, COVID grant.
2020 City of Helsinki / Sati Dérive (sound walk).
2020 TAIKE, COVID grant.
2020 AVEK / Intimacy (installation).
2020 SKR, COVID grant.
2020 TAIKE / Sound Asleep (Moriwaki & Autio).
2019 AVEK / From the Same Tree (installation).
2019 TAIKE / Grace (installation).
2019 SKR / Grace (installation).
2018 Kyösti Kallio Foundation / Grace (installation).
Residencies.
2025 AARK Residency (Korppoo).
2025 Tornio Museum Residency.
2024 Haihatus Residency.
2024 Old Mine Residency (Outokumpu).
2023 Tohmajärvi Artist Residency.
2023 AARK Residency (Korppoo).
2022 NART Residency (Narva, EE).
2022 Old Mine Residency (Outokumpu).
2021 Hakoniemi Residency (Rääkkylä).
2021 Kulttuurikauppila Residency (Ii).
2021 AARK Residency (Korppoo).
2020 Old Mine Residency (Outokumpu).
2020 AARK Residency (Korppoo).
2018 Gjesteatelieret (Vadsø, NO).
Memberships.
AV-Arkki. Gramex. Kuvasto. MUU ry. Teosto. Teme/SVÄL. YÖ ry. Nordic Artists’ Union.
Contact.
Rapusaarentie 2, 37800 Toijala, Finland.
+358 44 069 1113.
jaakkoaution@gmail.com.
instagram.com/jaakkoautio/.
Jaakko Autio - Sound Artist 