Aapo Nikkanen

During my stay at the Saari Residence, I will develop a performance in which the guests are able to visit a speculative future through hypnosis. The content of the piece is derived from actual research reports on the future, projections on developing new technologies and aesthetic elements loosely related to Cyberpunk. When brought together, they create worlds that resemble sci-fi docudramas. These worlds might be speculative and aesthetically fictional but are based on current projections of a possible future.

I started exploring hypnosis and its potential as an artistic tool in 2022. As my interest grew, I decided to study the theory behind it, resulting in earning a hypnotherapist’s degree in 2024. Today, I use hypnosis both as a medium and as a tool to produce photographic and performative works. Alongside my artistic practice, I run a hypnotherapist’s cabinet specialising in individuals working in creative fields.

In the past 10 years, Aapo Nikkanen’s works have been shown internationally at numerous institutions, including Le Crédac, Palais de Tokyo, Fondation Ricard in Paris, the Design Museum in Helsinki, the Rotterdam International Film Festival, Casa Encendida in Madrid and De Appel Art Centre in Amsterdam.

Nikkanen’s publications have been presented at book fairs in Madrid, Los Angeles and New York, and his writings have been published in various international publications. In addition to his creative work, Nikkanen lectures regularly at different design and art universities and institutes across Europe and runs a new-generation hypnotherapy cabinet in Paris.