Mika Taanila (born 1965 in Helsinki) is a Finnish

film director A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...

and

visual artist The visual arts are art forms such as painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, ceramics, photography, video, filmmaking, design, crafts and architecture. Many artistic disciplines such as performing arts, conceptual art, and textile arts al ...

. His films can be categorized somewhere between the traditions of classic documentary film-making, avant-garde and video art. His most notable films are ''Tectonic Plate'' (2016), ''Return of The Atom'' (2015, co-dir. with Jussi Erola), ''Optical Sound'' (2005), ''The Future Is Not What It Used To Be'' (2002) and ''Futuro – A New Stance for Tomorrow'' (1998). In addition to traditional cinematic screenings, Taanila shows his works also in galleries and museum as film and video installations. Taanila has participated to numerous international group shows, such as The Venice Biennale (2017), Aichi Triennale (2013), Arctic Hysteria at PS.1. (2008), Shanghai Biennale (2006), Berlin Biennale (2004) and Manifesta 4 (2002). Solo shows include Padiglione de L'Esprit Nouveau in Bologna (2020), STUK Leuven (2018), Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki (2013–2014), Contemporary Art Museum, St. Louis (2013), TENT Rotterdam (2013), Badischer Kunstverein, Karlsruhe (2008), Dazibao, Montréal (2007) and Migrosmuseum, Zurich (2005). In the summer 2012 Taanila participated at dOCUMENTA (13) with a three channel (3 x 16 metres) video installation ''The Most Electrified Town In Finland'' (2012). The piece uses documentary footage during the construction of Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant in Finland. Taanila and Jussi Eerola have directed also a feature documentary called ''Return of the Atom''. The film premiered in

Toronto International Film Festival The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF, often stylized as tiff) is one of the largest publicly attended film festivals in the world, attracting over 480,000 people annually. Since its founding in 1976, TIFF has grown to become a permane ...

and won the NORDIC:DOX award at CPH:DOX festival in November 2015, and was released theatrically in Finland and Germany. In May 2015 Taanila received the Ars Fennica Award. He was one of the six artists in the Nordic Pavilion group show "Mirrored" at the

Venice Biennale The Venice Biennale (; it, La Biennale di Venezia) is an international cultural exhibition hosted annually in Venice, Italy by the Biennale Foundation. The biennale has been organised every year since 1895, which makes it the oldest of ...

of 2017. Taanila's film, ''Tectonic Plate'' (2016), is a cameraless feature film.

Filmography (selection)

*''Patent Nr. 314805'' (2020, 2 min) *''The World / The Earth Who Fell to Man'' (2017, 8 min) *''Tectonic Plate'' (2016, 74 min, DCP) *''Return of the Atom'' (2015, 109 min, DCP, co-dir. with Jussi Eerola) *''My Silence'' (2013, 15 min, video) *''Six Day Run'' (2013, 15 min, DCP) *''The Most Electrified Town In Finland'' (2012, 15 min, 3 x HD) *''The Zone of Total Eclipse'' (2006, 6 min, 2 x 16mm) *''Optical Sound'' (2005, 6 min, 35 mm) *''The Future Is Not What It Used To Be'' (2002, 52 min, 35 mm) *''A Physical Ring'' (2002, 4 min, 35 mm) *''RoboCup99'' (2000, 25 min, 35 mm) *''

Futuro A Futuro house, or Futuro Pod, is a round, prefabricated house designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen, of which fewer than 100 were built during the late 1960s and early 1970s. The shape, reminiscent of a flying saucer, and the structure' ...

– A New Stance For Tomorrow'' (1998, 29 min, 35 mm) *''Thank You For The Music – A Film About

Muzak Muzak is an American brand of background music played in retail stores and other public establishments. The name has been in use since 1934, and has been owned by a division or subsidiary of one or another company ever since. In 1981, Westingh ...

'' (1997, 24 min, 35mm)

Publications (selection)

* Pakasteet with Ilia Belorukov: ''Yksityisalue'' (2020, Ruton Music) cassette * Pakasteet ja Draama-Helmi: ''Tyhjä risteys'' (2019, Full Contact) LP * Pakasteet with Charles Hayward: ''Molten Salt'' (2019, Full Contact) LP * Black and White Movies (2018, Luova) photo book * Pakasteet with Jukka Nousiainen: ''Kylmäketju katkeaa'' (2018, Ruton Music) cassette * Pakasteet: ''Pula'' (2017, Ruton Music) cassette, musical collaboration of Mika Taanila and

Jussi Lehtisalo Jussi Lehtisalo (born 1972) is a Finnish bassist. In 1991, he founded Circle, a prolific band drawing influences from heavy metal and krautrock to develop a style of repetitive experimental rock. He also runs a record label, Ektro Records, releas ...

* Tectonic Plate (2017, Testifilmi) Blu-ray box *''Presents'' (2017, Ruton Music) endless cassette *''Stimulus Progression'' (2015, Apparent Extent/Badischer Kunstverein) 10" vinyl EP of processed background music field-recordings *''Time Machines'' (2013, Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki) monograph, eds. Leevi Haapala, Kati T. Kivinen * Musiikkivyöry: ''Tulemme sokeiksi'' (2009, Ektro Records) cd, compilation of Mika Taanila's teen-age home recordings *''Aika & aine'' (Time & Matter, 2006, Reel23, Amsterdam) DVD compilation of five short films by Mika Taanila. *''Mika Taanila'' (JRP, Ringier, 2005) monograph, ed. Heike Munder *''Futuro. Tomorrow’s House from Yesterday'' (2002, Desura Books, Helsinki) 192-page book plus 75-minute DVD about The Futuro House. Co-edited with Marko Home. *''The Dawn of DIMI'' (2002, Kiasma/Kinotar) A DVD on

Erkki Kurenniemi Erkki Juhani Kurenniemi (10 July 1941, Hämeenlinna, Finland – 1 May 2017,Elektronisen m ...

's electronic art. Editor: Mika Taanila.

External links

*http://mikataanila.com/

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taanila, Mika 1965 births Living people Artists from Helsinki Finnish film directors