The Saari Fellows in January and February 2019

In early January, a researcher with a grant from Kone Foundation and eight artists began their two-month residencies at Saari Residence.

In early January, a researcher and eight artists from different parts of the world arrived at the picturesque, snowy winter wonderland of Saari Residence. In January and February, the residents at Saari Residence are writer Frankie Gaffney (Ireland); playwright, screenwriter Alexander Manuiloff (Bulgaria); film director, screenwriter Erol Mintaş (Turkey); circus and theatre director Meri-Maija Näykki (Finland); author, comic artist Dılşa Perinçek (Turkey); Dr.Pol.Sc., historian Timo R. Stewart (Finland); radio artist and sociologist Karen Werner (USA) and photographer Leena Ylä-Lyly (Finland). Playwright and director Kevin Doyle will continue as the Saari Invited Artist for the spring.

Irish writer Frankie Gaffney is interested particularly in visual dimensions of meaning in the novel. Punctuation, typography, spelling, these are often neglected both creatively and critically as dimensions of meaning, and seem more acute relevance than ever given the increasing textuality of life.

Bulgarian playwright, screenwriter Alexander Manuiloff is working with a text-based theatre installation using the concept of an escape-room situation in which around 15 people can participate at a time. They get dilemmas related to corruption and have to decide what to do with them so that the game can continue.

Circus and theatre director Meri-Maija Näykki is working on three performance concepts that will allow a circus and a theatre to collaborate on an equal footing.

Turkish filmmaker Erol Mintaş is working on two projects: an experimental film and a documentary film.

Dr.Pol.Sc., historian Timo R. Stewart received a grant from Kone Foundation and spends his time at the residence revising his book on Valter Juvelius and Montagu Parker‘s undertakings in Jerusalem, as well as on the concepts of the Lost Ark, science and myth that prevailed in Europe in the early 20th century.

Photographer Leena Ylä-Lyly is exploring the link between the photograph and zen meditation. “More than anything in a photo, I have always been fascinated by its core characteristic: silence,” she says.

New York-based playwright and director Kevin Doyle is continuing his work as Saari Invited Artist until the end of April. Read more about his work from here.