08
Thu, Oct

Night of the Cats lights up Korkeasaari Zoo again this autumn. Photo: Annika Sorjonen / Korkeasaari Zoo

Starters

Korkeasaari Zoo's beloved "Night of the Cats" event is set to return this September with an exciting new addition: an adults-only evening designed specifically for feline enthusiasts.

"For years, we've received requests for an adults-only 'Night of the Cats'. We're thrilled to finally make it happen," said Susanna Silvonen, Marketing Director at Korkeasaari.

A model of the new skatepark. Photo: Janne Saario

Starters

A new skatepark is set to be constructed at Tuhkimo Playground in Roihuvuori, responding to the wishes of local residents. The design of the skatepark was a collaborative effort involving its future users.

Construction Details

Starters

The Finnish capital is abuzz with creativity and intellectual discourse as over 1,300 music educators and researchers converge for the 36th World Conference of the International Society for Music Education (ISME). Hosted by the University of the Arts Helsinki, this influential event runs from July 28 to August 2, 2024, under the theme “Advocacy for Sustainability in Music Education.”

Renowned for its excellence in music education and environmental consciousness, Finland is a fitting stage for this year’s conference.

Afghan refugees sit at registration center for migrants on their arrival from Pakistan at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border in Spin Boldak on October 30, 2023. Islamabad has issued an order to 1.7 million Afghans it says are living in the country illegally to leave by November 1, or be deported. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

Starters

A recent conference by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Denmark highlighted a startling global issue: around one billion people, or one in every seven globally, do not have a legal identity. This situation severely limits their access to essential services and rights, including social services, banking, and voting, while complicating their mobility and pushing many towards perilous, irregular migration routes.

Israeli army tanks and vehicles deploy along the border with the Gaza Strip in southern Israel on October 13, 2023. Thousands of people, both Israeli and Palestinians have died since October 7, 2023, after Palestinian Hamas militants entered Israel in a surprise attack leading Israel to declare war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip enclave on October 8. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

Starters

In a startling move, the Israeli military has issued a demand for 1.2 million civilians in northern Gaza to relocate to the south within a mere 24 hours, without any assurance of safety or the right to return. This ultimatum, criticized widely, has been condemned as a potential war crime by Jan Egeland, the Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council.

Egeland strongly stated that this act would constitute a war crime of forcible transfer, a violation of international law.

Starters

Embattled journalist and WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, persists within the stark barriers of Belmarsh Prison, acquiring an infamous reputation akin to Guantanamo Bay due to its harsh, meticulously secure, and ostensibly inhumane confinement conditions. His name has been interwoven with a lengthy battle for informational freedom, providing a polarized viewpoint that aligns him as a champion of truth for some and a jeopardizer of state secrets for others.

Um Sangour primary health care facility in Kosti, White Nile state, Sudan, is the only health facility that used to support the whole camp population. This health facility now receives 700 patients daily after the population of the camp has doubled due to the conflict in Khartoum. © UNHCR/Ala Kheir

Starters

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have issued a dire warning regarding the deteriorating health conditions in Sudan, where more than 1,200 refugee children under the age of five have died between May 15 and September 14. These tragic deaths are attributed to a suspected measles outbreak compounded by high levels of malnutrition in nine refugee camps in Sudan's White Nile state.

Migrants playing football at one of IOM’s seven transit centers in Niger where close to 5,000 people receive essential services. Amidst the current political instability, humanitarian corridors must be established to allow migrants to return home in a safe and dignified manner. Photo: IOM/Souleymane Galadima

Starters

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) issued a stark warning today, emphasizing the critical need for immediate action to address the worsening political turmoil in Niger, which has further exacerbated vulnerabilities among migrants, internally displaced persons, and host communities.

The turmoil, which began in late July, has prompted border closures and airspace restrictions, resulting in significant shifts in migration patterns.

Armed Taliban security personnel parade on a Humvee convoy as they celebrate the second anniversary of their takeover near the US embassy in Kabul on August 15, 2023. Afghanistan's Taliban government marked on August 15 the second anniversary of their takeover of the country with celebrations and a public holiday, issuing a defiant statement commemorating their surge back to power. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

Starters

In a somber revelation, Afghanistan finds itself grappling with a two-fold crisis: an alarming number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and a distressing prevalence of explosive remnants of war that disproportionately affect children. As reported by TOLO News, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has declared Afghanistan one of the most weapons-contaminated countries globally, with a staggering 85 percent of explosion and unexploded mine victims being children.

More News

Rohingya refugees and humanitarians have faced unprecedented challenges in 2023, including fires, cyclones, and ongoing threats of monsoon-related disasters, putting their resilience to the test. Photo: IOM

A girl looks out a damaged window at a house Israeli soldiers demolished at the Asker camp for Palestinian refugees east of Nablus city in the occupied West Bank, early on August 8, 2023. The Israeli army demolished the house of Abdel Fatah Khroushah accused of an attack which killed two Israelis in the occupied West Bank at the end of February. LEHTIKUVA / AFP

Photo: Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

Himali Singh Soin & David Soin Tappeser. An Omniscience: an atmos-etheric, transnational, interplanetary cosmist bird opera spanning seven continents and the many verses. Photo: re–creatures 2022, Mattatoio, Roma. Foto di Pietro Bertora e Andrea Pizzalis©️2022 Azienda Speciale Palaexpo

Typography

This fall, Kiasma Theatre in Helsinki is set to captivate audiences with an eclectic lineup of performances that explore the concept of home through various artistic lenses. The season, which is an extension of Kiasma's ongoing "As If at Home" exhibition, features world premieres and international guest performances, including works by artists from Finland, India, Brazil, and more.

Opening Performance: A Cosmic Bird Opera

Kicking off the season is a unique performance by the artist duo Himali Singh Soin and David Soin Tappeser. Their piece, An Omniscience: An atmos-etheric, transnational, interplanetary cosmist bird opera spanning seven continents and the many verses, combines poetry and music to delve into the migratory journey of the Arctic Tern. Known for its epic migration from the Arctic to Antarctica and back, the Arctic Tern's story serves as a metaphor for exploring themes of transnationality, cosmic interconnectedness, and the loss of home due to climate change.

Set to premiere on August 29 at the National Opera Amphitheatre, the performance is described as a "philosophical lesson on what it means to be a bird." It celebrates air, lightness, drifting, and horizons while lamenting melting ice caps and lost homes. This performance is a part of the "As If at Home" exhibition's program and promises to offer a profound reflection on the interconnectedness of life across continents.

Prior to the show, audiences can participate in a bird-watching tour led by artist Camille Auer, offering a thematic prelude to the performance. The tour is free but requires pre-registration due to limited space.

Atlas of the Mouth: A Study of Words and Identity

In September, Brazilian artist Gaya de Medeiros brings her thought-provoking piece Atlas of the Mouth to the Kiasma stage. The performance explores the moments when the mouth releases words that roar, examining the intersection of words, identity, and voice in both public and private spheres. The piece is performed alongside Ary Zara, and together, they navigate the complexities of identity and expression through a lens that centers on the mouth as a site of communication and transformation.

De Medeiros's work offers an exploration of trans bodies and seeks to uncover new narratives through the perspectives that emerge from within and beyond the mouth. The performance is part of the Aerowaves Touring Network's Startup Forum project and will also include an open demonstration of Medeiros's new work Run Baby, offering audiences a glimpse into the creative process.

Homesick Superstars: A House Party on Stage

October sees the premiere of Homesick Superstars, a vibrant production by the Finnish Superstar Collective. The performance transforms the Kiasma Theatre into a house party, blending various art forms to create a maximalist, melodramatic exploration of home and celebrity culture. Drawing on pop culture and the dynamics of shared living, Homesick Superstars presents a playful yet poignant commentary on the idea of home as a space shared with idols.

The Superstar Collective, comprising young Finnish artists Paula Nousiainen, Tuulia Ritsilä, Toini Nissinen, Senja Rajalin, Leo Terävä, Ellen Aunio, and Lempi Koponen, brings their unique artistic vision to life with sound design by Iida Hägglund and lighting by Kiasma Theatre’s Mia Jalerva. The performance was selected from an open call linked to the "As If at Home" exhibition.

November Festivals: Dance and More

Continuing its tradition of collaborating with renowned festivals, Kiasma Theatre will host performances as part of the Moving in November contemporary dance festival. This includes Ola Maciejewska's The Second Body, a work that blurs the lines between object and subject, animate and inanimate, exploring the interconnectedness of matter and bodies.

Later in the month, the theatre partners with the Baltic Circle Festival, offering audiences a diverse array of performances. The full program for Baltic Circle will be announced in the fall, promising innovative works that challenge and inspire.

Remarkable Sunsets: A Natural Phenomenon Takes the Stage

Concluding the season in December is the premiere of Remarkable Sunsets, a stage work by Tatu Nenonen and Santtu Uuttu. This piece explores the aftermath of the Krakatoa volcanic eruption in 1883, which famously affected sunsets worldwide due to atmospheric changes. The performance will incorporate an infrasound device, creating vibrations ten times larger than those produced by traditional speakers, to replicate the natural phenomenon that followed the eruption.

The project, featuring Tatu Nenonen, Ilmari Paananen, and Santtu Uuttu, promises a sensory experience that immerses audiences in the atmospheric and sonic reverberations of one of history's most significant natural events.

Fall 2024 Performance Schedule

  • Music Performance
    Himali Singh Soin & David Soin Tappeser: An Omniscience: An atmos-etheric, transnational, interplanetary cosmist bird opera spanning seven continents and the many verses
    Thursday, August 29, 7:00 PM, National Opera Amphitheatre (Helsinginkatu 58)
    6:15 PM bird-watching tour at Töölönlahti, separate registration required
    Free Admission

  • Performance
    Gaya de Medeiros: Atlas of the Mouth
    Wednesday, September 11, 6:00 PM
    Thursday, September 12, 6:00 PM
    Kiasma Theatre
    Tickets €25 / €15

  • Public Demo
    Gaya de Medeiros & Ary Zara: Run Baby
    Saturday, September 21, 2:00 PM, Kiasma Theatre
    Free Admission

  • Performance
    Superstar Collective: Homesick Superstars
    Thursday, October 17, 6:00 PM
    Saturday, October 19, 2:00 PM
    Sunday, October 20, 2:00 PM
    Wednesday, October 23, 6:00 PM
    Friday, October 25, 6:00 PM
    Saturday, October 26, 2:00 PM
    Tuesday, October 29, 6:00 PM
    Kiasma Theatre
    Tickets €25 / €15

  • Dance
    Moving in November Festival
    Ola Maciejewska: The Second Body
    Saturday, November 9, 5:00 PM
    Sunday, November 10, 5:00 PM
    Kiasma Theatre
    liikkeellamarraskuussa.fi

  • Festival
    Baltic Circle
    November 22-29
    balticcircle.fi

  • Performance
    Nenonen & Uuttu Et Alia: Remarkable Sunsets
    Thursday, December 12, 6:00 PM
    Saturday, December 14, 2:00 PM
    Sunday, December 15, 2:00 PM
    Tuesday, December 17, 2:00 PM & 6:00 PM
    Wednesday, December 18, 6:00 PM
    Kiasma Theatre
    Tickets €25 / €15

Kiasma Theatre's fall season promises to engage and inspire, offering audiences a diverse array of performances that challenge traditional narratives and invite reflection on the notion of home in today's world.

6D

After-dark
Sixdegrees

Chef recommends

Chef recommends

Chef recommends

Chef recommends

Appetizer

Appetizer

Appetizer

Appetizer

Commentary

Commentary

Commentary

Commentary

Interview

WorldCon 75, Scott Lynch; photo by Jana Blomqvist

Interview

WorldCon 75, Robin Hobb; photo by Jana Blomqvist

Interview

Based on an interview by Alisa Nirman on 3.10.2016

Interview