Saastamoinen Foundation Keynote: Stan Douglas

Stan Douglas will give a lecture with the title The Black Mirror or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Photography on 18 September at Dance House Helsinki.

A portrait of Stan Douglas
Stand Douglas, photo by Evaan Kheraj

Stan Douglas is an internationally renowned Canadian visual artist living and working in Vancouver and Los Angeles. His work often explores complex issues of identity, history and culture, particularly in relation to colonialism, politics and social structures. Douglas’ art is known for challenging its viewers to think more deeply about social and cultural issues, often offering ambiguous perspectives.

A 45-minute version of Douglas’ video piece Luanda-Kinshasa will be shown at 4pm. The lecture starts at 5pm. During the presentation you are free to enter the space, but after the lecture starts at 5pm the doors will be closed.

Luanda-Kinshasa

The video piece “Luanda-Kinshasa” depicts a fictional live recording of a seventies jazz-funk band laying down a distinct jazz, funk and Afrobeat mix set in a reconstruction of the legendary Columbia 30th Street Studio. The 6-hour video installation combines meticulously recreated period details with an anachronistic, immersive soundscape. A shortened single-channel version of the work will be screened before the keynote lecture.

The Black Mirror or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Photography

Using examples from his own work, Stan Douglas will explore the value of photography’s “unintelligent” automatism. Once the notion of photographic objectivity is abandoned, and the alien, inhuman nature of the medium is acknowledged, it can become a powerful vehicle for human agency.

Time

18.9.2024 at 16:00 – 18:00

Location

Tanssin talo

Kaapeliaukio 3

00180 Helsinki

Tickets

Free entrance

Further information


The language of the lecture is English.

 

Arrival & accessibility

 

Entrance

The main entrance is located in the covered Glass Courtyard of Cable Factory, Kaapeliaukio 3, which is also accessible from the other end of the building at Tallberginkatu 1. The courtyard also has two accessible parking spaces. All routes are accessible. Please note that Dance House Helsinki doesn’t otherwise offer parking for visitors.

 

Cloakroom

The venue offers free attended cloakrooms. Only small bags are allowed in the audience. Dance House Helsinki is not responsible for any lost items left in the cloakroom.

Location on map

See directions