Pia Karaspuro & Sibylla Klein

nhabiting Spaces – Inhabiting Languages by choreographer and director Sibylla Klein and dance artist Pia Karaspuro is a series of place-specific works that function as participatory performances and as sensory journeys that expand on our experience of spaces. The work stems from the personal experiences of both members of the group, specifically in relation to multilingualism. What kinds of distinctions between German and Finnish become relevant when trying to conceptualize experiences related to space and special relationships? And on the other hand, how do spaces and experiences of them mould speech? Or, what kinds of motion do words from different languages inspire?

A central idea of the concept is to expand both the performer’s and the audience’s experience of each respective space as well as to open up new possibilities for how to and what can exist in the space. The goal is to highlight the experience of the shared space: on the one hand, a space can create a sense of unity but it can also create division between people who experience it differently. In each work, occupying a particular space in a special or exceptional way stems from the parameters assigned to the work, i.e. on how the artists have decided the space should be approached. Existing in an exceptional way – same as being in a special, exceptional space – can be mirrored against existing in the world. The space adapts to the person experiencing it, as does the experiencer to the space.

The series of works will include both man-made and natural places.

Sibylla Klein and Pia Karaspuro also belong to the performance art group Tauko/Pause. The group started off in 2001 with a project called Hiljaisuus (”silence”). It was followed by the works Matka Maahan – Expedition (2003), Tauko – Pause (2004), Ena (2005–2006) and HOP (2009–2010), which have been performed in both Finland and Germany. The group’s productions have featured director and choreographer Sibylla Klein, dance artist Pia Karaspuro, actress Julia Klein, architect Dirk Kottman, vocal artist Juha Valkeapää, musicians Riitta Huttunen and Andreas Fulgosi, and light designer Pekka Pitkänen. Each workgroup is built according to the needs of the individual project. Sibylla Klein and Pia Karaspuro are original members and have collaborated on all of the group’s works.