How Audience Bodies Form

Tuomas H Laitinen

This artistic doctoral research approaches art, not as a variety of artworks or performances, but as a variety of collective bodies that are summoned. It addresses the subordinate and complicit way collective audience bodies form in relation to artistic performances. The commentary introduces the concept of an “audience body”, emerging when individual bodies gather to become an audience. Audience bodies are described through preconditions that are needed for one to appear, conditions that contribute to its subsistence and variables that determine the primary qualities and the degree of actuality of that audience body. More specifically, the commentary addresses the local genre of “esitystaide”, developed especially in the Helsinki-area during the last 30 years. Neologism “beforemance art” is introduced due to a lack of an English equivalent. Esitystaide/beforemance art is the artistic context of this study and is presented as a genre of art, in which the complicity of audience bodies is a fundamental material of artistic creation. The Finnish word “esitys”, being the medium of the genre of esitystaide, is defined as the sum of a performance and an audience body. The theoretical approach towards audience bodies is presented as impartial with regard to different genres of art, but the practice of research favours esitystaide/beforemance art. This leads to political conclusions that defend the exposed complicity of and the experimental relation to audience bodies which are characteristic for this specific genre. This theoretical argumentation has been developed through an iterative series of 30 drafts and two examined artistic parts, made by the author, as well as through a parapractice of audience membership. The drafts and examined parts are works of esitystaide/beforemance art, in which printed or digital texts are staged in different ways for audiences to read. The works and the thinking developed in them have been significantly affected by dialogues with audience members and their feedback. The commentary discloses how the process of thinking, resulting in the main arguments of the work, has evolved through this artistic research practice and how temporal, spatial, textual and material design of the events has been developed to address more adequately the phenomenon of an audience body. The parapractice of audience membership is introduced as a term describing the attendance of artworks made by others—a way of accumulating knowledge parallel to and yet different from practicing art. The arguments made in the commentary aim to provide conceptual tools for artists, scholars and pedagogues who attend the phenomenon of audience in their work. They can also serve as a basis for further research on the political significance of esitystaide/beforemance art and related art forms. Methodologically, the research offers an example of an iterative and dialogical artistic research practice and its presentation; the relationship between art and theory unfolds as both fruitful and troubled. Through the introduction of the parapractice of audience membership, it argues for using art, equally to the use of bibliographical materials, as reference material of artistic research. Through the use of a Finnish term and its local context as part of concept-creation in English, the work defends the importance of local thinking, which links artistic research to the land upon which it takes form.

Other Sources

Interviews, feedback forms and emails

Jaakko Ruuska, Henna Laininen, Merja Briñón, Saara Hannula, Tuire Colliander, Max McBride and Samuli Nordberg written feedback via email after Draft 2 in the Practicum seminar, organized on 16 February 2018. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Two written testimonials from informants who attended with me Radical light by Salva Sanchis in Stoa Stage, Helsinki on 3 November 2018, as part of Draft 8. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Eleven written testimonials from informants who attended with me Over Your Fucking Body (work-in-progress) by Janina Rajakangas and Neil Callaghan at Kunsthalle Helsinki on 5 November 2018, as part of Draft 8. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Six written testimonials and an interview from informants Esa Kirkkopelto, Laura Gröndahl, Pilvi Porkola, Karolina Kucia, Jaakko Ruuska and Henna Laininen who attended with me Death at Work by Pop Up Teatr at Kanneltalo, Helsinki on 13 November 2018, as part of Draft 8. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Hazem Al Sharif & Helena Korpela interview 30 November 2018, Sture Jazz Bar Helsinki. Discussing the performance Yleisö by Valtteri Raekallio Corp, as part of Draft 8. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Vincent Roumagnac video call interview 17 December 2020, regarding their audience experience of A Reading of Audience. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Alexander Furunes Eriksson & Carolina Jinde video call interview 18 December 2020, regarding their audience experience of A Reading of Audience. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Oo Condit video call interview 21 December 2020, regarding their audience experience of A Reading of Audience. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Olga Spyropoulou video call interview 21 December 2020, regarding their audience experience of A Reading of Audience. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Hanna Guttorm video call interview 1 February 2020, regarding their audience experience of A Reading of Audience. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Pekka Kantonen video call interview 1 February 2020, regarding their audience experience of A Reading of Audience. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Minna Heikinaho video call interview 1 February 2020, regarding their audience experience of A Reading of Audience. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Lynda Gaudreau video call interview 3 February 2020, regarding their audience experience of A Reading of Audience. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Simo Kellokumpu video call interview 3 February 2020, regarding their audience experience of A Reading of Audience. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Julius Elo video call interview 4 February 2020, regarding their audience experience of A Reading of Audience. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Lea Kantonen video call interview 4 February 2020, regarding their audience experience of A Reading of Audience. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Veli Lehtovaara video call interview 9 February 2020, regarding their audience experience of A Reading of Audience. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Shawn Chua video call interview 10 February 2020, regarding their audience experience of A Reading of Audience. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Juli Reinartz video call interview 11 February 2020, regarding their audience experience of A Reading of Audience. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Liisa Jaakonaho video call interview 11 February 2020, regarding their audience experience of A Reading of Audience. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Satu Herrala video call interview 12 February 2020, regarding their audience experience of A Reading of Audience. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Karolina Kucia, Elie Halonen, Pia Palme, Carlos Zerpa, Satu Hakamäki, María Alejandra Rojas, Siiri Viljakka, Pirre Naukkarinen & Jaana Eskola feedback talk 5 April 2022, Saari Residency, Mynämäki, regarding Audience Body, work-in-progress 1. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Kerstin Schroth, Olga Spyropoulou & Nanni Vapaavuori interview 24 May 2022, Valssaamo, Cable Factory, Helsinki, regarding Audience Body, work-in-progress 2. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Hanna Helavuori, Saara Moisio, Maria Oiva & Mia Wennerstrand interview 24 May 2022, Valssaamo, Cable Factory, Helsinki, regarding Audience Body, work-in-progress 2. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Juha-Pekka Hotinen email interview 9 August 2023. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Juha-Pekka Hotinen interview 4 September 2024, Cafe Eliel, Helsinki. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Aakusti Oksanen in a private conversation, 27 October 2024.

Kira O’Rielly interview 22 May 2025, Theatre Academy, Helsinki. the private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Online Sources

Commons Choir. Robert Kocik's website. Accessed on 24 January 2025. https://www.robertkocik.org/commons-choir

Encyclopedia.com. Online encyclopedia. Accessed 24 January 2025. https://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/plurals-and-plurality

Kausalainen, Essi. 2014. “Compost”. In ICE HOLE The Live Art Journal, issue 1. Accessed 24 January 2025. https://icehole.fi/issue1/compost-by-essi-kausalainen/

Kotiteatteri. Artist collective homepage. Accessed 24 January 2025. https://www.kotiteatteri.org/

Lehmann, Hans-Thies. 2009. “The position of the spectator in theatre today”. radioCona podcast. Accessed 24 January 2025. https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/hans-thies-lehmann/hans-thies-lehmann-the-mHT9lGgIBwR/

Mäki, Teemu. 2011. Paskataide on hyvän hinta. Voima Magazine. Accessed in 24 January 2025. https://voima.fi/arkisto-voima/paskataide-on-hyvan-hinta/

Laitinen, Tuomas. 2018. Notes of an Audience Member. Venice Research Pavillion. Accessed 18 June 2025. https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/618619/618620

Nykyesityksen näyttämö. The homepage of the project at Helsinki City Theatre's website. Accessed in 24 January 2025. https://hkt.fi/nykyesityksen-nayttamo/

Nylander, Kimmo. 2024. “Puotinharju - Itäkeskuksen historiaa”. Bussikaistalla Helsingissä -blog. Accessed 24 January 2025. https://www.kooen202.com/43228

Online Etymology Dictionary. Accessed 24 January 2025. https://www.etymonline.com

patch the sky with five colored stones. Art project homepage. Accessed 24 January 2025. https://patchtheskywith5coloredstones.net/

Performer/Audience/Mirror. 1975. Dan Graham. A video documentation of a performance recorded at Video Free America in San Fancisco and published online by FFT Films. Accessed 24 January 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PqNAG9Q33o

Porkola, Pilvi. “Christmas performances (2008-)”. Accessed on 24 January 2025. https://pilviporkola.com/other-projects/

The Center for Deep Listening homepage. Accessed 24 January 2025. https://www.deeplistening.rpi.edu/

Three Manifestos for the Future of the Artistic Doctorate – Tuomas Laitinen, Rachel Krische and Anne Juren. Accessed in 24 January 2025. https://www.artisticdoctorates.com/2019/11/18/three-manifestos-for-the-future-of-the-artistic-doctorate-tuomas-laitinen-rachel-krische-and-anne-juren/

Widing, Gabriel. 2011. “Staged Larceny - stealing attempt at Baltic Circle Festival”. Accessed 24 January 2025. https://www.gwid.se/2011/staged-larceny-stealing-attempt-at-baltic-circle-festival/

Zodiak Center for New Dance. “Tips for the Audience”. Accessed 24 January 2025. https://www.zodiak.fi/en/tips-audience.

Performance materials

Laitinen, Tuomas. 2014. The Portals book. Private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Laitinen, Tuomas. 2015. The Trialogue book. Private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Laitinen, Tuomas. 2016. The Shadows of Apollon book. Private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Laitinen, Tuomas & Oiva, Maria & Olkkonen, Jani-Petteri. 2017. The books of Plato’s Republic: Aletheia, Physis, Pneuma, Logos, Politeia. Private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Other

Arkadia Theatre. Exhibition at the Theatre Museum, Helsinki. Attended on 15.9.2024.

Esitys magazine 2/2015: Aika (Eng. Time). Compact disc. Helsinki: Reality Research Center. Also available at (Accessed 24 January 2025) https://todellisuus.fi/esitys-2-2015/

Manning, Erin. 2019. How to Repair. A keynote lecture on 28 August 2019 at CAPRA6 - the 6th Colloquium on Artistic Research in Performing Arts, Kiasma Theatre, Uniarts Helsinki.

Midgelow, Vida. 2019. Making a Difference via Sensuous Knowledge: The Artistic Doctoral Space. A keynote lecture on 30 August 2019 at CAPRA6 - the 6th Colloquium on Artistic Research in Performing Arts, Kiasma Theatre, Uniarts Helsinki.

Vuori, Eero-Tapio. 2017. A lecture during “RIPA - Relational, Immersive and Participatory Practices in Performance” -course. Personal notes. Theatre Academy, Helsinki, 11 January 2017. The private archive of Tuomas Laitinen.

Tuomas Laitinen’s private program archive.

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Tuomas H Laitinen - How Audience Bodies Form - 2025