Kuuspu’s and Saaremäel’s second collaboration is an attempt to remain in an unripe state. Through endless cycle of preparation, they take a step back rather than forward. It is a crisis before the midlife crisis – an attempt to turn an omelet back into an egg.
A stream of water slides down the hill, and the stage takes shape. Their bodies move boldly and somewhat thoughtlessly. Throwing themselves at impossible tasks, they let tears flow down their mud-streaked faces, but socks remain perfectly clean. Their speech flows smoothly, except for a few minor slips. Truth be told, it’s somewhat embarrassing. They are unripe, with clay flowing beneath their skin – raw clay, ready to take any shape given.
The vibe is good, tailwind keeps pushing them forward with a little kick in the ass. The time is ripe for something big to happen. Fairy-tale-like stories are told about it. But the good stuff doesn’t go down the throat just yet.
Keithy Kuuspu (born in 1994) is an artist from Estonia who works in the fields of performance art, choreography, visual arts and ceramics. In her work, she focuses on everyday structures and society's influence on the individual, often through an ironically naive approach. A significant aspect of her work is the fusion of performance art and visual arts, as well as searching for connections between the body and material.
She has graduated from Tallinn University Baltic Film, Media and Arts school in choreography (BA) and Contemporary Physical Performance Making (CPPM) at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre (MA). From 2021, she is studying ceramics (MA) at the Estonian Academy of Arts.
www.keithykuuspu.com
Liisa Saaremäel (born 1992) is an Estonian performance artist. In her works as both a performance artist and director, key poetic components include tiny spaces and the interplay of contrasting scales. By combining various practices and art mediums, her creations often exit conventional theater spaces, blurring the lines between already existing and staged, reality and fiction. In 2021, she graduated with a master's degree in Contemporary Physical Performance Making (CPPM) from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Since 2024, she has been a member of the Von Krahl Theatre ensemble.
www.liisasaaremael.ee
Author, director, performer: Keithy Kuuspu
Author, director, performer: Liisa Saaremäel
Scenographer: Laura Põld
Costume artist: Kärt Ojavee
Sound designers: Vera Vice (Helen Västrik and Ave Vellesalu)
Dramaturge: Jarkko Partanen
Video artist: Jonatan Sundström
Light designer and technical solutions: Kalle Tikas
Photos: Alana Proosa
Project manager: Eneli Järs
Co-producers: Kanuti Gildi SAAL, Liisa Saaremäel, Keithy Kuuspu
Supported by: Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian National Culture Foundation, NOBE
Thanks: Wienerberger, Super SkyPark, EFFEA, Urmo Mets, Kaur Terep, Alan Voodla, Triin Ruumet, Anders Härm, Mikk-Mait Kivi
Residencies: Zodiak Laboratory (Helsinki), ANTI Festival (Kuopio), Festival Homo Novus (Riga), Be company (Vilnius)
Duration: 90’
Language no problem.
The performance on the 14th of April will be followed by an artist talk led by Anders Härm.
Kanuti Gildi SAAL • Pikk 20, 10133 Tallinn, Harju, Estonia