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SHIFTING SURFACES

(Working title) 2015 – ongoing
Photography & Videoart

The surface is in constant manipulation, changed and tempered by time and space. Expanding, altering, moving, reemerging in a continuous progression. The surface bestow reassurance of life’s perishability. Shifting surfaces is a working title of a visual exploration I’m continuously on, exploring the world of surfaces.

ARIEL FROM UNDERLAND

A silent movie/ live performance (40 minutes), Mosaik theatre 2016
Directing, film and editing: Tina Johnsson
Story and actors: Sofia Wittmark, Pablo De Acha, Göran Utas, Mir Serrander and Nicole Drougett Gamboa.

Ariel from Underland was a product of the Ego-lab project at Mosaik theatre (2015). The characters was created by the actors individually, merged into a collective storyline and performance. It became our own adaptation of “The little mermaid”. The show is a silent movie/ interactive live performance with projected videoart. Ariel from Underland premiered at Mosaik theatre in 2016.

Performed at Telefonfabriken (Mosaik theatre, Stockholm), Pikpa refugee camp (Lesbos), Symbiosis festival x 3 (Lesbos), Skarpnäck culture house (Stockholm). Trailer performances filmed at Pikpa refugee camp and at Symbiosis festival in Lesbos 2016 by Elias Lindén.

ARIEL ON LESBOS & FREEDOM CARNIVAL

Summer of 2016 we were invited to perform “Ariel from Underland” at Symbiosis festival on the island Lesbos, Greece. We performed at Mytilini cultural centre, in Plomari and at Pikpa refugee camp, a family camp where we also held dance and art workshops for the “Freedom carnival.”

I also co-programmed the Freedom carnival and art workshops for children at refugee camps around Lesbos. A collaboration with Trans-form projects (UK), “Inuti” (Stockholm), “Children with kites” (Stockholm) and Mosaik theatre. With artist from Sweden, UK and Brazil, with and without mental disabilities.

SEVERANCE

Photography 2009-2015

EGO-LAB (EGOLABB)

An exploration and exhibition of dreams and alter-egos
Art- & drama pedagogy at Mosaikteatern (Mosaik theatre) 2015
Videoart & directing: Tina Johnsson

Ego-lab was a collaboratory cross-art exploration of alter-egos at the Mosaik theatre in 2015. The idea with ego-lab was for the actors to explore their dream alter egos starting with fine arts, before moving on to physical adaptation. The participants decorated our premises with murals, pictures and scenography. Then we moved on to physical adaptation where the actors portrayed their alter-egos in silent film-performances. Göran Utas (actor) chose his own visuals for an interactive performance with projections.

At the exhibition, Pablo de Acha played the piano live (improvisation) to the silent films. The ego-lab process set the base for the following project: A silent movie/interactive play; “Ariel from Underland” (2016).

SHIFTING REFLECTIONS

Photography 2016-2021

“Shiifting reflections” is a border study between moving and still image where the beauty of coincidence is explored through the multidimensional and perishable surface. Where every second tells a new story, testifying to nature’s constant metamorphosis – and our own role in it. The suggestive images invites the beholder to explore her own perception:

“What we read into a surface, reflects the perspective we choose see.
Determined by the lifecycles that our own surface hides.
Conditioned by the Time surrounding us,
In dependence of the interstices in life’s measurability,
Dependent of the Space in the now.”

Shifting reflections is part of the visual exploration series of Surfaces.

TRANSCENDENCE: THE FOREST

Video art live installation projected at trees in the forest and tulle-fabric at the collective forest-exhibition “Skogssalong” (Forest lounge)
Tulle fabric base 15 meters wide x 7 meter high
40 minutes looping
The forest in Bagarmossen, Stockholm february 2023
Video art & editing: Tina Johnsson
Original soundtrack was to live DJ and the Swedish/native Latin American group Chamanai Totem
“Skogssalong” was arranged by Selva studio

An interactive multi dimensional journey through a dancing forest, in a constant movement. Where the live trees becomes part of the trees in the installation. The tulle-fabric blowing in the wind to the waves in the video. Part of the “Transcendence-series”; A transcendental voyage inducing a hypnotic, meditative state, transcending the consciousness. A remembrance of nature’s, our bodies and minds impermanent state.

TRANSCENDENCE: THE CISTERN

Video art live installation projected at 50 meter high fuel cistern
77 minutes
Stora Höggarn, Stockholm 2021
Video art: Tina Johnsson
Sound remix: Tina Johnsson with sounds from Biosphere

A multi dimensional journey through surfaces in transformation, in a constant movement. A transcendental voyage inducing a hypnotic, meditative state, transcending the consciousness. A remembrance of nature’s, our bodies and minds impermanent state.

THE TRANSFORM SHOW

40 minute Interactive liveshow for the Trans-form projects
Ahmedabad, India 2017
Videoart & directing: Tina Johnsson

The Transform show was the finishing show of the Trans-form project of 2017 in Ahmedabad. I conducted theatre- and dance workshops in schools in the Gulbai Tekra slum and the Vikas Gruh orphanage during the project. From these workshops 12 girls between 12-18 years old were asked to put together the show with me. Their characters, performances and my visuals grew to a manifest from within each girl. Where they manifested the godess, their dream alter-ego and natural element that resides within them. Together with local choreographer Malhar Dave we put together an interactive journey that started with the birth of universe and ended in the deep sea. The Trans-form artist created costume details. The music was selected by the girls.

THE TRANS-FORM PROJECT

Short documentary by Tina Johnsson
Ahmedabad, India 2017

The Transform Projects was first held in Ahmedabad in 2014 and was founded by the UK based Brasilian festival director, kathak dancer and carnival producer Manuela Benini. A community participatory activity that engaged international and Indian artists with schools, communities and orphanages in Ahmedabad. With art-based workshops, participants transform waste into carnival- and street art and instruments. Theatre and music workshops, as well as a regeneration and art project at orphanage Vikas Gruh. Led by international and local volunteers, around 1500 street children, orphans and differently abled young people from local communities and schools participated in 2017. Their works culminated in stunning celebratory carnival parades and shows in the centre of Ahmedabad.

STOCKHOLM ON THE MOVE

Video installation 2013
10 minutes
Video editing & sound remix: Tina Johnsson

Commissioned for Färgfabriken, Stockholm
Exhibited at architecture biennals in China, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, and several other countries for Färgfabriken Stockholm on the move-project.

Stockholm on the Move is an ongoing project that since 2010 has been investigating and testing new ideas and asking questions about how Stockholm develops and is shaped. What is Stockholm in a local, regional or global context? How do infrastructure, construction, environment and cultural life interact? What kind of society are we building for future generations? Stockholm on the Move is a laboratory where many actors can meet in an experimental environment, through exhibitions, debates and seminars – both in Stockholm and in other places in the world. Read more about the project and Färgfabriken here.

THE NILE (NILEN)

Interactive theatre (video/theatre) 2012
45 minutes
Actors: Amanda Högberg & Jinnie Stork
Video art, Sound remix & Directing: Tina Johnsson
Written by: Katarina Frostenson

An interactive adaptation of Swedish poet Katarina Frostenson’s monodrama “Nilen” (The Nile) from the collection “Fyra monodramer” (Four monodrama’s). The film projections were the main character, the spectator of her subconsciousness on stage. A dark and transformative lucid journey, in conflict with her inner demons.

ASTRAKHAN: HEAR ME NOW

Directing, filming & editing: Tina Johnsson
A collaboration with the Mosaik theatre and Astrakhan 2017

GONE GONE GONE WITH KRISTIAN KASPERSEN

Produced, directing and edit: Tina Johnsson
Cinematography: Elias Lindén
2014

QUEER AT HEART WITH KRISTIAN KASPERSEN

Produced, directing and edit: Tina Johnsson
Cinematography: Elias Lindén
2013