Heidi Fast

Finland, b. 1975.

2005-(2007) MA, Performance and theory, The-atre Academy of Finland, Helsinki

2004-2005 MA, Theatre pedagogy, Theatre Academy of Finland, Helsinki

1999-2004 BA, Performing Arts, Helsinki Polytechnic

1998-2000 Studies on classical singing, teacher Marjut Hannula, Finland

1995-1998 Vocal/Super class, Ebeli Jazz School, Finland

First sound art work: Terveys-Vireitä (Health-Tunes) 2005

On the way I work, or the basis of my work: I am a voice and performance artist and work with my voice in relation to particular material circumstances or a certain place. I consider the voice in its sonorous and rhythmic qualities a broad compilation, some kind of exchange or variation of energy or force between human bodies, the body and its environment. It may act as a certain pass into the thinking of corporeality, sexuality, space and the becoming of place. So “the milieu” between those elements is music.

One example of an attempt to work on those questions could be my work (in process when writing this text) in Kuopio Antifestival 2006 called “Amorous dialogues”. I am inviting a listener to a home that is not mine (but not quite any more or quite yet anybody else`s either; agented by a real estate agency), where we both are visitors. I try to find the vocal routes for an intimate dialogue in-between the visitor and the materialistic and acoustic “cinders” of the home, the traces of the apartment and living, and myself.

In my work "Terveys-Vireitä" (Health-Tunes) 2005 I tried to approach the thinking of the fragile (in the voice) within the health, vital force and vanishing of it happening at the same time and not succesive to each other. I worked with the microphone and headphones and the range between live and not-live, and also my voice resonating from other places of my body than the mouth (for example neck and chest).

Also essential for me is to consider and take part in the reorganising of the territories between voice, music and contemporary art. I work on those connections on which ”voice” may join or mix in with the public practices.

My work happens in between the areas of voice art, public art and performance art.