Exercises in Togetherness at Residency Unlimited on May 5th. Panel discussion featuring artists Gordon Hall, E. Jane, and Asiya Wadud, moderated by FCINY’s director Kati Laakso. Photographed by Helmi Korhonen.

Exercises in Togetherness at Residency Unlimited
May 5, 2022

The Exercises in Togetherness at Residency Unlimited in Brooklyn presented contributions by Helsinki-based artist Laura Cemin and Brooklyn-based artist and writer Gordon Hall.

Laura Cemin created a printed booklet specifically for the event. The pocket-size manual Instructions on How to Retrieve an Action functions as a companion in relearning, for example, how to smile at someone in public.

Gordon Hall performed a reading of their essay Party Friends (2015), written originally for the publication Platforms: Ten Years of Chances Dances. In the essay, Hall reflects back on their life as an art student in Chicago, alongside thinking of communities as support structures in the processes of becoming.

Hall’s reading was followed by a panel discussion in the company of Gordon Hall, E. Jane and Asiya Wadud on the significance of gathering and communities. The contexts for the discussion varied from nightlife and artistic practices to the pandemic era more generally, which has been essentially marked by lack of physical proximity and presence.

Laura Cemin’s booklet titled ‘Instructions on How to Retrieve an Action’, commissioned by the FCINY for the event. Photographed by Helmi Korhonen.

Danilo Correale presenting at Exercises in Togetherness. Photographed by Helmi Korhonen.

Exercises in Togetherness at Scandinavia House
October 8th, 2022

On Tuesday October 4th, Scandinavia House hosted an Exercises in Togetherness event at its Park Avenue venue with contributions by Helsinki-based artists Inari Sandell and Jaakko Pallasvuo, and New York-based artist Danilo Correale. With the event, the Exercises in Togetherness program continued by unraveling and discussing relations between rest and labor, sleep and artistic work in the current social climate, where societies are aiming to “return back to normal”.

Inari Sandell’s textile installation, consisting of works from the body of work Gravity Blanket, create a setting for the gathering. Inspired by their own neurodivergence, Sandell is interested in disturbing conventions of neuronormativity that dictate what bodily and cognitive abilities, styles of movement and degrees of productivity are considered socially acceptable. In their work these norms begin to blur and make way for alternative conceptions from a point of view of neurodiversity and queerness.

Jaakko Pallasvuo’s newly produced text-based work engaged in dialogue with Sandell’s textile installation. Bringing forth relations of work, rest and care, the piece came to life in the aftermath of Pallasvuo’s recent trip to New York, channeling some of the city’s dynamics and priorities yet inviting the viewer to connect the dots.

Danilo Correale investigates the relations of labor and leisure, rest, sleep and dreams of postwork societies in his practice through installation, video and writing. For Exercises in Togetherness, Correale realized a performative lecture on the topic of fatigue. The lecture was followed by a Q&A session with Elina Suoyrjö, the Director of Programs at FCINY.

Exercises in Togetherness is made possible in part by the support of the NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL ON THE ARTS. We are thankful for their support in bringing Exercises in Togetherness to the public sphere, making conversations like these possible.