SELECTED PROCESSES/HAPPIHUONE: 2005-2007 Andrew Gryf Paterson (1974) is a Scottish artist-organiser, cultural producer, educator, independent researcher, and doctoral candidate at Medialab TaiK in Helsinki, Finland. His work involves variable roles of initiator, participant, author and curator, according to different collaborative and cross-disciplinary processes. Andrew works across the fields of media/ network/ environmental activism, pursuing a participatory arts practice through workshops, performative events, and storytelling. What is left behind as digital, material and ephemeral residue of 'being t/here' is a consistent concern. http://agryfp.info/
HAPPIHUONE: 2001-2007 Independent exhibition space and garden allotment in the city centre that served as forum for environmental arts, urban gardening, sustainable design and ecological practices from 2001-2007; including exhibitions, workshops, lectures, music events. Report from 2005: http://www.sustainable-everyday.net/emude/?p=30 Originally constructed as a summer pavilion called 'Växhuset' by a Swedish-speaking woman's group for Helsinki European City of Culture 2000. The building and allotment passed ownership changed hands via Valon Voimat festival organisers, to sustainable design organisation o2 Finland ry. who named the space 'Happihuone'. In the first summers it hosted pioneering Eco-design exhibitions and a fair-trade cafe. Each year it's existance had to be renegotiated with the city planning officers, until 2007 when the city wished the place to be dismantled. I got to know the place in summer 2005, during the 'Ugrilehto' cultural programme organised and curated by peat-artist Papu Pirtola. The exhibition, events and performances that summer focused on Finno-Ugric culture. The following slides document my involvement with the site over a period of 2 years until Happihuone was dismantled. In summer 2009, there are now urban planning stones situated there instead.
TÄHTIKUVITELMA: 2005-2006 Installation / participatory art workshop, at Happihuone Cultural Greenhouse, involving 30 local Helsinki and Vantaa art school students, in addition, 15 other participating / passing-by people. Co-produced with Simo Haanpää, with support from 'Valon Voimat' Festival, Helsinki (FI), 11.2005. Installed until 06.2006. http://apaterso.info/projects/tahtikuvitelma/
The following persons contributed a star constellation design: West / dark-side Alison Gerber+Jon Erikson; Paula-Kaisa Leppänen; Simo Haanpää; Satu Tuokkari+Marja Rassi; Juuli Autio; Linda Fredrikson; Nanna Ketola; Selma Lähteenmöki; Minna Pulkkanen+Valentin Abramenkov; Tanja Sihvonen; Jouni Kuitunen; Tommi Kokko; Taru Haarma; Severi Tikka; Mikko; Elina Miikki; Noora Pulkkanen; Ilkka M; Andrew Paterson; Marianne Decoster-Taivakoski; Himmu Kurttila+Lotta Ulander; East / light-side Alessa+Olga+Jeremy; Ilari Ilmonen; Sami Mattsson; Saara K; Anneli; Tuija M; Bo Telen+Antti Keinänen; Leo Lähteinen; Joona Moilanen; Maja+Reka; Reeta J; Petra S; Tuomas Ahonen; Elina Sänkiaho; Juha Rita; Lauri Laine; Johanna Rapinoja; Mikael Vuorijärvi; Sirkka Haanpää; John Evans.
SUMMER: 2006 Happihuone organisers removed wooden panels, and re-opened for the summer with a programme of music and performance events. However, vandalism returned with greater force with the majority of glass broken. The Tähtikuvitelma boards were reinstalled (in reverse) and a new mural was commissioned to artist group IKAHU on the boards.
SPRING: 2007 Following the winter, in spring 2007, the inside space was again needing refreshment and renewal, and mural was painted over with grey for the new season.
HENGITÄ.HANKALA HENGITTÄÄ: JULY 2007 Writer-in-residence / fieldwork for 1 week, involving 21 multi-disciplinary conversants, Happihuone Cultural Greenhouse [now dismantled], with support from O2 Helsinki Sustainable Design organisation. Mural in collaboration with Simo Häänpaa, Helsinki (FI), 07.2007. http://apaterso.info/projects/hengita/
The following persons have been conversants in the process: 07.2007 (writer-residency in Happihuone) Juha Uski; Anna-Karoliina Tetrin; Terhi Järvinen; Kath Oldham; Alan Prohm; Petri Kola; Roope Ahola; Anja Peltola; Mirja Noland; Sirkku Lumioksa; John Willock; Juha Huuskonen; Isabella Haas; Johanna Nordman; Hannu Tikkanen; Tytti Nuorlehto; Papu Pirtola; Marita Muukkonen; Erkki Pirtola; Sampsa Pirtola; Lily Diaz. 10-11.2007 Andrew Paterson (presenting in Artivistic gathering, Montréal); Lasse Lampenius; Cindy Kohtala; Simo Haanpää; Kirmo Kivelä in conversation with Papu Pirtola (in Finnish). 07.2008 Kai Vaara.
PURKUPÄIVÄT/HARVEST FESTIVAL: OCT 2007 Following the decision of City Planning office, collective 'dismantling days' (talkoot) and 'harvest festival' was combined, organised by o2 Finland ry. This event, spread over 3 weekends, gradually dismantled the building by hand, and recycled the parts. Friends and public were invited to come and take away the parts thy found useful. Memories of Happihuone are stored in bits and pieces. Recycle Replant Renew - Revitalise. Documentation of who took what, and for which cause.
CONTACTS Andrew Gryf Paterson http://agryfp.info/ mobile [FI]: +358 50402 3828 agryfp@gmail.com skype: agryfp locale: Helsinki, FI These slides are placed in wider context of processes here: http://apaterso.info/portfolio/