REINDEER SAFARI

AWARD WINNING REINDEER SAFARI IS A PERFORMANCE, AN ENVIRONMENTAL ART PIECE AND A COLLECTIVE WANDERING.

The goal of Reindeer Safari is to restore an urban landscape to its natural state by observing it from the point of view of a semi-domestic, semi-wild herd animal – a reindeer.

The performance takes place in a semi-urban landscape, similar to places that authentic reindeer might also visit. The participants of Reindeer Safari form a herd, which moves according to natural rules that correspond to the group behavior of reindeer. The herd autonomously decides its itinerary and the rhythm of its wayfaring, travelling silently across the landscape, uttering sounds only to inform the herd when feeling threatened.

Reindeer Safari begins with an instructional lecture about reindeer and their way of living, followed by 2-3 hours of wayfaring in a semi-urban landscape. We finish with a round-up session, where documented materials of the wandering are shown and the participants can share their experiences.

WRITINGS AND REVIEWS

Esa Kirkkopelto, Erään poron tunnustuksia. (Confessions of a Reindeer) Esitys ja toiseus, from page 29 onwards.

Laura Haapala, Porona rajatilassa, Voima, September 2010.

Soile Veijola, Towards Silent Communities, in the book Disruptive Tourism and its Untidy Guests. Two first pages visible also without purchasing.

Reindeer Safari is the most widely toured performance of the Other Spaces, both in Finland and internationally. Since 2010, the reindeer have been seen in Helsinki, Turku, Kuopio, Lecco, Santarcangelo, Milan (Italy), Mols (Denmark), Athens (Greece), Edinburgh (Scotland) and Bern (Switzerland). Reindeer Safari has been performed both in the middle of freezing winter and sweltering summer.

Photo Pekka MäkinenPhoto Pekka MäkinenPhoto Anita Neira TiemannPhoto Eija Ranta
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PERFORMED

2010 Reindeer Safari, premiere and video installation. /theatre.now Festival. Kiasma. Helsinki.
2011 Performance Center. Helsinki.
2012 ART LAB: Half Wild i.e. Reindeer, workshop. Annantalo. Helsinki.
2012 Il Giardino delle Espiridi festival. Lecco, Italy.
2012 Turun Kaupunginosaviikot. Turku.
2013 Secret Hotel. Mols, Denmark.
2013 ANTI Festival. Kuopio.
2014 Santarcangelo S14 Festival. Santarcangelo, Italy.
2014 Secret Hotel. Mols, Denmark.
2014 Mir Festival. Athens, Greece.
2015 Edinburgh Science Festival. Edinburgh, Scotland.
2015 Auawirleben Theaterfestival. Bern, Switzerland.
2017 Theatre Academy. Helsinki.
2017 Chiaravalle, Italy.