“Kimmo Pohjonen’s work has always intrigued me, he is a mesmerizingly intense performer and inventive composer. He has been called the Jimi Hendrix and Björk of his instrument, which I feel are quite appropriate descriptions. As I too have found my artistic voice through breaking boundaries and colliding a wide range of influences – from ballet to butoh.
We have a certain kindred spirit in the way we work, see our art and the world. After we first performed together, we both felt we wanted to explore a deeper collaboration: to see if the collision of two artists with strong individual voices would result in something new, something bigger than the sum of their parts. We wanted to step out of our comfort zones and delve into something we hadn’t experienced before, to expand the limits of our artistry.
One of the key messages of this creation is the importance of truly and openly confronting one another. We have discussed the contradicting feelings of fear of losing one’s distinctive voice and personal space, while at the same time yearning for new experiences and encounters. How to be open to influences without losing oneself?
Ultimately, to me, Breath is a study of the importance of communication and tolerance. And the often absurd and comic ways we instinctively try to shield ourselves, our mental boundaries, our privacy.”
– Tero Saarinen
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