2008-2018

Snowball-open performance

Snowball, the symbol of global warming.

2011
Snowalgal blooming
RedHead- performancevideo Jehkas, Kilpisjärvi, Finland Anne Pehkonen

Patches of red snow on the snow 2.7.2011 Jehkas, Kilpisjärvi, Finland
-red snow is caused by blooming of snow algae





Snow algal cells, Jehkas, Kilpisjärvi, Finland

- http://www.bioartsociety.fi/workshops/?p=227Visual
- Red Snow,  information : http://www-es.s.chiba-u.ac.jp/~takeuchi/redsnow.html
- Snow algae, information: http://www-es.s.chiba-u.ac.jp/~takeuchi/snowalgae.html

2011
RedHead I

2010
Performassi Njalla / Performance Arctic fox



In my performance I want to speak out for Finland with no fur farms. With mystical gestures in my performance I would like to apologize the human egotism from generation of arctic foxes that are no longer with us and would like to welcome them back to our nature in Finland.

In the 19th century, the arctic fox, called njalla in Sámi language was quite common in Finland. In the beginning of 20th century it was almost hunted to extinction due to a human egotism. Arctic fox was protected in 1940.

In Finland arctic fox, njalla is extremely endangered mammal and was last seen to nest in 1996 near river Utsjoki. In 2010 an arctic fox was spotted in the northern side of Salla. That was, and has been the only reliable observation of arctic fox for years in Finland.

The opportunities for arctic fox to survive have become more difficult. One of the reasons for this is climate change, and the issues taking place surrounding it. Fetching food has also become more difficult for arctic fox due to changes taking place in reindeer industry.

There is also a colour type of arctic fox, a blue fox. This is even rarer in nature and is most commonly bred in fur farms. Finland is the second biggest country in producing fox leather. Yearly, fur farms in Finland breed all together four million foxes, arctic foxes, minks, ferrets and raccoon dogs. Ethical, environmental and animal protection problems are associated with fur farming. The increasing group of countries in Europe has decided to stop fur farming, or part of it, based on their country legislations due to reasons in animal protection.

2008




Performance Manifesto by Anne Pehkonen.

In the Series Out of Office/Akashapusha 12.3.2008, Ahjo Gallery, Joensuu, Finland.

2006

Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Performance and installation: Permission to Let Go.
Wools. Stones. Eggshells.
Two women. Two generations. Quiet proceeding.

"Permission to Let Go" is a joint work, developed by visual artist Anne Pehkonen and dance artist Emilia Vepsäläinen. The piece has two elements: installation and performance. The artists will create an installation through a series of performances. Through the processes of each successive performance the installation will be developed and changed.


"We are two women of different ages,
a generation apart.
Together we are working with the concept of the continuous chain of generations of women.
In our individual lives, in our personalities and in the choices we make, we are carrying burdens of attitudes, thoughts and habits inherited from our families and ancestries, whether conscious of it or not.
In these performances we each question our personal relation to our own burdens.
Where do we need all these bonds, are they all necessary?

Can we let go of some of the bonds of our burdens?

How free are we to choose which burdens we will carry?"

2006

Joensuu, Finland. "Permission to Let Go" is a joint work, developed by visual artist Anne Pehkonen and dance artist Emilia Vepsäläinen.

"We are two women of different ages, a generation apart.

Together we are working with the concept of the continuous chain of generations of women.
In our individual lives, in our personalities and in the choices we make, we are carrying burdens of attitudes, thoughts and habits inherited from our families and ancestries, whether conscious of it or not.

In these performances we each question our personal relation to our own burdens. Where do we need all these bonds, are they all necessary?

Can we let go of some of the bonds of our burdens?

How free are we to choose which burdens we will carry?"

2006

Florence, Italy.
"The Red Line", performance, 24th & 25th Feburary 2006.
2006 is the centenary anniversary of the right of women to vote in Europe.

The Red Line is a celebratory performance in honour of the women who were of the first generation to use the right to vote.

Over two days I gathered passers-by in Piazza D`Ognissant to crochet red wool, and participate in the collective creation of a woollen line, symbolically uniting the participants and linking them to the people who, a century ago, fought so nobly and achieved so much.

This performance uses the female craft of crochet to create a memory of this special history and to keep alive the traditions of female craftwork.

The colour red symbolises the deep love which every person can access, and can use to change their society for the better. Italian, Irish, Finnish and Russian people all contributed to the performance.

After the performance some wool remained in the piazza to continue the remembrance.

2005



Eno, Finland.

September - Performance, 2005.


September is part of the international group performance of "Seasons of Mind" -project by Visual Artist Merja Malkki.

2003

Saint Petersburg, Russia.

'Country by Country' is a symbolic, open performance. It is intended to unite people of different countries, and carry the message that art belongs to everyday life and everyday people.

In 2003 an open performance was held in St. Petersburg. The performance took place for six days on six streets, for two hours on each street, over the space of one week.