55–98 is an artist collective by Verna Kovanen and Krista Seppälä, founded in 2017. Their works explore the culture of overload and the importance of rest. Kovanen and Seppälä met at Aalto university when studying together in the Visual Culture and Contemporary Art (ViCCA) Master’s Programme.
Siesta 1955-98 Never Forget is a site-specific artwork that consists of a physical commemorative plaque, a community event and a photographic portrait series. 55-98 Collective organized on 5th of October 2017 a memorial service honoring the memory of siesta, which was held in Reposaari area during the years of 1955 – 1998 as the only place in Finland ever. The event took place at the central of Reposaari island and the commemorative plaque made by 55-98 collective was donated for the Association of Reposaari Community.
During the event the inhabitants of the island were given the chance to take a pause from their daily work and have a siesta. The event was also a gathering were locals would reminisce the history of the special habits of the island and talk about the concept of siesta. There was also a possibility to get a portrait with the plaque. The event got wide media exposure and sparked a debate on the meaning of rest in our modern society.
Siesta 1955–98 Never Forget was exhibited in Pori Biennale 2020.
55–98: Siesta 1955–98 Never Forget (2017 & 2020)
55–98: Show Must Go Wrong (2018)
”Show must go wrong” is a video installation based on personal experiences. It is about losing one’s capability to function in the everyday life emphasizing efficiency. The work operates at the boundaries of controllable and uncontrollable – exactly where the solidity of body and mind are questioned.
How the state of matter of a person changes when being under pressure or going through a burnout. How the connection disappears. How we endlessly fight against the gravity of exhaustion.
Video work was exhibited in Beta Space Gallery 2018.
