Portfolio
Darkness - Mother - Darkness
(Winter 2023)
Ritualistic choir piece embraces darkness, dark femininity and chaos.
Concept, composition, soundscape implementation:
Aino Venna
Photography: Ella Tommila
Hail the darker Season (Autumn 2023)
Hail the darker season is a performance that mixes modern knowledge of ritual studies,
ceremony, and body awareness with the effects of sound, rhythm, and music composition.
Concept, composition, soundscape implementation: Aino Venna Neuroscience, script, mise-en-scene: Ekaterina Shurkova
Vocals: Laura Suhonen, Ulla Korpela, Valter Maasalo, Aino Venna Voice over recording: Miki Brunou
Voice over: Aino Venna
Premiere at Being Human Festival, Edinburgh, Autumn 2023.
With support of Edinburgh University, Finnish Cultural Foundation, The Arts Promotion Centre Finland
Photography: Ekaterina Shurkova
Meditation drifting (Spring 2022, cancelled)
Inspired by the Pythagorean harmony of the spheres, the promenade piece combined slow-paced walking with a meditative soundtrack heard through headphones.
Concept, composition, soundscape implementation: Aino Venna Planned premiere at Töölönlahti Spring 2022
With support of Finnish Cultural Foundation, The Arts Promotion Centre Finland
House of Muse / Muusan talo (2021)
Installation, Porvoo 2021
A collaboration with visual artist Satu Rautiainen, House of Muse transformed the historic Kappalaisen Talo into an immersive installation of painting, textiles, sound, and movement. I brought the alter ego of Muusa (Muse) to life through presence and music, while creating a layered dialogue between space, body, and voice.
Concept and installation: Satu Rautiainen
Music, performance & presence: Aino Venna
Costume design (Rautiainen’s textiles): Nina Jatuli
Cinematography: Appu Jasu
Supported by: Finnish Cultural Foundation (SKR), Arts Promotion Centre Finland (TAIKE)
AISTIT / Rosenström&Nio / Weaving, yearning (Spring/Autumn 2021)
Weaving, yearning is multi-channel sound installation for a public space. It is a collaboration between the artists Kalle Nio and Hans Rosenström together with the composer Aino Venna and was first created for Kings Cross in London.
Concept: Hans Rosenström, Kalle Nio
Composer: Aino Venna
Singers: Laura Salovaara, David Hackston, Aino Venna, Valter Maasalo Sound technician: Jussi Liukkonen
Technical support: Paulie Roche, Kevin Luckhurst
Technical implementation: RG Jones (UK) / Pro AV Saarikko (FIN)
Photography/video: Hans Rosenström / Kalle Nio
With support of The Saastamoinen Foundation, Niilo Helander Foundation Svenska kulturfonden.
Jäntti&Venna – Park (Summer 2021)
Concept, composition, performance: Aino Venna
Concept, choreography, performance: Ilona Jäntti
Costume designer: Nina Jatuli
Sound technician: Petri Lehtola
Photography: Jouni Ihalainen
Video: Appu Jasu
Audio describer: Pipsa Toikka Photography, set builder: Jouni Ihalainen Trailer: Appu Jasu
With support of Finnish Cultural Foundation, The Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Helsinki City, Cirko Center
Jäntti&Venna - Keinu
(Autumn 2020) Caisa.
Concept, composition, performance: Aino Venna
Concept, choreography, performance: Ilona Jäntti
Lighting design: Kauri Klemelä
Sound design: Pauli Riikonen
Trailer: Appu Jasu
Costume designer: Nina Jatuli
Photography: Ulla Kokki
Video: Appu Jasu
Audio describer: Pipsa Toikka
Review:
“Ilona Jäntti and Aino Venna's acrobatic musical is like a mysterious ceremony.” -Harri Römpötti/HS
With the support of The Arts Promotion Centre Finland
Nälkä (Autumn 2019) Turku National theater/TIP-Fest.
Bram Stoker's Dracula and other 19th century vampire stories come to life in Lee Lahikainen's reinterpretation of the classic.
Direction: Lee Lahikainen
Script: Anu Kaaja, Lee Lahikainen
Composer: Aino Venna
Costume Design: Pia Kalenius
Puppet Design & Maker: Tytti Marttila, Lee Lahikainen
Light Design: Irene Lehtonen
Graphic design: Jara Pohjonen
Actors: Reetta Moilanen, Anna Nekrassova, Riina Tikkanen
Photography: Maija Kurki
Review: "Aino Venna's music gives the drama of sexual subversion an otherworldly aura." Turun Sanomat
Ballantine Scale. (Autumn 2019)
The performance combines Ilona Jäntti’s innovative aerial acrobatics with the music composed and arranged by Aino Venna. The performance studies the interface of exterior and interior, nature and culture, and the turning point of night and day.
Soft premiere in London at Jackson Lane theater, premier at Bristol Circus City Festival 2019.
Concept, composer, musician: Aino Venna
Concept, choreographer, performance: Ilona Jäntti
Double bass: Erik Michelsen
Lighting design: Kauri Klemelä
Sound design: Pauli Riikonen
Set: Pavla Kamanová
Musical arrangements: Aino Venna, Erik Michelsen
Photography: Ulla Kokki
Video: Appu Jasu
Review:
“Ballantine Scale is an excellent small gem of a performance”
Photo: Marjaana Pakkanen
Aramid (Summer 2019)
Site-specific performance Aramid combines aerial acrobatics with live music and is inspired by the arcitecture of Bryga, a rooftop garden designed by Maanlumo at Redi shopping mall in Helsinki.
Concept, composition, performance: Aino Venna
Concept, choreography, performance: Ilona Jäntti
Video: Appu Jasu
Supported by the City of Helsinki environmental art project
Photo:
Marjaana Kokki
Tainaron (Autumn 2018)
Based on the novel by Leena Krohn. Joint production Helsinki festival, Finnish National theatre
Director: Essi Rossi
Dramaturgy: Iida Hämeen-Anttila and Essi Rossi
Scenography: Milla Martikainen
Composition: Aino Venna
Video design: Aino Venna and Milla Martikainen
Sound design: Pauli Riikonen
Costume design: Auli Turtiainen
On stage: Kati Outinen and Aino Venna
Photography: Kastehelmi Korpijaakko
Photography: Theofanis Kavvadas
Music video for the performance
Review Helsingin Sanomat "Aino Venna is the essence of Leena Krohn's Tainaron novel"
Review Demokraatti “Tainaron ei ole paikka. Tainaron on tapahtuma, jota kukaan ei mittaa.”
Orangerie (Autumn 2018)
Site-specific work Orangerie was created in collaboration with aerialist Ilona Jäntti in the Helsinki City Winter Garden in November 2018. Combining Victorian nuances, old ditties of New Orleans and aerial acrobatics, Orangerie is a time-travel performance in the tropical environment of the Winter Garden.
Concept, composition, performance: Aino Venna
Concept, choreography, performance: Ilona Jäntti
With the support of Vivicas Vänner and City of Helsinki
Photography: Ulla Kokki
Kylmän maan kuningatar (2017)
Yleisradio / Radioteatteri / Radion sinfoniaorkesteri.
Queen of the Cold Land - The Prix Italia 2018 winner in Radio Music category
Libretto: Tommi Kinnunen ja Riikka Talvitie Dramaturge: Juha-Pekka Hotinen Composer: Riikka Talvitie
Director: Anni Klein
Sound Designer: Heidi Soidinsalo
Conductor: Ruut Kiiski
Sound Engineer: Pentti Männikkö
English translator: Jaana Wiik
Producer: Pekka Savolainen Yle Drama / Radio Theatre.
Photography: Kimmo Metsäranta
Video: Jouni Ihalainen, Aino Venna
Singers:
Daughter - Meeri Pulakka
Mistress of the North - Päivi Nisula
Daughter-in-law - Teppo Lampela
Islander - Petri Bäckström.
Old man - Tuukka Haapaniemi.
Blacksmith - Jussi Lehtipuu.
Maiden - Aino Venna
Musicians: Sampo Lassila, Harri Kuusijärvi and Aleksi Trygg. RSO -The Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Review in Helsingin Sanomat: “Riikka Talvitien ja Tommi Kinnusen ainutlaatuinen radio-ooppera voitti Prix Italia -festivaalilla”
Yablochkov Candle (2016-)
Ilmatila Circus Company, Concept, composition, performance: Aino Venna
Concept, choreography, performance: Ilona Jäntti
Double bass: Erik Michelsen
Lighting designer: Kauri Klemelä
In collaboration with: Cirko – Center for New Circus
Review Theatre Full Stop: “The live music complements the acrobatics perfectly, or should I say the acrobatics complement the music, for each art form is of equal importance throughout.”