This project is a second work created with Studio Total. The camera eye follows two human-like polar bears, Fritz and Knut, escaping the imprisonment of the Helsinki zoo and traveling back to their ancestors’ lands in Svalbard. Together with the creative team, I followed two main characters through Svalbard, Lapland, and Trømso towards the final production on Helsinki's stages. Lingering between the visual narrative of raw, rigorous Arctic landscape and urban post-apocalyptic habitats, this surreal punk performance speaks about love, hope, and an attempt to get by in a chaotic world conquered by homo sapiens.
My role
costume and set designer
Credits
Production:Studio Total (Anna Lipponen, Jaakko Lenni-Taattola, Jenni Ripatti
Director: Anna Lipponen
Set, light and video design: Petri Tuhkanen
Photography and video: Petri Tuhkanen, Simona Bieksaite
Music and sound design: Kristian Ekholm
Actors: Ragnar Uustal, Anne Niilola, Miika Muranen
About
One of the main inspirations for this production became increasing science reports about the polar bears, the kings of the Arctic, approaching extinction due to shrinking sea ice, as a consequence of global climate change. The story shifts us to the apocalyptic future, where the entire world, including people, has disappeared, and the only living spirit left on the entire planet is two bears, going back from the zoo to their natural habitats. All the characters they meet on the way are fictional: Superman, Jesus, even Juokko - the Human.
Trailer
Part 1
Following Fritz and Knut through Svalbard and Trømso for Artic video footage.
Part 2
Filming the statement-music video in Helsinki.
Part3
Bringing all elements together into one mixed-media stage production.
