CHORUS SINENSIS

17 June – 25 September 2022

Chorus sinensis is an audiovisual choral work dedicated to cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis). It was produced from 2019–2022 in the coastal areas of the Bothnian Sea where human and seabird territories overlap. The work asks: Is the cormorant worth a song sung by humans? Can there be poems about a bird that never sings, about a bird that some people regard as a nuisance? What could be the cormorant’s tale told in the future?

Conceived and curated by Ulla Taipale, the work combines videos, photographs and recordings made by artist Jan Eerala along the Bothnian Sea, with a choral composition inspired by cormorants written by composer and sound artist Lau Nau. The team includes Karoliina Lummaa, a literary researcher specialising in bird literature, and biologist and artist Merja Markkula, as well as the Poseidon choir: Kristina Bakić, Eeva Bergroth, Anna Jussilainen, Tuija Kuoppamäki, Aleksi Pihkanen, Sami Siitojoki, Teemu Suuntamaa, Susanne Ådahl and Iina Ukkonen.

The Chorus sinensis exhibition’s world premiere takes place at Pori Art Museum from 17 June to 25 September 2022.

//

Art direction and production by Ulla Taipale
Visuals, sound and video editing by Jan Eerala
Composition, sound and sound editing by Laura Naukkarinen

Research of bird literature by Karoliina Lummaa
Costumes by Merja Markkula

Poseidon Choir
Kristina Bakić, Eeva Bergroth, Anna Jussilainen, Tuija Kuoppamäki, Aleksi Pihkanen, Sami Siitojoki, Teemu Suuntamaa, Susanne Ådahl and Iina Ukkonen

Crew at Pohjankalliot island
Cameras: Jan Eerala and Juha ”Tyyne” Laaksonen
Drone: Markku Saiha
Catering: Aila Martínez Taipale

Studio recordings: Artlab Studio / Ville Liukkonen

Chorus sinensis is part of the Nordic The Conference of the Birds project
www.theconferenceofthebirds.net

//

It is supported by
Nordic Culture Point
Nordic Culture Fund
Finnish Art Council
Niilo Helander Foundation
Samuel Huber Art Foundation