Amalgam Melee

Amalgam Melee sets off from the artist’s inner contradictions in relation to cultural heritage, Brownness, Whiteness, hierarchies of power and violence in the context of Finnish society. How these frictions wield with a double-edge effect; exploring the body where the mechanisms of white supremacy are present both as the one exercising power and the one subjected to it. On stage Peura works with pink tsinelas (which means flip-flops in Tagalog) and a “hela belt” (in Finnish helahoito) with a knife. The decorative knife belt is a part of the traditional regional national costume of south Ostrobothnia in Finland, worn by men. These objects connect and symbolize different aspects of her cultural heritage.

"Amalgam melee" refers to a chaotic or disorderly situation where various elements or entities have merged into a single, mixed-up mass in a disorganised manner. "Amalgam" implies a mixture or combination, while "melee" suggests a confused or disorderly situation involving struggle or conflict. The work delves into the emotional and expressive body; within the conflicts of this ‘third space’, as the means and potential to reach a political sense of self.

Peura has wrote an interview discussing more thoroughly the topics of the work both in Finnish and in English.

interview at Zodiak's Diary

Choreography, concept, performance Marika Peura
Sound design Tiikka Drama
Spatial design Una Auri
Light design Luca Sirviö
Dramaturgy Caroline Suinner, Ricardo
Costume design Helmi Hagelin
Production Zodiak – Center for New Dance, Kaisa Nieminen, Marika Peura
Supported by Koneen Säätiö
PR photos Haliz Yosef
Mask/head design in PR photo
Marika Peura with construction by Helmi Hagelin
Performance photos Haliz Yosef
Teaser film Haliz Yosef
Performance footage & trailer Teemu Kyytinen

Premiere 5.9.2024 Zodiak New Center for Dance, in total 9 shows 5.9.-19.9.2024