Diversity of gender and transgender issues take over Mad House Helsinki, when Transforces occupies Tiivistämö for two weeks. Transforces is a group of activists whose aim is to promote the diversity of gender and increase transvisibility and well-being. Transforces on Stage is a set of performances, workshops, exhibitions, discussions, concerts and parties that all celebrate the diversity of gender and transgender topics.
Teemu Mäki's Transformations - Rewriting Masculinity is representing the domestic premiere, on 17th - 20th March.
Transformations - Rewriting Masculinity is a performance about the change of masculinity. By digging into masculinity, the performance also explores womanhood and the plurality of gender, and examines who are the ones defining these things and what comes out of these definitions. The methods used in the performance are standup, interviews, dictionary, dance and theatre. The performers are part of the Transforces group: transmasculine and other gender diverse persons. The performance is documentary theatre and is based on the performers own experiences.
"Gender is an important subject to me (too) and I've worked with the subject in many of my art projects. People's and the society's action is largly affected by gender. 'How to be male or female, or something else?', is in my mind a relevant question in everyones lives. Some people react to this by adapting to given roles, other by rebelling, creating new possibilities and by altering themselves in new directions. Same goes for economics and politics. The biggest part, maybe even the biggest, of products and services are sold to us with the promise that they make us more attractive, impressive and stronger as men or women - that they're some sort of building blocks for becoming male or female, that you happen to be missing. Many people "buy" these given mirages as they are given but not everyone accepts them", Teemu Mäki argues.
Before the Transformations performances there's Valto Kuuluvainens performance Eino - A personal history of gender. The play is based on ten years of diary notes, where the experience of masculinity, and its variations, is highlighted. The premiere is on 17th March and performances run only for one week, until 20th March.
Teemu Mäki: Transformations - Rewriting Masculinity &
Valto Kuuluvainen: Eino – a personal history of gender
Premiere 17th March 7 p.m.
Performances: Fri 18 March 2016 19:00, Sat 19 March 2016 18:00, Sun 20 March 2016 18:00
Tickets: 17,50 / 12,50 € lippu.fi
Venue: Mad House Helsinki, Tiivistämö-building
Kaasutehtaankatu 1, Suvilahti, Helsinki
K-15