The BDSM video piece tells what everyone can learn about power plays and sadomasochism.
Minna Havukainen’s video work Garden shows a side of kink that has not been presented to the general public before.
When visual artist Minna Havukainen from Turku started working on a video work about kink, one thing was clear: the work must show how joyful and playful BDSM can be. “The garden shows a side of BDSM and kinkiness that has been missing from the Finnish imagery. It brings out the depth, trust and love of BDSM, teaches about the importance of communication and shows that kinky sexuality can also be a sexual identity,” says Havukainen.
In the video work “Purtuha”, five people who identify as kinky talk about what kinky means to them. The viewer gets to watch intimate play and see how nurturing and loving playing with pain and power can be.
“We all have different sides. On the one hand, I am strong and dominant, but I also miss being at the mercy of others. Through Kinky, these needs can be fulfilled in ways that would not be possible in everyday life. It’s really empowering to be able to be completely relaxed during the session and just trust that everything will go well,” says Miia, who performs in Puutharta.
According to Havukainen, the Garden is not only a description of BDSM, but it deals more broadly with trust and communication. It challenges everyone to think about how they can and must speak out about their own needs and desires and what kind of limits it is possible to set.
The recommended age limit for the video work is K18, and the shows start at even hours. The work contains nudity and depicts sadomasochistic activity, which someone may find oppressive. Any kind of recording of the work is prohibited.
Visual artist Minna Havukainen (b. 1969) tackles in her works phenomena that are often avoided. Her works, as well as the extensive ensembles of events he organizes in connection with exhibitions, deal with the ultimate questions of life, such as birth, death, illness and sexuality. Havukainen’s work has been recognized with a Fotofinlandia nomination, the Aboa award and the cultural award of the Pyhä Henrik Foundation.
The Garden, filmed in the Turku region, is Minna Havukainen’s first feature-length directorial. The work has previously been exhibited in 2021 at the Wäinö Aaltonen Museum in the Spektri joint exhibition and at the Love and Anarchy and Vinokino festivals. The garden is also on display until March 14, 2023 in Berlin, in the “And I Trust You” exhibition of the Miettinen Collection gallery, curated by Anna Miettinen and Linda Peitz (Miettinen Collection & Sammlung Peters-Messer).
thank you
The production of the work has been supported by the Koneen Foundation, the Art Promotion Center/Varsinais-Suomen art committee and the Varsinais-Suomen rahasto of the Finnish Cultural Foundation. Special thanks to Kuusisto Taidekartano and Teemu Mäe.
Contact information
Minna Havukainen visual artist, photo artist, director
Tel: 040-7174603
email: minna.havukainen10(a)gmail.com
http://www.100finnishphotographers.fi/minna-havukainen/
