Dancer, choreographer
Čiske-Jovsset Biret Hánsa Outi Biret, Biret Haarla Pieski is a dancer and performing artist from Ohcejohka, the Finnish side of Sápmi. She graduated from the Finnish National Opera Ballet School in 2019 and holds a BA in Dance, P.A.R.T.S Brussels 2022. Her collaborative work with Gáddjá Haarla Pieski Starting from Staring - Čalmmiid Čađa was shown in Beursschouwburg, Art & Land - EU Sámi week, Brussels 2022; The Baltic Circle Theater Festival, Helsinki 2022; The Oslo International Theater Festival 2023, Meteor International Theater Festival, Bergen 2023 and The Ice Hot Nordic Dance Platform, Oslo 2024. She collaborated with author Niillas Holmberg, composer Jakop Janssønn and Gáddjá Haarla Pieski in a performance-concert Juovssaheaddi - The Rematriator, Bodø - The European Capital of Culture 2024. She has worked with theatre director Pauliina Feodoroff on a performance Matriarchy, The Sámi Pavilion, Venice Biennale 2022; with visual artist Outi Pieski on a video installation Guhte Gullá / Here to Hear, Helsinki Biennale 2021 and with visual artist Marja Helander on short film Eatnanvuloš Lottit / Birds in the Earth, Sundance Film Festival 2018. She was nominated the Young Artists of the Year 2021 by Riddu Riđđu festival and Tanssin Nuori Tekijä -award by Kuopio Dance Festival 2024.
About the art
Áimmuin is a short dance performance commissioned by the Museum of European Culture (MEK) Berlin for the Áimmuin -project space, exhibition and event series, where researchers and duojárs are investigating the provenance of the Sámi collection of the museum with the aim not only to uncover the conditions surrounding the acquisitions but also to connect the objects with their Sámi names and stories, thus contributing to a re-appropriation of Sámi cultural heritage. The performance focuses on how our ancestors are embodied in the historical duodji objects, focusing on the náhpi (reindeer milking container), blending different dimensions of time together by embodying the stories and knowledge carried by it.
Choreography and performance: Biret Haarla Pieski
Concept in dialogue with researcher Eeva-Kristiina Nylander
Náhpi by duojár Anders Sunna
In the frame of Áimmuin -project space by The Museum Europäischer Kulturen – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin in collaboration with Sámi Museum Siida, Ájtte-Museum and Dávvirat Duiskkas project.
Biret Haarla Pieski danced her art Áimmuin at the opening of Jillat, here is a glimpse her piece.
Videographer: Kenneth Ly
Edit: Liv Aira