Hälytyskellot (in English Alarm Bells) researches how to survive together, how to be touched and how to be heard. In the work, a group of people forms a long chain by holding two-meter strings with jingle bells attached to them. The jingles are played with handling the strings in different ways. The length of the strings reflects the two-meter safety distance during the covid19-pandemic. At the same time the rope that is between people symbolizes helping: a person in trouble needs something to grab on to – the others can help the person if the given help is accepted. The sound of a single jingle bell might be quiet, but when hundreds of jingle bells are heard at the same time, the sound multiplies and is heard. Forming a human chain is one way to demonstrate: usually people hold hands in the name of solidarity, but because of the pandemic, Hälytyskellot extends the human touch with the help of a string – the touch is experienced through movement and sound. Hälytyskellot is a composition done in collaboration that can be interpret also as a silent and jingling demonstration: hear us.



Hälytyskellot performed with local people in Turku part of New Performance Turku festival. Middle picture by Hanne Lammi / Taidelautta
and other two pictures by Jussi Virkkumaa / New Performance Turku festival.
Documentation video at New Performance Turku festival at the riverbank of Aura river 4.9.2021. Video and sound recorded by Þorkell Nordal, video editing by Tytti Arola.
The piece is supported by:
The Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike) and New Performance Turku festival