03 Jul Phantasmagoria

Phantasmagoria is a feminist multi-channel video and sound installation combining high fashion to the world of camp horror film. The work is co-directed with Tia Hassinen.

Phantasmagoria explores the gendered experience of fear in culture, in which the female body is still widely considered as a common property. We are particularly interested in the feminine authorship of violence and how it presents itself in cultural narratives and western storytelling traditions. We are investigating the polarized dualism of gaze and objectification by using the imagery of Italian camp horror cinema. At the very core of our work are the themes surrounding femaleness and its representations in relation to the untold shame and taboos traditionally connected to women and the feminine. How does the body, boundaries, space and mind form a visual narrative? How does unconscious fear determine one’s actions?

Directed by ILONA LEHTONEN & TIA HASSINEN
Dramaturgy, Producing, Art Directing: TIA HASSINEN & ILONA LEHTONEN
Acting: HELENA ALEXANDROVA & MATTI HASSINEN
Cinematography, Post-production, Graphic Design: ILONA LEHTONEN
Styling, Costume Design, MUAH: TIA HASSINEN
Music: SAKU KÄMÄRÄINEN
Sound Design: ARI-PEKKA LEINONEN & SAKU KÄMÄRÄINEN
Voice Actor: VICTORIA ZOLOTUKHINA
Light Technician: ANNA-MARI NOUSIAINEN
Additional Lighting: ILONA LEHTONEN

Fashion Designers Featured: TIA HASSINEN, ERVIN LARIMER, SINI-PILVI KIILUNEN, SINI SAAVALA, TAIJA SAIRANEN, HANNA-MAARIA SINKKONEN & NETTA TÖRMÄLÄ

Assistants: AARON BURRIDGE, SINI HASSINEN, JO HISLOP, TEEMU KARJALAINEN, MATTIAS LEHTINEN, ANNA-MARI NOUSIAINEN, MARIANGELA PLUCHINO, SIDONIE RONFARD, ROXANA SADVOKASSOVA, SAMI SÄNPÄKKILÄ, VICTORIA ZOLOTUKHINA

Sponsored by AALTO UNIVERSITY

PHANTASMAGORIA teaser from Ilona Lehtonen on Vimeo.