Lapsing Around is a new three-episode series on Life of an Art Student Pod.
In this episode, Georgios Rallis interviews Freja Backman, a lecturer in the LAPS programme (Live Art and Performance Studies, MA at the Theatre Academy, Uniarts Helsinki). They discuss their artistic practices, the meaning of “we” and collective today.
Link to LAPS programme: https://www.uniarts.fi/en/study-programmes/live-art-and-performance-studies-master/
Uniarts: https://www.instagram.com/uniartshelsinki/
LAPS: https://www.instagram.com/liveart_performancestudies/
Georgios Rallis: https://www.instagram.com/gravity_grave/
Link to blog post: https://blogit.uniarts.fi/en/latest-blog-posts/
Timestamps
(0:35) – Self-introduction
(5:50) – What specifically attracted you to teaching in LAPS?
(7:46) – Artists and society
(9:55) – What aspect of the academy would you like to see change?
(13:42) – Freja’s practice
(21:00) – Earthy materiality in artistic practices
(27:55) – The dualism between care and intimacy turning into intimidation—how do you relate to this, if at all?
(38:36) – What is “we”? What would “we” do? Is collective work still a political stance, a marketing strategy, a failed project, or a necessity for our survival? What would a demonstration poem look like today?
(42:48) – Shifting gears in between seasons in Finland
(48:15) – What are your favorite metal bands