Ihmisen Jälkeen

2023 | Opera Single-channel Video

Together with Margo Nowicka, we collaborated with the director, Teemu Mäki, on the content of the visualisations by using the artificial intelligence models and generative simulations. With the incorporation of the tools of new media, we strived for a manifestation of the ideas of posthumanism that is more subtle and sensitive - that is not confined to telling a story about artificial intelligence and digitial life, but tackles the questions of the human condition raised in the play.

I crafted a series of visual stories in which the actors were "aged" using custom-trained AI models to generate various interpretations of how their appearances might evolve over time. This component was crucial to the piece, given that the opera’s core narrative was about how different intelligent forms could create life from scratch.

You can read more at Helsingin Sanomat, Kone Foundation, and Teemu’s page.

Credits

Composition: Max Savikangas Libretto & direction: Teemu Mäki Conductor: József Hárs Choreography: Petri Kekoni Costume design: Iida Ukkola Light design: Erno Seppälä Sound design & sound tech: Anders Pohjola & Max Savikangas Video (& generative video): Teemu Mäki (& Calvin Guillot, Małgorzata Nowicka) Choirmaster: Jonas Rannila Répétiteur: Jussi Littunen Realisation of costumes: Jenni Räsänen, Iida Ukkola Decor & props: Teemu Mäki (with Mikko Ängeslevä) English translation: Ida Hansen & Teemu Mäki Producers: Nea Huovinen, Max Savikangas Marketer: Ida Hansen Production: Finnish Chamber Opera, artistic director Reetta Ristimäki Partners: Aalto University, MAGICS, Greta Productions & Petri Kekoni Company Performance photos: Maarit Kytöharju (& Teemu Mäki) Program leaflet: Nils Krogell

Solo singers: Reetta Ristimäki, soprano - Birch Susanna Tollet, mezzo soprano - Fog Petri Bäckström, tenor - Machine Tuukka Haapaniemi, bass - Child AI - sample library

Dancers: Meri Pajunpää & Anna Stenberg - Dark Matter & Dark Energy

Choir (Vety & Helium): Heta Kokkomäki, soprano Nairi Azezian, mezzo soprano Martti Anttila, tenor Jussi Linnanmäki, bass

Chamber ensemble: Martta Jämsä - flute, piccolo and alto flute Vivian Neff - clarinet and bass clarinet Olli-Pekka Tuomisalo - saxophones Tuomo Lassila - percussion Fanny Söderström - piano and keyboards Maria Puusaari - 1-violin (concertmaster) Aleksi Kotila - 2-viulin Maarit Holkko - viola Pinja Nuñez - cello Vilhelm Karlsson - double bass