Water Fleas in focus

For the past ten years German researcher Iris Zellmer has visited Kilpisjärvi examining water flees in arctic conditions looking for signs of any modifications brought about by climate change. Performance director Merja Talvela has linked with Zellmer to look at water flees with a view to engaging with the research through an artistic perspective. The scrutiny that water fleas undergo when under the microscope is turned on humans by posing questions about our human misconceptions and delusions when we examine nature.

details of photos by Iris Zellmer, Paavo Junttila.

On the 16.7. Merja Talvela will present Water Flea Circus – a peepshow on ecology, a collaborative work between the artist and the scientist Iris Zellmer.

               photo by Tarja Trygg

Water flea circus is a circus with a ringmaster, different acts, colour and music – Just as a circus should be. But a modern circus has to do more than that! In the past, a circus got animals, trained them to do tricks and then laughed at them. These tricks were always outside the animals own world and environment and therefore somehow its actions were ridiculous, e.g. fleas pulled carts. Fleas were kept in a kind of prison, tins to destroy their jumping skills. A modern circus must entertain and include respect for the animal, whatever it is and appreciate how fits into its environment by including its environment in the act.

A water flea lives in a pond, a place considered fit for ‘low life’. In fact it’s a tough environment in the arctic and what seems to us strange behavior in fact makes perfect sense.

PARTICIPATING: Merja Talvela, Iris Zellmer, Martin Kainz, Ada Beloff,  Anna “Umbra” Allén, Anu Osva, Antti Tenez, Heini Granberg

"hunting" the waterfleas: ada beloff & merja talvela, june09

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From press: an article and audio 16.7.2009 in finnish

http://yle.fi/alueet/lappi/lapin-radio/ohjelmat/2009/07/kirppusirkus_kertoo_ilmastonmuutoksesta_taiteen_keinoin_868549.html