The Post-Industrial Dance is held at Aaltosiilo in Meri-Toppila, Oulu on the 14th of September.
On September 14, 2024, the Aalto Silo, Oulu’s historical architectural landmark, is set to host the much-anticipated Aaltosiilo Festival 2024: “The Post-Industrial Dance” on September 14th. This festival marks a significant step in the transformation of the concrete silo, originally designed by Finland’s renowned architects Alvar and Aino Marsio Aalto, into a cutting-edge multimedia performance and exhibition space.
The festival, conceived by Valentino Tignanelli, runs from 13:00 to 22:00 EEST. It promises a unique blend of music, dance, and multimedia performances that engage directly with the building’s industrial heritage and its future as a cultural hub. This year’s theme, “The Post-Industrial Dance,” explores the ways in which post-industrial landscapes can be reimagined through art and architecture, with a special focus on the integration of concrete spolia waste into sustainable construction.
AaltoSiilo’s Transformation
The AaltoSiilo, originally built in 1931 as a silo for storing woodchips, is undergoing a significant restoration and reinvention, led by Skene Catling de la Peña and supported by the Oulu City Council as a legacy project for Oulu 2026. In 2020, Factum Foundation for Digital Technology in Preservation bought the Silo. Adam Lowe, Factum’s founder, and Charlotte Skene Catling, of Skene Catling de la Peña, have developed a vision for the vast, concrete-like cathedral. It is intended to act as a catalyst for urban regeneration by redefining the relationship between man and the environment. The Silo represents another time when resources were perceived as infinite and only to be exploited, with no thought of the consequences. The first phase of these restoration proposals has been approved, aiming to double the lifespan of this architectural masterpiece by transforming it into a 525 sqm multimedia performance space. Future plans also include a 1,150 sqm Research Lab dedicated to sustainable construction practices.
Festival Highlights
The Aaltosiilo Festival 2024 features a diverse lineup of performances designed to test and showcase the building’s capabilities as a multimedia centre. The festival includes:
• LNA (DJ) & OIVO (DJ): These performances kick off the festival, with vinyl selections that mirror the rough, weathered beauty of the AaltoSiilo, ranging from downtempo to dystopian sounds.
• Alvar Aalto Photography Landscapes Block: Featuring work by renowned artist Elina Brotherus and a Meri-Toppila Photowalk exhibition by Photonorth, this segment explores the intersection of architecture, photography, and public space.
• Live Music & Multimedia Performances: The day will be filled with live electronic performances by artists like OSSIA (UK) and a special guest from Tartu 2024. AaltoSiilo will also connect with Villa Tammekann in Tartu through a live-streamed hybrid audiovisual performance by Gatesleeper and VJ Tencu.
• Concrete Cathedral & Silo Dance: Multidisciplinary performances by artists Antonia Henn and Sisko Iljana will collect and present the dreams of Meri-Toppila residents, while acrobatic choreographies by Lisa Ilona Jantti and Pavlína Podzimková will showcase the building’s unique features.
• Triálogo: A location-sensitive live performance where flamenco artist Anna Murtola, electronic musician Josu Mämmi, and the AaltoSiilo itself engage in a tripartite conversation that spans time. This unique performance incorporates soundscapes, history, and interviews with former workers of the Toppila Oy factory, adding their experiences to the show’s soundscape. Murtola, the world’s northernmost flamenco singer, and Mämmi, a versatile composer and sound designer, bring together a blend of tradition and innovation that reflects the rich history and future aspirations of the AaltoSiilo.
Event Details
• Date: September 14, 2024
• Time: 13:00 – 22:00 EEST
• Location: AaltoSiilo, Alvar Aallon Katu 5, Meri-Toppila, Oulu, Finland
• After Party: 23:00 at 45 Special, Saaristonkatu 12, Oulu
• Live Streaming: https://www.twitch.tv/aaltosiilo
The Aaltosiilo Festival 2024 is a free public event, part of the Oulu European Capital of Culture 2026 program. All performances will be live-streamed on a 14m² LED screen outside the silo, ensuring that the public can enjoy the experience both inside and outside the venue.
Follow Us:
• Website: aaltosiilo.com
• Instagram: @aaltosiilo
Aaltosiilo Festival 2024 is produced by Aaltosiilo Ry and Factum Foundation in collaboration with Oulu 2026 – European Capital of Culture. This event is made possible thanks to the collaboration and support of the Finnish Estonian Institute, Turku University Foundation, Tartu 2024, Oulu 2026, Ö Studio, Factum Foundation, Aaltosiilo Ry, and pARTir.
Parallel Event – The Aalto Bridge
The festival also includes “Aalto Bridge,” a parallel event in Tartu, Estonia. The cities of Tartu and Oulu, both designated as European Capitals of Culture for 2024 and 2026 respectively, host buildings by Aalto that will serve as vibrant arenas for concerts and other cultural programs live-streamed between the two cities. This initiative allows the residents of Tartu and Oulu to participate in a shared celebration of art and architecture, fostering a sense of unity without the need for travel. In Tartu, the event will feature performances by Estonian electronic music and video artist Gatesleeper (Martin Rästa) and VJ Tencu (Andres Tenusaar), offering a fresh perspective on Alvar Aalto’s legacy. Gatesleeper is known for his innovative fusion of sound, image, and various art forms, while VJ Tencu is a renowned director, animator, and audiovisual artist. The event will also include a talk by architectural historian Karin Hallas-Murula on the significance of Aalto’s work, along with free introductory tours of Villa Tammekann and a relaxing garden party.
The six-hour live cultural broadcast will blend different art forms, bridging the architectural styles and cultural contexts of two Aalto buildings in two cultural capitals. While Villa Tammekann is a charming villa that was once home to geography professor August Tammekann, who admired Aalto’s modernist vision, the Toppila cellulose factory in Oulu, of which the cathedral-like silo was the signature building, showcases Aalto’s unique approach to industrial design.
Parallel Event – Reception at the Iberoamerican Finnish Institute in Madrid, Spain
In addition to the events in Oulu and Tartu, a special reception will be held at the Iberoamerican
Finnish Institute in Madrid:
• Date: 14 September 2024
• Time: 17:00 to 21:00
• Venue: Finnish Cultural Institute in Madrid, Calle San Agustín, 7, 28012 Madrid
This reception will feature live screenings from AaltoSiilo in Oulu and the Finnish Cultural Institute in Tartu. The schedule includes:
• 17:00 LIVE FROM ESTONIA: Gatesleeper and VJ Tencu
• 19:00 LIVE FROM OULU: Trialogo – Flamenco performance by Anna Murtola and Josu Mämmi
• 20:00 LIVE FROM OULU: Ilmatila acrobatic performance in and on the Aalto Silo
The Finnish Institute in Madrid will provide drinks, and attendees will have the opportunity to view the exhibition “On Poetry, Mythology, and Allegory: Prints by Vargas and Varis.” The Finnish Cultural Institute in Madrid is one of 15 Finnish Institute´s worldwide. It aims to promote Finnish culture in Spain, Portugal and Latin America as well as dialogue between cultures.
For more information, please follow the Finnish Institute in Madrid’s communication channels:
Instagram: @proyecto.uoma / @institutofinlandia
Website: www.madrid.fi
Facebook: Instituto Iberoamericano de Finlandia
For additional inquiries, please contact:
Producer: Outi Kuoppala
Email: outi.kuoppala@madrid.fi
