2010

Urbania is an urban pilgrimage that explores cities as both physical and spiritual spaces. It suggests that cities share a common essence. However, each city possesses its own distinctive character that makes it special to those who have chosen that particular city.

This distinctive quality reveals itself cautiously, almost shyly. It needs to be coaxed out, approached gently. Only then does the city show its most secret places—glimpsed fleetingly, like something caught in the corner of one's eye, barely perceptible.

The pilgrimage follows a predetermined route. The journey opens up a world formed by both a shared journey in silence and the walker's personal revelations. Together, these create a third element—something greater than the sum of its parts—the world of URBANIA.

The journey is made both on foot and using various modes of transport. The walker carries their own belongings. Only the essential is brought along, nothing superfluous. Performances happened in Helsinki and Viana do Castelo Porugal.

See the next project

OVUM

Reality research center, Teatro Meia Volta, Portugal

Teatro Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil invited the URBANIA team to conduct a workshop for local, professional artists in 2014. The workshop concluded with a performance. The workshop concentrates on the creative processes of URBANIA's earlier parts and the methodologies for exploring urban spaces. The Rio de Janeiro residency broadens the investigation into the connection between urban and secular culture and sacred experience, immersing into a unique form of urban pilgrimage—carnival.

WORKING GROUP IN HELSINKI

Artistic directors: Maria Ruostepuro (Oiva) TTK, Alfredo Martins (TMV).

Timo Mäkelä (TTK), Erica Richter, Markus Lankinen, Ingvill Fossheim, Mia Silvennoinen, Maria Nuutinen, Veera Aaltonen, Silvia Silva (TMV) Aarni Korpela.

WORKING GROUP IN VIANA DO CASTELO, PORTUGAL

Maria Ruostepuro(TTK), Timo Mäkelä(TTK), Alfredo Martins (TMV), Carlos Alves, Estelle Franco, Luis Godinho, Silvia Silva (TMV).

Helsinki I Para Uma Bienal Viana do Castelo, Slow Cities, Portugal. I Teatro Ipanema Rua Prudente de Moraes, Rio de Janeiro.

"Pyhän rakentumisen kannalta tämä yksinkertaisuuden estetiikka on merkittävää: miksi pyhiinavaellusesitykseksi nimeäminen, yhdessä hiljaa käveleminen ja eväiden syöminen kukkulalla muuttuu oikeaksi pyhäksi kokemukseksi?" -Tuomas Laitinen

The performances were part of the research year of Reality research center Can the Sacred be Performed?

Some experiences can be conveyed through language, others—the deeper ones—through silence. - - There's no need to worry about this. Who says that experiences are meant to be shared? They are meant to be lived. That's all. And who says that truth is meant to be announced? It must be sought. That's all.

-Elie Wiesel

URBANIA - the ultimate Pilgrimage in Brazil 2014

URBANIA - THE BLIND SPOT

Helsinki All Saints' Day
A dark installation commenting on Urbania's two previous parts

WORKING GROUP
Maria Ruostepuro, (Oiva) Timo Mäkelä (Oiva)