maguu uino
site-specific installation in the studio
media: ice, flowers, ceramics, fabric, video art, photographs, drawings
location: Sortavala art residence, Seurahuone building, Karelia
«Maguu uino» («fall asleep» in Karelian) is a site-specific project on which I unfold a theme of assimilating Karelian, as well as researching the processes of falling asleep through the image of the northern nature and Karelian myths as part of the dream space. To rule out a colonialist approach, when researching Karelian, I consulted Karelian language experts and attended courses in spoken Karelian. The project grew out of my work at the Karelia AIR residence in Sortavala and is shown there.
The installation is made inside the studio of the residence. It is a space that is temporary appropriated by the artist and becomes personal. The video object is shown in the most intimate place which is a bedroom. The garden of the residence, which is usually closed and kind of a «secret garden», is also used. It is a multimedia project that consists of objects in ice, flowers and ceramics, video art, photographs, drawings and objects in fabric.
The cold winter lasts too long, but spring comes some day or other, and the first spring flower, having overwintered under the snowy cold wind, will grow.
You remain coldly silent for a long time, and then ice melts and tears burst out. You cry your heart out, stretching out your arms to your mother, she strokes your head and hums softly. You fall asleep in her arms. The tears dry up and their place are taken by bright dreams, which grow like first flowers.
2022
maguu uino
shooting, editing, voice – Anya Slobozhanina
4,52 min
This video was shot during my stay in Sortavala residency in December 2020. The footage showcases the city and its surroundings, as well as Karelian words. The melody playing here is a traditional Karelian lullaby that I sing.
havaččieče
shooting: Anya Slobozhanina, Samaria Nurulova, Matvey Korochkin
editing, sound: Anya Slobozhanina
3,47 min
The cold winter lasts too long, but spring eventually comes, and the first spring flower appears, having survived the freezing snow and cold wind.
Thaw and melt away like the last spring snow, turn into streams, flow into the roots of trees, and pour out as tears from birch trees. Sing like a flock of birds above the forest, blossom with snowdrops, unfold with leaves, open your eyes. Let your hands grow into strong trees reaching the sky, let your voice be gentle like the first grass, and your laughter loud like water streams. Wake up, my dear person.
ephemeral outdoor installation
ceramics, ice, flowers and an object - a flower in ice for every visitor of the exhibition
havaččieče
The first photo
is by Samaria Nurulova
the second photo
uni - dream translated from Karelian
by Anya Slobozhanina
object
fabric, beading, watercolor painting
size: 25sm x 16sm
the book is a dictionary of Karelian words used in the project
