BIOGRAPHY
Martta Tuomaala
b. 1983 in Lieto
Lives and works in Helsinki
Martta Tuomaala is a visual artist (MA) who works between documentary and fiction. She focuses on various forms of film, video and installation. Over the past decade she has mainly concentrated on work culture and workers’ issues. Tuomaala has worked in many low-income fields and her own experiences have inspired her to create projects emphasizing workers’ rights.
In her recent artworks, a notable satirical touch and expressive body language are evident, but the form and the tone of the artwork depends largely on the content that is dealt with.
Tuomaala is currently a board member in AV-Arkki (the Distribution Centre for Finnish Media Art). She is also a co-founder of Kenno Filmi co-op, a production house proposing reconfigurations of film and media art production practices through creative exchanges. Tuomaala’s works have been exhibited in various festivals and exhibitions internationally (e.g. 2022-23, 5th Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Kochi, 2021 ACC Gallery, Weimar, 2020 Tartu Art Museum, Tartu, 2020, EKKM, Tallinn, Survival Kit Festival, Riga). She also represented Finland at the 2019 Venice Biennale as part of the Miracle Workers Collective.
CURRICULUM VITAE
EDUCATION
2014 Master of Fine Art, Aalto University, The School of Art and Design, Helsinki
2011 BA of Culture and Arts, TAMK University of Applied Sciences, Tampere
2009 LOIKKA pro workshop for the professionals in field of dance film, MAD Prod. and Zodiak, Helsinki
2005 HEO Media Centre, The Programme of Film and Broadcasting, Helsinki
2002 Matriculation Examination, Sibelius-lukio, Upper Secondary School, The Programme of Music, Helsinki
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020 FinnCycling-Soumi-Perkele! Vol. 2, Tartu Art Museum, curator Julia Polujanenkova, Tartu
2020 Rimpuilua / Wriggling, Anni Laakso & Martta Tuomaala, Maa-tila Project Space, Helsinki
2017 FinnCycling-Soumi-Perkele! Vol. 2, Tehdas Teatteri, Turku
2016 FinnCycling-Soumi-Perkele!, Myymälä2, Helsinki
2014 Kallion keinutuoli, curator Petri Saarikko, Kallio Kunsthalle, Helsinki
2014 Cleaner’s Voice, Galleria Jangva, Helsinki
2013 Cleaner’s Voice, Galleria Rajatila, Tampere
2012 Arbeitstitel: Martta Tuomaala, Experimental Off-Space, Stuttgart
SELECTED GROUP & COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS
2022-23 In our Veins Flow Ink and Fire, 5th Kochi-Muziris Biennale, Kochi, curator Shubigi Rao
2022 Time Out, Galleria K, Vantaa, curator Christine Langinauer
2022 Abdication, Maunula-talo, Helsinki, curator Julius Valve
2021 Denunziation!, ACC Gallery, Weimar, curator Frank Motz
2020 Tiger in Space, EKKM, Tallinn, curators Marten Esko, Vanina Saracino and Lea Vene
2020 Being Safe is Scary, Survival Kit Festival, Riga, curator Katia Krupennikova
2019 A Greater Miracle of Perception, The Killing of Čáhcerávga by Miracle Workers Collective, The Finnish Pavilion, Venice Biennale, curators Bonaventure Soh Bejeng Ndikung, Giovanna Esposito Yussif, Christopher Wessels
2019 Invisible Wom@rts, Compostela Cultura – Auditorio de Galicia, Santiago de Compostela
2019 Women, (Be)coming, UGM, Maribor, curator Breda Kolar
2015 New Present, XX Mänttä Art Festival, Mänttä-Vilppula, curators Kalle Hamm & Dzamil Kamanger
2015 Kanavalla, Videokanava Collective’s exhibition, Keltainen talo, curator Martta Tuomaala
2014 TENT Academy Awards, Kuva / Tila -galleria, Helsinki, curator Leevi Haapala
2014 TENT Academy Awards, TENT, Rotterdam, curators L. Haapala, K. Kivinen, H. Paunu ja S. Tervo
2013 Ny Finsk Videokunst, Kunsthall Grenland, Porsgrunn, curator Tom Hovinbøle
2013 FAT Finnish Art Today – Famous Art Tomorrow, Designmuseo, Helsinki, curator Laura Köönikkä
2013 URB13, Kiasma, Helsinki, curator Mikael Aaltonen
2013 Whispers and Cries, Museum of Nonconformist art, St. Petersburg, curator Anastasia Patsey
2012 Unelmia Helsingissä / Dreams in Helsinki, Virka-galleria, Helsinki, curator Laura Köönikkä
2012 Couptail International, Bauhaus Villa, Karlsruhe, curators art collective co.up initiative
2012 Antidote 5, MUU Galleria, Helsinki, curators Teemu Mäki ja Martta Tuomaala
2012 Antidote 3, Art centre Pushkinskaya-10, Museum of Nonconformist Art, St. Petersburg, curators Teemu Mäki & Anastasia Patsey
2011 Antidote 2, Galerie im Körnerpark, Berlin, curators Teemu Mäki & Timo Bredenberg
2011 Honor Thy Father and Thy Mother, XVI Mänttä Art Festival, Mänttä, curator Otso Kantokorpi
SELECTED FESTIVALS & SCREENINGS
2023 DocLisboa, Nebulae, Stretching selected for Nebulae Program, Lisbon
2021 KISFF, international competition, The Killing of Čáhcerávga by Miracle Workers Collective, Kiev
2021 Tampere Film Festival, The Killing of Čáhcerávga by Miracle Workers Collective, Tampere
2019 Gathering for Rehearsing Hospitalities, screening & discussion with Sepideh Rahaa, Frame Finland, Helsinki
2018 Light Moves Screendance, FinnCycling-Soumi-Perkele! Vol. 2, Limerick, Ireland
2018 Antimatter (Media Art), FinnCycling-Soumi-Perkele! Vol. 2, Victoria, Canada
2018 Rex Fest: Power & Resistance, FinnCycling-Soumi-Perkele! Vol. 2 live cinema show, Helsinki
2018 Video Art Festival Turku (VAFT), FinnCycling-Soumi-Perkele! Vol.2, selected by Mika Taanila, Turku
2018 M{IF} Society of Cinema: Artist talk - Martta Tuomaala, The Museum of Impossible Forms, Helsinki
2018 Juuret-festivaali, FinnCycling-Soumi-Perkele!, Outokumpu
2017 IHME marathon, IHME Festival, Helsinki
2017 Kontula Electronic Festival, FinnCycling-Soumi-Perkele!, Helsinki
2015 The Right Not to Be Silent -screening, Galleria Rajatila, Tampere
2015 Human Rights Film Festival, The Right Not to Be Silent, The Finnish Labour Museum Werstas, Tampere
2015 Artova Film Festival, I am a Spider, national competition, Helsinki
2014 Tent Academy Awards -series, The Right Not to Be Silent, Euroshorts – Poland, Filofest – Slovenia, Impakt Festival Utrecht – Netherlands
2014 Tent Academy Awards, The Right Not to Be Silent, international competition, Cinerama, Netherlands
2013 Strange Walls-screening, Adam’s Apples & Strange Walls, The Finnish Institute in Germany, Berlin
2012 L’etrange Festival, Adam’s Apples, international competition, Paris, France
RECENT WORKSHOPS, LECTURES & WORK AS A TEACHER
2015- Production & Funding of Art, Teacher of the course, Art School Maa, Helsinki
2018 Grant application support group, workshop leader, Globe Art Point, Helsinki
2017 Thinking Community, artist presentation & workshop leader together with Pia Bartsch and Suvi Solkio, Organiser: From Citizens to their City, Rijeka
2017 Ethnography in artwork: Cleaner’s Speak Up!, lecturer, Department of Design, Aalto University, Helsinki
2016 Individual struggles, society & art, visiting lecturer for 2 weeks, Kunstiakadeemia, Master studies programme of Sculpture & Graphics, Tallinn
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS, INTERVIEWS & CRITIQUES
2020 Mononen Sini: Performatiivinen protestilaulu, Affektiivinen retoriikka Martta Tuomaalan videoinstallaatiossa FinnCycling-Soumi-Perkele!, teoksessa S. Rantanen ym. (toim.) Työväentaide ja kulttuuri muutosvoimana. Kirjoituksia työväen musiikista, kirjallisuudesta, teatterista ja muusta kulttuuritoiminnasta. Tutkimusyhdistys Suoni ry & Työväen historian ja perinteen tutkimuksen seura, Acta Musicologica Militantia, Turenki.
* A research on the affective rhetorics of my artwork FinnCycling-Soumi-Perkele!, text in an edited book.
2019 Tuomaala, Martta: “Working out Work.” Published in collaboration with Frame Contemporary Art Finland, Helsinki on the occasion of the exhibition A Greater Miracle of Perception at the 58th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.
* The publication accompanies the exhibition by The Miracle Workers Collective at the Finnish Alvar Aalto Pavilion in the framework of the 58th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. It includes commissioned essays and poetry by writers close to the collective as well as by members of the collective itself. A Greater Miracle of Perception is published by Archive Books and Frame Contemporary Art Finland.
2019 Eskelinen Teppo, Ryynänen Sanna ja Martta Tuomaala: Kilpailutus ja osallisuuden rakenteelliset ehdot siivoojien arjen työelämässä. 1/2019. Sosiologia-lehti.
* The text deals with how the tendering between service providers, privatizing and outsourcing affect the cleaners and their social inclusion at the workplace. Peer-reviewed article in collaboration with two researchers.
2019 Meet the Artist: Martta Tuomaala. An interview conducted by AV-Arkki.
* See full interview: https://www.av-arkki.fi/english/artist-tuomaala/
2017 Tuomaala, Martta: ”Postcard from the Hell of Democracy.” RabRab Journal Issue 4.1 – Journal of Political and Formal Inquiries in Art, RabRab Press, 2017.
* A text about cleaning work experiences and workers’ rights.
2017 Tuomaala, Martta: Avoin kirje Teosto ry:n hallitukselle: Kuka hyötyy epäkaupallisten teosten lupamaksuista? Taiteilijalehti.
* An open letter to Teosto copyright organization concerning their unfair policies towards artists.
2017 Tuomaala, Martta: ”Halpatyövoimaa ja yksityisyrittäjiä. Kotisiivouksen asema ja edunvalvonnan tulevaisuus.” Uusi Työväki. Toim. Nuutinen Veera. Into Kustannus.
* An article about home cleaning startups and the working conditions of freelancer cleaners. Chapter in an edited book.)
2016 Mononen, Sini: ”Performatiivinen protestilaulu – FinnCycling-Soumi-Perkele! sivaltaa Sipilää”, 23.12.2016, Mustekala. (A critique of my solo exhibition FinnCycling-Soumi-Perkele!)
WORKS AS AN EDITOR
2023 Kiila album 2023, editors Christine Langinauer, Minna Henriksson and Martta Tuomaala, contributors of the publication: poet Roxana Crisólogo Correa; historian and comic artist Ainur Elmgren; writer and photographer Sadia Khatri; visual artist Karolina Kucia; graphic designer and PhD researcher Kaisa Lassinaro; filmmaker and media artist Azar Saiyar; librarian and PhD researcher Tuukka Salonen; artist-poet Vidha Saumya; visual artist and filmmaker Shubhangi Singh. Publisher Kiila association. ISBN 978-952-94-7792-0
* Kiila was founded in 1936 as a non-aligned group of leftist writers and has grown throughout its history into an association for all artworkers regardless of language or citizenship. Kiila has been publishing the Kiila Albums since the 1930s. They’ve been the key mouthpieces of Finnish left-wing and working-class art. One of the reasons for founding Kiila was to enable leftist literature in a very right-wing period—the 1930s. This multi-artistic publication is the 17th Kiila Album in which reflections of leftism are approached from a feminist perspective.
2021 Takes, editors Danai Anagnostou, Elena Näsänen, Chris L. Thomas and Martta Tuomaala, published by Kenno Filmi. ISBN 978-952-94-5337-5
* Online version can be downloaded from here: https://kennofilmi.com/publications/takes/
AWARDS
2012 Arctic Heat Film Festival, Honor mention for the film Strange Walls, Jyväskylä, Finland
2010 Young Europe Award Ruhr2010, See You Festival, Honor mention for community art project Speech Bubbles @ City, project together with Essi Laurila, Dortmund, Germany
2008 Anonymous Science community art project, Winner of the artwork competition produced by Tampere Museum of Contemporary Art, Tampere, Finland
RECIDENCIES
2024 Otte1 - the Schleswig-Holstein Künstlerhaus, Germany
2023 Art Quarter Budapest, Hungary
2019 HIAP Residency, Cable Factory, Helsinki, Finland
2018 Womarts Resincy, Avilés, Spain
2017 Kamov Residency, Rijeka, Croatia
2016 Saari Residence, Mynämäki, Finland
LATEST GRANTS
2022 Art Promotion Centre Finland, Visual arts, working grant for 5 years
2022 Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Media Art, display grant, working grant for six months
2021 Finnish Film Foundation (SES), grant for script writing
2018 AVEK, The Promotion Centre for Audiovisual Culture, project grant
2018 Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Visual arts, working grant for 3 years
2018 Oskar Öflund’s Stiftelse, project grant
2017 Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Media Art, working grant for six months
2017 AVEK, The Promotion Centre for Audiovisual Culture, Tuomaala & working group
2017 AVEK, Vieteri support, Tuomaala & working group
2016 The Finnish Cultural Foundation, Martta Tuomaala & working group
2015 Arts Promotion Centre Finland, visual arts display grant
2015 Yrjö Sirola Foundation, project grant
2014 AVEK, The Promotion Centre for Audiovisual Culture, project grant for media art
2014 Arts Promotion Centre Finland, project grant for media art
WORKS IN COLLECTIONS
2020 FinnCycling-Soumi-Perkele! Vol. 2 (2017), edition 1/3, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki
MEMBERSHIPS
AV-Arkki, MUU ry, Rajataide ry, Kiila ry, Kuvasto ry
POSITIONS OF TRUST
2019– Co-founder & board member – Kenno Filmi co-operative
2018– Board member – AV-Arkki (the Distribution Centre for Finnish Media Art)
2017–2020 Vice Chair – Kiila (nonaligned leftist artworkers’ association)
2016–2019 Board member – SKjL (The Union for Finnish Artists’ Associations)