Peilipöllö (Bubo speculus) II Jere Suontausta Photo: Jere Suontausta
Peilipöllö (Bubo speculus) II Jere Suontausta Photo: Jere Suontausta
Peilipöllö (Bubo speculus) II Jere Suontausta Photo: Jere Suontausta
Jere Suontausta: Peilipöllö (Bubo speculus) II and I
A fictive-dystopian bird species and a sculptural artwork.
The second version of the artwork, built after the lost original: Peilipöllö (Bubo speculus) is a fictive-dystopian bird species and a sculptural light installation that consists almost entirely out of found and recycled materials. The artwork is both an introverted fantasy and a statement: The owl hoots at the audience in an oddly melancholic manner, casting its stare on us on the verge of climate catastrophe and mass extinction. The creation of the artwork was largely guided by stumbling upon some intriguing materials, starting from the museum light reflectors that became the eyes of an owl. I got interested in this idea of a dystopia, where only mechanical bird species consisting of thrash and mirroring metal would remain and wanted to offer a glimpse to such (near) future with a sculptural artwork. Gathering some more shiny-and-possibly-birdlike materials from thrift shops and such, I built a quite weird owl. The hooting sounds of Bubo speculus are made by playing and recording a door of a mirror cabinet in the toilet of my flat.
About the original Peilipöllö (Bubo speculus), 2019
The original Peilipöllö (Bubo speculus) is a fictive-dystopian bird species and a sculptural light installation that consists almost entirely out of found and recycled materials.
The original artwork cannot be rebuild. It is in BLAF as a showcase only.
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Peilipöllö (Bubo speculus). The first two photos are captured by Anu Plym, and the last one on the right by Timo Sivonen.
Which kind of light sources and what other materials and equipment are used?
LED, incandescent light, found materials, electronics.
Please provide the dimensions of the work. Approximate size will do. Please mention if the work can be adjusted. (width-height-depth):
Approx. 40cm x 65cm x 40cm.
Electricity consumption:
Standard mains current (10A/16A).
Does the artwork use sound?
Directional/effect sound from inside the sculpture.
Support and other structures:
The work needs support structures, hanging points, or similar.
Please state which structures, hardware or other equipment is needed from the client:
Rigging: The owl is installed to "sit" via the superclamp feet of the sculpture; it is possible to fasten to an existing surface, or build/augment aluminum piping to a desired location. A "dystopian tree" stand, built out of metal pipe and found scrap materials may also be built for the sculpture to sit on, this is always a site-specific case. In addition to the rigging/installation of the sculpture, additional fixing points for focused point lighting is needed - the artwork is illuminated with 3 or 4-point lighting from outside.
Minimum height of the space:
270cm
Minimum square meters of the space:
12
Requirements for the space: darkness, temperature, colouring (light / dark / specific colour / other) etc.:
Moderate darkness. No loud sounds nearby, the sound the artwork has is not super powerful.
Building time and people required (estimate):
1-1,5 days, one technician/helping hand needed with building the rigging.
Artist's presence:
Artist or their representative must be present during building.
Seen before at:
Varjotarinoita, Mikkeli, 2021 - Factory Light Festival, Asker, 2021, City of Light, Jyväskylä, 2021
PEILIPÖLLÖ (BUBO SPECULUS) ORIGINAL
Is the artwork available for exhibiting? No, the artwork can't be rebuilt and is in BLAF as a showcase only.
Which kind of light sources and what other materials and equipment are used? The sculpture consists of almost entirely found or recycled materials and objects, such as vintage kitchenware, czechoslovakian cookie molds, a mirror ball and used reflectors from exhibition lighting. There are LED and incandescent light sources inside the sculpture. A separate, focused lighting is done according to the exhibition space and surroundings.
Does the artwork use sound? Directional/effect sound from inside the sculpture.
Seen before at: Loiste Ylöjärvi, Ylöjärvi, 2019 - Reflektor Korso, Vantaa, 2019 - Lux Helsinki, Helsinki, 2020
