Marja Viitahuhta is a visual artist and filmmaker originating from the north of Finland, settled in Helsinki. Her works range from films, performances and installations to photography and collage. She holds a BA degree in performance art from the Turku Polytechnic Arts Academy and an MFA degree from the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts. She has been awarded internationally at Cannes (Cinéfondation), Stuttgarter Filmwinter, Mediawave and L’Alternativa film festivals. Her works have been screened and exhibited world-widely at film festivals, galleries and museums, including the Cannes Film Festival, MoMA and Kiasma Contemporary Museum of Art.
Viitahuhta’s moving image works have dealt with perception and experience of female protagonists, temporality and existence as well as overcoming trauma. Her works have dealt with storytelling in relation to personal memories as well as stories about nations or landscapes. Utilization of archive material, found imagery, autofictional storytelling as well as interviews are common. The text and imagery are set in a dialogue.
Alongside working as an artist she has worked as an art teacher and lecturer as well as an audio book reader. She has also been an active member of the running board of the artist-run Galleria Huuto since 2009 and organized and curated several group shows. For several years she has collaborated with the sami musician Ánnámáret as well as her band members Ilkka Heinonen and Turkka Inkilä.
Other websites
Av-arkki
Vimeo Marja Viitahuhta’s Vimeo account
Instagram Instagram account
Press & Reviews
Free, radical (2004) Cork Film Festival review by Maximilian Le Cain for Senses of Cinema. Chapter 8 talks about 99 Years of My Life
American-Scandinavian Foundation Celebrates Centennial with Exhibition of Contemporary Nordic Art (2011) review of North by New York, a group exhibition in Scandinavian House, New York
Chilly Scenes (and Sounds) of Scandinavia (2011) review of North by New York, a group exhibition in Scandinavian House, New York
Marja Mikkonen (2002) (in swedish) A portrayal by Joanna Sandell in SvD
Press & Reviews in finnish
Marja Viitahuhdan jännittävissä videoissa joiku kohtaa mediataiteen (2023) Harri Römpötin televisioarvostelu Marja Viitahuhdan ja Ánnámáretin (yhteistyössä muusikoiden Ilkka Heinonen ja Turkka Inkilä kanssa) toteuttamista videoteoksista
Hiljaisesti ja rauhallisesti ei-mistään (2013) Saara Hacklinin näyttelyarvio Mustekala -sivustolla
Miten maailma hahmottuu (2012) Otso Kantokorven näyttelyarvio Alaston kriitikko -sivustolla
Tuoksuja, katseita, matkoja ja politiikkaa Kiasman järjestetyssä jutussa (2010) Pirkko Holmberg, Jenni Martikainen ja Harri Mäcklin Mustekala -sivustolla
Neljän naisen yhteinen elämä (2004) Leena Virtasen juttu Helsingin Sanomissa
Taideakatemialaisten elokuva tuli kotikatsomon väkeä liki (2004) Ari-Matti Ruuskan juttu Turun Sanomiin 99 Vuotta Elämästäni -elokuvan valinnasta Cannesin Elokuvajuhlille
Publications
Noniin magazine (2022) My interview of artist and colleague Azar Saiyar published in the Noniin online magazine
Niin&Näin 4/19 (2019) Images of artworks published as illustration of a philosophical
Spotlight (2013) Monologue performance in the brodacasting company Yle Radio 1, as part of the Ääniversumi programme
Spotlight (2011) Performance monologue, published in the Esitys journal (Pdf)