{"id":32355,"date":"2025-08-29T14:36:52","date_gmt":"2025-08-29T12:36:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arkdes.se\/?post_type=activity&p=32355"},"modified":"2025-12-04T10:15:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T09:15:08","slug":"play-overlay","status":"publish","type":"activity","link":"https:\/\/arkdes.se\/en\/calendar\/play-overlay\/","title":{"rendered":"PLAY OVERLAY by Teo Ala-Ruona"},"content":{"rendered":"
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About Teo Ala-Ruona<\/h2>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n
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Teo Ala-Ruona<\/a> is an interdisciplinary artist based in Helsinki working within the expanded field of performance. In his work, he experiments with the possibilities of somatic fiction to influence our perceptions of the human body, exploring the interplay between linguistic, semiotic, and biological existence, while engaging with themes of techno-trans-masculinity and eco-normative narratives of ‘naturalness’.<\/p>\n

By using his own body as a site for the various speculative stories to take place, he experiments with how fiction can alter both the performer and the audience\u2019s ways of perceiving. He approaches the trans corporeality as an arena in which various normative processes of naturalisation and standardisation become unfeasible, and seeks to disrupt the heteronormative biases permeating research in biology and gender.<\/p>\n

Ala-Ruona is dedicated to the transgressive potential of performance art to open up our understanding of humanity, challenging our comprehension of bodily limits and perceptions of normalcy and conventionality. His work derives enjoyment from the peculiar and the perplexing, while crafting carefully considered and choreographed audience engagement, deeply practiced performers\u2019 practice, as well as emotional and psychological tension.<\/p>\n

Ala-Ruona\u2019s work has recently been shown at the 2025 Biennale Architettura<\/em><\/a> (Venice), Performa Biennial (New York), The Vilnius Biennial of Performance Art (Vilnius), The Finnish National Gallery Kiasma (Helsinki), Institute of Contemporary Arts (London), Sequences Festival (Reykjavik), Centrale Fies (Dro) and Toaster\/Husets Teater (Copenhagen).<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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ArkDes \u00d7 MDT<\/h2>\n \n

PLAY OVERLAY<\/em> is a newly commissioned work by ArkDes in collaboration with MDT \u2197<\/a> as part of\u202fWorldglimpsing: Roleplay and the Design of Alternate Realities<\/em><\/a>, with support from Zodiak \u2197<\/a>, Frame Contemporary Art Finland<\/a>, and Arts Promotion Centre Finland \u2197<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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About Teo Ala-Ruona ↗<\/a><\/p>\n

PLAY OVERLAY<\/em> at MDT ↗<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

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\n Photo: Sala Mboup. 2025. Courtesy of Zodiak.<\/i>\n PLAY OVERLAY, Teo Ala-Ruona.\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\n Photo: Sala Mboup. 2025. Courtesy of Zodiak.<\/i>\n PLAY OVERLAY, Teo Ala-Ruona.\n <\/figcaption>\n <\/figure>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
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\n \n Exhibitions\n <\/a>\n \n
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