Marika Peura: Amalgam Melee

Amalgam Melee sets off from the artist’s inner contradictions in relation to cultural heritage, Brownness, Whiteness, hierarchies of power and violence in the context of Finnish society. How these frictions wield with a double-edge effect; exploring the body where the mechanisms of white supremacy are present both as the one exercising power and the one subjected to it. On stage Peura works with pink tsinelas (which means flip-flops in Tagalog) and a “hela belt” (in Finnish helahoito) with a knife. The decorative knife belt is a part of the traditional regional national costume of south Ostrobothnia in Finland, worn by men. These objects connect and symbolize different aspects of her cultural heritage.

"Amalgam melee" refers to a chaotic or disorderly situation where various elements or entities have merged into a single, mixed-up mass in a disorganised manner. "Amalgam" implies a mixture or combination, while "melee" suggests a confused or disorderly situation involving struggle or conflict. The work delves into the emotional and expressive body; within the conflicts of this ‘third space’, as the means and potential to reach a political sense of self. 

DETAILS

FORMAT:
new dance

DURATION:
app. 60min

CONTENT NOTES

Brownness, Whiteness, hierarchies of power and violence in the context of Finnish society

WORKING GROUP

Choreography, concept, performance
Marika Peura

Sound design
Tiikka Drama

Spatial design
Una Auri

Light design
Luca Sirviö

Dramaturgy
Caroline Suinner, Ricardo

Costume design
Helmi Hagelin

Production
Zodiak – Center for New Dance,
Kaisa Nieminen, Marika Peura

Supported by
Koneen Säätiö

PR photos
Haliz Yosef

Mask/head design in PR photo
Marika Peura with construction by Helmi Hagelin

Performance photos
Haliz Yosef

Teaser film
Haliz Yosef

Visual Identity & Graphic Design
Caroline Suinner

Performance footage & trailer
Teemu Kyytinen

EXHIBITED

Premiere 5.9.2024 Zodiak Centre for New Dance, Helsinki

Touring
2025 international ImPulsTanz Festival 2025 at WUK Vienna

PHOTOS

Haliz Yosef