To Begin
Niemi-Junkola Fanni
To Begin is a work about waiting, loneliness, presence and compassion. It presents a state of physical and psychological pain, the dynamics, dictating that with the wide questions related to the essence of life one is ultimately alone. Even though the work depicts a childbirth, it is not obvious for the viewer. Most details referring to childbirth are left out. The images communicate in a more general level as well. We see close-ups of two women who move in the space slowly, occasionally leaning on each other. One of the women seems to be in great pains. The work depicts a certain period of time during which the situations both grow more intense and stabilise. However, there is no final solution.
Production Year
2002
Duration
00:03:15
Tyyppi
Asiasana
body image, childbirth, children (family members), emotions, loneliness, love, mothers, pain, pregnancy, presence, women
Original Title
Odotus
Finnish Title
Odotus
English Title
To Begin
Dialogue
No
Sound
Yes
Cast
Fanni Niemi-Junkola (Author), Pini Hellstedt (Cinematographer), Pauliina Ståhlberg (Producer)
Press Photos
Fanni Niemi-Junkola graduated with MFA degree from Glasgow School of Art, Scotland in 1995. The starting point for her artistic work is both visual and political. She explores power relations in social communication within everyday life. Niemi-Junkola's video works have been shown in solo and group exhibitions in Finland and internationally i.e. Contemporary Art Museum Kiasma, Helsinki (2019-20, 2009, 1998) Cultural Centre of Belgrade (2013), Forum Box, Helsinki (2011), Kunsthalle Fridericianum, Kassel (2006), White Box, New York (2005), 3rd Berlin Biennial (2004), Moderna Museet, Stockholm (2000) and Manifesta 2 (1998). Her short films have been shown in various international festivals. Niemi-Junkola worked as a Professor of Time and Space Arts at the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts in 2001–02 and she is currently appointed as a Senior Lecturer in Tampere University of Applied Sciences.
13 works