We cried at the supermarket meat section.
Surunvalittelu (in English Act of Mourning) is part of the Surutyö (Mourning work) series by Animal Right Academy, which also includes the video work Surunarvoinen (Grief Worthy) and the sound piece Surun talo (The House of Mourning). The Surutyö project was conceived by artists Laura Gustafsson and Matilda Aaltonen, and is part of the Mänttä Art Festival 2025.
Surutyö addresses the festival’s theme "No" through grief. Grief becomes a powerful form of resistance when it is directed toward those not traditionally considered worthy of mourning. To grieve beings who are classified as lesser—or even worthless, as mere objects—is to challenge societal norms and cast them in a new light. In that light, the supermarket meat section becomes a stage for mass slaughter.
Surunvalittelu was performed at the S-market in Mänttä on June 14, and at the Mänttä Art Festival opening at Pekilo on June 15, 2025.
The recording of the performance can be seen at THIS LINK
Working group: dance artist Matilda Aaltonen and performance artist Arvo Jean-Michael Ärlig.
Video at the supermarket: Anu Hame
Photos in the supermarket: Jari Tamminen
Video at the Pekilo: Elisa Aaltola
Screenshots from a video shot at Pekilo: Matilda Aaltonen
Surunvalittelu (in English Act of Mourning) is part of the Surutyö (Mourning work) series by Animal Right Academy, which also includes the video work Surunarvoinen (Grief Worthy) and the sound piece Surun talo (The House of Mourning). The Surutyö project was conceived by artists Laura Gustafsson and Matilda Aaltonen, and is part of the Mänttä Art Festival 2025.
Surutyö addresses the festival’s theme "No" through grief. Grief becomes a powerful form of resistance when it is directed toward those not traditionally considered worthy of mourning. To grieve beings who are classified as lesser—or even worthless, as mere objects—is to challenge societal norms and cast them in a new light. In that light, the supermarket meat section becomes a stage for mass slaughter.
Surunvalittelu was performed at the S-market in Mänttä on June 14, and at the Mänttä Art Festival opening at Pekilo on June 15, 2025.
The recording of the performance can be seen at THIS LINK
Working group: dance artist Matilda Aaltonen and performance artist Arvo Jean-Michael Ärlig.
Video at the supermarket: Anu Hame
Photos in the supermarket: Jari Tamminen
Video at the Pekilo: Elisa Aaltola
Screenshots from a video shot at Pekilo: Matilda Aaltonen
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