Narva itself is significant for the context of the artwork. It is the most Russian-speaking city in Europe with 96% of the population speaking it. Although the border between Russia and Estonia is clearly drawn by the river, the locals’ own identity is a mixture of both – Estonian and Russian. The name of the installation “On the border” refers to the state border, but also to the border between human beings, and the interpersonal space itself. The artist Jaakko Autio said, “I hope that the installation takes people from the realm of time to the realm of timelessness where we can momentarily remember how it feels to melt and be together in the absence of the polarization of opposite views.”
The premiere of the installation took place earlier this spring as part of the Tallinn–Narva Music Week and reached up to a thousand visitors over the weekend. A small version of the work will also be on display at Kogo Gallery, Tartu (8.9-5.11.2022), Galleria Aarni in Espoo, Finland (1-27.11.2022) and Porvoo Art Factory, Finland (6.12.2022-8.1.2023).
Participating choirs: Narva music school girls choir (EE), Narva Estonian language house Tandem choir (EE), Narva museum folk ensemble “Suprjadki” (EE) and Nomad Vocals Choir (FI)
Composition: Jussi Mattila (FI)
More information: https://jaakkoautio.com
