WAUHAUS

Open Studio

WAUHAUS FI


Jussi Matikainen and Jarkko Partanen

The Companion

  • 29 August
    14:00 – 15:20
  • tanzhaus nrw | Studio 5
  • Wheelchair Access Impaired mobility
  • Total duration: 80min
  • Area: 70
    Circus & Dance Info Finland
The Companion
© Sofia Okkonen

The Companion

Choreography: Jussi Matikainen and Jarkko Partanen

“These robots can't feel, but we feel for them …” – Kate Darling, The New Breed

The Companion is an individual encounter between one audience member and a robotic dog. In the performance by multidisciplinary arts collective WAUHAUS, the robot entices the human participant into different negotiations, interactions, and play. The encounter harnesses our innate curiosity and empathy towards all moving beings. What kind of agency are we willing to embrace? Are we ready to surrender to and trust a non-human companion?

Artistic Crew / Team:
ARTISTS: Jarkko Partanen, Jussi Matikainen, and Laura Haapakangas from WAUHAUS
Visual Design of the robot: Kari Kankaanpää
Lighting Design: Mia Jalerva
Software Development: Aki Panuma (Probot)
Producer: Julia Hovi

Co-Producers:
WAUHAUS (FI), Black Box (NO), Kiasma Theatre (FI), in collaboration with Probot (FI).

Funders and Supporters:
Nordic Culture Point, Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, The Arts Promotion Centre Finland, City of Helsinki

The Companion