Tell us about your project. What kinds of themes or questions do you want to address through it?
Within the framework of the Kehittämö programme, I am working on my film The Forest Is Wired For Wisdom, which is a full-length experimental documentary essay film. The inspiration for the film came above all from recent scientific research, in which trees are seen as interconnected organisms capable of communication.
Among other things, my work looks into the work of forest researchers and the artistic work of a composer in the forest. The film is about the search for information and the attempt to better understand trees and forests.
On the other hand, I also want to present the forest as strange and uncontrollable, for example by juxtaposing documentary material with handmade, analogue and experimental footage, in the production of which the forest acts as something of a collaborator. In this context, chance and the contact of organic materials with light-sensitive materials largely determine the final result.
How did you arrive at the topic, and why is it particularly relevant right now?
The idea for the film has developed over a longer period of time through various coincidences. Some years ago I worked in cooperation with biologists within the framework of a single project. The contact with the researchers led me to the Hyytiälä forest research station, which sparked my interest in forest research. At the same time, I have been working on various analogue and organic image production processes, which can be used to create images with things such as tree leaves directly on film, without a camera. I ended up combining these two different ways of working: the experimental handmade film and the documentary method of working.
The topic is now extremely topical for many reasons, including the fact that, according to new alarming measurement results, Finland’s forests no longer form a carbon sink. The carbon sink of the forests has dwindled so much that it does not even cover climate emissions from the forests’ own soil. The film advocates the biodiversity of forests.
How do you approach the artistic process when you start working on your films?
The development of a new work usually begins by accident, without me even noticing. Different ideas and experiments sprout, and suddenly I find myself in the middle of the process. When the idea starts to crystallise, I usually try to acquire as much information as possible about the subjects and themes of the work. A process that is as open and meandering as possible is best for me. I feel that I am at my best as a creator when even I do not completely know what I am doing. Surrendering myself to intuition has usually produced the most interesting results.
What plans do you have for your career as a filmmaker? How do you see Kehittämö helping you get closer to your goals?
I approach the film from the side of video art and visual art, and Kehittämö feels like hitting the jackpot in many ways. The funding it brings is significant, of course, but equally important are the new contacts and the opportunity to work on my project professionally with a production company and mentor.
I have done many things along my career. Processes and projects always inspire new paths. This film will take the next couple of years to make, and I do not yet know what I want to do after that. However, the form of a feature film is a particularly interesting and dear art form for me. I could see myself working with it in the future in one way or another.
Interviewer: Ella Jaakkola
Photo: Riitta Supperi
