From 2016 to 2022, Jenni Hurmerinta and Aija Salovaara, both writers and literature therapy councelors, arranged word art groups at hospices, palliative care wards and cancer organisations in different districts around Finland. Throughout the years, hundreds of severely ill people gathered to these workshops to write, and to talk about the uniqueness of life, and it’s finale, death, which we all share.

The exhibition, Handshook by Death, was created around the writings born in those groups during those years. In addition to the texts, the exhibition contains photos from photographer and film director Terjo Aaltonen. Some of the pieces are his abstract interpretations of the texts, whereas some are portraits created in collaboration with the people who participated in the writing groups. In the exhibition space there’s also a documentary video piece and a work of digital art poetry that creates a new poem every moment.

An article in Helsingin Sanomat (finnish) about our first exhibition in STOA 2023:

https://www.hs.fi/kulttuuri/art-2000009487540.html

Exhibitons:

Brinkkala Gallery (Turku) 2024

Galleria Ronga (Tampere) 2023

STOA (Helsinki) 2023

Director: Teemu Antero | DOP: Terjo Aaltonen | ARTIST: Eevil Stöö | LABEL: Monsp Records | Production Company: Balansia Films

Director: Teemu Antero | DOP: Terjo Aaltonen | ARTIST: Khid X RPK | LABEL: | Production Company: Balansia Films

Director & DOP: Terjo Aaltonen | ARTIST: Troll Scientists | LABEL: Exogenic Records | Production Company: Balansia Films

Director | Ivan Prohorov | DOP: Terjo Aaltonen | ARTIST: Kari Tapiirit | Production Company: Balansia Films