Photo: Iida-Liina Linnea 2024
miradonna sirkka
b. 1991 Rovaniemi, Finland
Based in Helsinki
miradonna.sirkka@gmail.com
education
2017-2020 Master of Arts, Visual Culture and Curating Contemporary Art, Aalto University, FI
2019-2020 Master exchange, Media Art, Tama Art University, Tokyo, JP
2011-2015 Bachelor of Performing Arts (Circus), Turku University of Applied Sciences, FI
2010-2011 Finnish Theatre Academy, Tampere
selected works
2026 Eurydike (and Orpheus), Olavinlinna Castle, Finnish National Museum, FI
2026 FINAL FINAL FANTASY 2, Asbestos Art Space Performance Art Festival, Helsinki, FI
2026 Matter Out of Place workshop, Nica Roses / Dirty Art Foundation / AFK, Amsterdam, NL
2026 I BURIED THE DREAM OF US SO I CAN FINALLY…, durational performance, Watermill Center, US
2026 MY BODY TRANSFORMED INTO WEAPON IN YOUR HANDS, performance-installation, Watermill Center, US
2025 Nonstop Paradise,, black box show, premiere at New Performance Turku Biennale; exhibition and publication, FI, CZ, NO, performed in Helsinki Circus Festival 2026, Porsgrunn International Theatre festival and Caisa Helsinki.
2025 Unlimited Attention, performance with drummer Aleksi Kinnunen, FI
2023-on going The Life and Death, multidisciplinary performance with Sofi Häkkinen, Recover Laboratory, FI (incl. 2025 Life After Death)
2024 Kiri Kiri, multidisciplinary performance, SLURPS Näyttämö (Kone Foundation), FI
2023 What is a paradise for you?, performance and exhibition, Myymälä2 Helsinki Performance Art Week, FI
2023 ❤ (Smaller than three), contemporary circus performance, Circusnext finalist, Paris, FR
2023 SNÄGÄRI, site-specific performance, New Performance Turku Biennale, FI
2023 Mangle, 60-minute solo contemporary circus performance, directed by Meri-Maija Näykki, Tampereen Työväen Teatteri, FI
2022 One Hundred Million Percent, 75-minute multidisciplinary show, STOA Theatre, Helsinki, FI
2021 Hang Out: Bellahøj, site-specific contemporary circus performance about heights and architecture, Copenhagen International Theatre, DK
2021 Taiteiden kesän taiteilija, participatory hoop manipulation performance, SKR / KULTA ry, FI
2020-2021 Spiral, one-to-one hoop manipulation performance, Taidelahjat, Helsinki Festival, FI
2021 100 000 000 %: Night Walk, Cirko, Center for New Circus, Helsinki, FI
2020 Donna Drive, participatory live-stream performance, Playdate Remote, Kaiken Keskus,
2019 Living like there is no tomorrow, video installation
2019 Pyhimys feat. Recover Laboratory, live performance in rap concert, Tampere-talo, FI
2018 Fishing, immersive plastic tube and sound installation, Copenhagen International Theatre, DK
2018 Kajaanista kuuhun, hoop manipulation, directed by Sofi Häkkinen, Kajaanin Runoviikko, FI, and Move it! festival, Copenhagen, DK
2018 An Evening with Recover Laboratory, interactive journey with hoops and crane, Baltic Circle festival, Cirko, FI
2018 Artist talk and performance about awkwardness and the responsibility of audience and performer, Aalto Festival, FI
2018 A Journey Between Realities, AR installation, Helsinki Design Week, FI
2017 Joy of Spleen, aerial chains and hoop manipulation, Recover Laboratory, Stockholm Fringe
2017 Performer, Escape Train, InsideOut with VR, TBWA and 20th Century Fox, Helsinki-Rovaniemi, FI
2017 Chocolate Hoop, installation, Cirko Festival, Recover Laboratory
2008-2016 Circus artist in theatre, film and festival productions, incl. Åbo Svenska Teatern, Rovaniemi City Theatre and Matil Röhr Productions, FI
directing
2014- Founder and artistic director, scriptwriter, choreographer and producer of immersive, site-specific multi-art labyrinths, Recover Laboratory
2020 Evening Walk, site-specific participatory art walk route, Helsinki, Recover Laboratory
2020 Pyhimys Four Seasons concert tour, Recover Laboratory
2018 Underneath, underground labyrinth, Meilahti, Helsinki, Recover Laboratory
2016 Recover Laboratory labyrinth, Viikinmäki, Helsinki
2013 Director and producer, contemporary circus performance, Logomo and Future Circus, Turku, FI
solo and duo exhibitions
2025 Kissing, video installation, Turku Arts House, FI
2025 Completely Torn Apart, with Sofi Häkkinen, Myymälä2, Helsinki, FI
2024 Tempus Fuckit (Collector’s Item), with Sofi Häkkinen, Galleria Uusi Kipinä (GUK), Lahti, FI
2022 Folding Happiness, exhibition and performance, SEA Foundation, Tilburg, NL
2020 The Excuse, exhibition and performance, Gallery D15, Helsinki, FI
group exhibitions
2026 For Your Eyes Only, video installation, group exhibition, Turku, FI
2022 Ars Nartae, Artists’ Association of Finnish Lapland, Kellokas, FI
2020 Surrender Surrender?, PRAXIS group exhibition, Exhibition Laboratory, Helsinki, FI
2020 Sweep-Space-Surface, media art exhibition, Tama Art University, Tokyo, JP
2019 ISTU, Istanbul contemporary art group exhibition, TR
residencies
2018-2027 Cirko, Center for New Circus Finland, solo and group residencies of various lengths, Helsinki, FI
2026 Watermill Center International Summer Program, Robert Wilson Foundation, July, New York, US
2026 Parola Al Corpi, Atelier 12, Palermo, IT
2025 EHKÄ Kutomo / New Performance Turku Biennale, residency, 24.8.-7.9., Turku, FI
2025 Kone Foundation Saari Residence, Small Door Big Universe group residency, 12.-23.8., FI
2025 Porsgrunn International Theatre Festival, Grenland Friteater, group residency, 23.5.-8.6., NO
2025 O Espaço do Tempo, ”Bilingue” group residency, 27.1.-9.2., Montemor-o-Novo, PT
2025 Equinoxe, Scène Nationale de Châteauroux, residency with Basil Philippe Hermann, 20.-26.1., FR
2024 MeetFactory and Studio Alta, solo residency, 2 months, Prague, CZ
2024 PMP-project Perypezone Urbane, Venice, IT
2023 Kone Foundation Saari Residence, solo residency, 1.11.-31.12., FI
2023 Kone Foundation Saari Residence, Smaller Than Three working group, 1.-13.8., FI
2023 Circus Cirkör, group residency, 27.3.-2.4., Stockholm, SE
2023 Circusnext group residencies, LT, LV, FR, IT
2022 SEA Foundation, solo residency, 1.2.-31.3., Tilburg, NL
2022 Circusnext residency and performance, Teatro D’Aosta, IT
2018-2020 Balancing the City, Metropolis / Copenhagen International Theatre, DK
2018 Sound and movement residency, Katapult, Berlin, DE
selected awards & grants
2026 Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, project funding
2025
Arts Promotion Centre Finland, 3-year working grant 2025-2027
Finnish Cultural Foundation, Mikro working group
2024
Circus Award (Sirkuksen mainetekopalkinto), Trade Union of Theatre and Media Workers TeMe
Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, project funding for Nonstop Paradise
Samuel Huber Art Foundation, project funding for Nonstop Paradise
Finnish Cultural Foundation, travel grant to Bergen Kunsthall, with Sofi Häkkinen
Opstart, Beyond the Norms: a new page for audience relationship and gender roles in Nordic contemporary circus, Recover Laboratory
2023
Circusnext finalist award and project support
Finnish Cultural Foundation, working grant, 12 months
Kone Foundation, solo residency working grant
Arts Promotion Centre Finland, working grant, 6 months
Publications and talks
forthcoming Absolute Rejection, poetry and essays for Nonstop Paradise
2024 Cultural Politics in Finland: Utopias for New Circus
2024 First step into mental safer spaces on stage and beyond it, with Amanda Homa, Safer Space for Danger conference, MAD Festival, Antwerp, BE
2024 Mentally safe(r) spaces on stage and beyond: recognising danger(s) in circus and speaking up!, article, Around About Circus
2023 Gender in contemporary circus, Dance in Focus magazine
2023 Panel discussion, Turku International Puppetry Festival (TIP)
2022 ”Pasta + Football = Art”, article, Catalyst Art Association
2020 KULTA, publication of site-specific one-on-ones, Finnish Cultural Foundation
2020 Satan’s Asshole, zine with Sofi Häkkinen
2020 Master’s thesis: Awkwardness as a tool in my artistic practice, Aalto University
2020 Occupy Earth, Aalto University and Parsons School of Design, New York
2020 Performing arts during the lockdown, Sirkusinfo and Dance Info Finland (in Finnish)
Press
2026 Interview, MTV3 morning television, September
2022 Night Walk, Recover Laboratory, Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish)
2021 Hoop manipulation performance, Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish)
2020 Living like there is no tomorrow in Surrender Surrender?, EDIT Journal (in Finnish)
2018 Underneath, a labyrinth under the ground, Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish)
2016 Recover Laboratory labyrinth in Viikinmäki, Helsingin Uutiset (in Finnish)
Other
2026 Co-organiser, Queer Circus Club Night, closing event of Helsinki Circus Festival, Recover Laboratory with After School Special Bergen
2026 Curator, VAFT (Video Art Festival Turku) screening on Play
2026 Lyrics for the Nonstop Paradise sound, composed by Aleksi Kinnunen
2025- Board member, Helsinki Circus Festival
2025 Peer reviewer, artistic grants, Kone Foundation
2023 Thesis supervisor, BA Performing Arts (Circus), Turku Arts Academy
2018- Outside eye for contemporary circus and visual art performances
