Artist, performer, and journalist
Informed by a decade-long experience in news production and journalism, Katriina Kettunen (b. 1983 in Finland) explores the questions of (un)communication and encounter in her performances. She often employs mixed media and autobiographical material in her works which are marked by humor, improvisation and subtle audience participation.
Image: Rosemarie Särkkä
Education
2017–2020 MA in Live Art and Performance Studies, Uniarts Helsinki, Theatre Academy
2002–2009 M.Soc.Sci. (journalism), University of Tampere
2006 exchange studies, Universidad Católica de Córdoba and Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina
1999–2002 Matriculation examination, Jyväskylän normaalikoulu
Professional experience (selected)
Journalism and communication
2024– Journalist & script writer for Kovan viikon ilta news satire on TV. Visit page.
2022 Coordinator and contributing editor to Taiteen paikka online publication. Visit page.
2018– freelance journalist. Primarily working for Yle, the Finnish Broadcasting Company.
12/2010–10/2017 Yle Uutiset. News journalist, producer, and presenter.
10/2009–03/2010; 11/2012–05/2013 Embassy of Finland, Managua, Nicaragua. Communications advisor.
5/2009–8/2009 Finnish News Agency STT. News journalist and presenter.
6/2008–8/2008 SR Sisuradio, Stockholm. News journalist and presenter.
5/2005–1/2006 Yle Tampereen radio. Reporter.
Live art and performance
2022–2023 Mobiilioratorio (eng. Mobile oratorio). Site-sensitive participatory performance.
Dec 15, 2023 Lastenkulttuurikeskus Kruunupää & Asema 44, Pori
Jan 27, 2023 Testing, testing event, Jokistudio, Turku
Oct 14, 2022 Ars Pori 22, Kauppakeskus Isokarhu, Pori
July 23, 2022 Jättömaa Kylässä II festival. Sippola, Kouvola.
2021 & 2023 Stadium Drills. Participatory performances in collaboration with Olga Spyropoulou.
July 2023 Hiukka Stadium Drill, #Holiday365 exhibition, Sotkamo
Sep 3, 2021 Paavo Nurmi Stadium Drill. New Performance Turku Festival 2021: Survival.
Oct 2022 Läpinäkyvyydestä (eng. Exercises in Transparency). Process-based live art project. Concept, direction, and performance: Katriina Kettunen. Sound design and performance: Oula Rytkönen. Set and light design, performance: Kristian Palmu. Production: Reality Research Center & Cultural Center Caisa.
August 18–20, 2022 The Other Kontula. Playlet. Concept & direction: Tuire Tuomisto. Script: Katriina Kettunen & Tuire Tuomisto. Performers: Katriina Kettunen, Kristiina Laire, Marko Lumikangas, Tuula Sarivaara, Ia Tanskanen. Production: Reality Research Center.
2021–2022 Performance Wagon. Reality Research Center 20th anniversary performance. Member of the working group.
August 2021 premier in Helsinki
June 2022 Näkemiin Lainsuojattomat! festival in Pori
August 2022 Kontula! Live festival in Helsinki
2020–2021 We’re like one place – online bedtime story service. One-on-one performance in collaboration with Olga Spyropoulou.
May 2020 Feel Helsinki festival, Uniarts Helsinki
April 2021 in collaboration with Catalysti ry & Uniarts
Nov–Dec 2021 Posture of Impermanence exhibition, Vantaa Art Museum Artsi & Uniarts Helsinki
2020–2021 To organise our disappointments. Participatory performance in collaboration with Olga Spyropoulou. Reality Research Center OFF programme.
Aug–Sep 2020 Cultural Center Stoa, Helsinki & Kunsthalle Turku
May 2021 Mad House Helsinki
Nov 9, 2019 Uutisista, hyvää päivää. Performance. Working group: Katriina Kettunen (MA artistic thesis work), Oula Rytkönen, Kiira Sirola, Juhani Haukka. Production: Uniarts Helsinki, Theatre Academy. Sanomatalo, Helsinki.
Sep 7, 2019 Birthday performance for Laura and Rosa. Westers Trädgård, Kemiönsaari.
April 6, 2019 Nykyaika IV: Pysähtyminen. Durational performances. Member of the working group. Production: Nuoren Voiman Liitto, Kriittinen Korkeakoulu and Ylioppilasteatteri. Ylioppilasteatteri, Helsinki.
2018 Postdigital. Member of the working group. Production: Reality Research Center. Helsinki & Tammisaari.
May 12, 2018 Subject to Change. Durational performance at the International Performance Symposium Recall – Reflect – Return. Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center, Ramallah, Palestine.
Nov 23–24, 2017 This is an Art Piece. Unannounced street actions and a multimedia installation. Concept, camera, editing: Katriina Kettunen; performance: Daniela Pascuál. Production: Uniarts Helsinki, Theatre Academy. Co|LAPSe event, Space for Free Arts, Helsinki.
Aug 30, 2017 Gondola Repair Yard. Open action in collaboration with Harold Hejazi and Nicolina Stylianou. Venice, Italy.
Aug 24, 2017 Pyllyinsertti. Performance by the Feminist Poetry Band MLK. Nuoria vieraita Universumissa event, Helsinki.
Stand-up comedy
Over 80 gigs from 2017 onwards
Both in Finnish and in English
At clubs such as Svenkka, Comedy Idiot, Takakeno, Remakka, Munkkiklubi and Kumpula
Acting in theatre, film, and audio
2021 Huuhkajamania. Podcast. Role: newscaster. Aapa Productions, Yle Draama, and Yle Urheilu.
2018 Uniraati. Podcast. Role: dream reader. Yle Draama.
2015 Post-War Dreams. Documentary short film by Juhani Haukka. ELO Film School.
2014 YHÄ! Live art happening directed by Lauri Mattila. Ylioppilasteatteri and Uniarts Helsinki, Theatre Academy.
2013 Huvipuisto. Live art event coordinated by Ossi Koskelainen, Veikko Nuutinen, Laura Pietiläinen and Lasse Poser. Ylioppilasteatteri.
2012 Rakkaus ja maailmanloppu. Play directed by Akse Pettersson. Ylioppilasteatteri.
2011 Lucia lux lux delux – valoa kohti! Play directed by Akse Pettersson and Veikko Nuutinen. Ylioppilasteatteri.
Cultural production and curatorial work
2019 Co-curating and co-producing the 7th edition of International Live Art and Performance Festival Lapsody: Signatures. Uniarts Helsinki, Theatre Academy.
2013 Coordinating and organizing the official 30th anniversary celebrations of Finnish-Nicaraguan cooperation. Main event held in Managua. Embassy of Finland in Managua, Nicaragua.
2012 Tour manager and organizer for the Nicaraguan artist Perrozompopo for his visit in Finland. In collaboration with Suomi-Nicaragua-seura, Oulu-Matagalpa-seura, Kepa and the Foreign Ministry of Finland.
Teaching
April 25–26, 2020 Online performance workshop for Ylioppilasteatteri. Themes: live art vs. documentation, everyday life vs. art, performance scores, Fluxus, duration and repetition.
Publications and presentations
2020 Ihminen välissä: Ehdotus uutistoimittajan uudeksi työksi. MA thesis in Live Art and Performance Studies, Uniarts Helsinki, Theatre Academy. View online.
2019 My signature is in the seams. Online exposition. Episodi vol 6. Uniarts Helsinki, Theatre Academy. View online.
2017 Unfinished story: Teenage mothers in Nicaragua. Paper presentation. Pl.ETA Performing Otherness conference, Uniarts Helsinki, Theatre Academy.
2009 Journalismin kansalliset diskurssit. Master’s thesis in journalism. University of Tampere. View online.
Awards, grants, and residencies
2022 & 2020 Artist in Residence, Mustarinda
2021 Covid-19 grant, Arts Promotion Centre Finland
2021 Project grant, Arts Promotion Centre Finland
2021 Saari Residence, Kone Foundation
2020 Project grant, City of Helsinki
2018 Grant, JOKES
2009 Award for Thesis of the Year, Department of Journalism, University of Tampere
Affiliations
Artists’ Association MUU (visit page)
Reality Research Center (visit page);
member of the board 2021Feminist Poetry Band MLK 2015–2017
Ylioppilasteatteri (visit page)
Asociación de Amistad Finlandia-Nicaragua
Union of Journalists in Finland
Language skills
Finnish – native language
English – fluent
Spanish – fluent
Swedish – good
German – good