Mika Taanila’s A Physical Ring (2002) is screened in OBORO, A centre dedicated to production and presentation of art, contemporary practices and new media, in Montréal from February 3–23, in the exhibition Spectres, Waves and Modulations.

Spectres, ondes et modulations (Spectres, Waves and Modulations) is a collaboration between artist Martine H. Crispo and curator Nicole Gingras. The exhibition Fantaisie optophonique emerges from an exchange between the two women dating back to the artist’s first exploration with visualized sound. It features an original installation by Martine H. Crispo with a selection of films and videos in the adjacent gallery drawing on a range of optic and acoustic  phenomena by artists and filmmakers. The dialogue between these works, instigated by the curator, opens a space of reflection that Martine H. Crispo’s practice occupies, from a historical and thematic perspective.

A Physical Ring is a found-footage film configured into a site-specific installation for between one and four projectors. Its raw material is documentation of anonymous physical tests that took place in Finland during the 1940s; the original purpose of the tests remains unknown. Through careful editing techniques, the inanimate research footage is assembled into a piece of kinetic art. An integral part of the piece is the specially commissioned soundtrack by Mika Vainio.

Mika Taanila (s. 1965) is a filmmaker and visual artist based in Helsinki, Finland. He works with documentaries, experimental film and visual arts. Human engineering, utopias, failures and man-machines are recurring themes in his films and installations. Taanila’s works have been shown at major international group shows, such as Venice Biennale (Nordic Pavilion 2017), Aichi Triennale (2013), dOCUMENTA (2012), Shanghai Biennale (2006), Berlin Biennale (2004), Manifesta (2002) and Istanbul Biennial (2001). Solo shows include the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma in Helsinki (2013–14), Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (2013), TENT, Rotterdam (2013) and Galleria Heino, Helsinki (2010). Taanila’s short films have been screened altogether at more than 300 international film festivals and special events. In 2015, Taanila was awarded with the prestigious Ars Fennica Award, the biggest Finnish art award.

Spectres, ondes et modulations, video programme in OBORO, 3.–23.2.2018, Montréal, Canada

More information: OBORO 

AV-ARKKI HAS PROMOTED AND DISTRIBUTED FINNISH MEDIA ART SINCE 1989. AV-ARKKI’S PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS HAVE MADE THE ARTISTS’ PARTICIPATION IN THIS EVENT POSSIBLE.