This flowing moment – Experimental short films by Arttu Nieminen
Director: Arttu Nieminen
Finland │ 2019-2025
Languages: English, Sápmi
Length: 47 min
Age rating: 12
The exhibition dives into the futuristic and surreal world of Lapland by Arttu Nieminen. From his travels, he has photographed the hypnotic features of Arctic nature, the dissonances and the pulse of big cities, concocting mental landscapes from them that are suddenly pierced by brutal montages. In his works, he reflects on this flowing moment, environmental issues and the next steps of our species’ consciousness.
“I feel like I’m on the verge of a propaganda film, even though I’m trying to create a purifying artistic experience. I think of my works as audiovisual spells in which I try to instill the power of change”
The works echo the contributions of Nieminen’s creative partners who shared his artistic journey: poets Gregory Whitehead and Niillas Holmberg, co-director Hans Pieski, and musicians Veera Neva and Amanda Martikainen.
Muohtačalmmit 9 min 2024
Maílmmittkus 9 min 2025
Ultima Kaltio 5 min 2020
Awareness 4 min 2019
Singularity 9min 2021
Lift up your voices 11min 2023
Sápmi Trilogy
Muohtačalmmit
2023
Director: Hans Pieski & Arttu Nieminen
Length: 9 min
The film flows like water – a metaphor for the current state of pressure on the Sámi people. It deals with the significance of water as a sacred element, a route and a source of life. The work paints a dystopian future in which Sápmi breathes under the cross-pressure of energy politics and the mining industry. The poetic narrative stems from the poem Muohtačalmmit written in 1915 by Pedar Jalvi – the first Sámi writer in Finland.
Máilmmitkus
2025
Director: Hans Pieski & Arttu Nieminen
Length: 9 min
A surreal journey into the contradictions between indigenous people and the unstoppable force of technological development. The film reflects the different phases of technology and their impact on the reality of indigenous peoples.
Ultima Kaltio
2020
Length: 6 min
Music: Wimme & Rinne
The Kaltio (spring) bubbles hypnotically in the middle of the lush wilderness, enchanting the beholder. The bottom of the spring vibrates with seductive energy and invites you into its embrace. Whoever surrenders to its hypnosis, experiences a vision that curves the surface of the mirror of the soul.
The work takes you to the world of bogs – to the outskirts of the wilderness, where a gentle spring awakens wonder and forgets the sense of time. It is an ode to untouched nature, pathless lands and the mysticism of Lapland.
Awareness-trilogy
Awareness
2019
Director: Arttu Nieminen
Length: 4 min
Based on the soundtrack by Gregory Whitehead.
A neuro-film that delves into the mental labyrinth– a vision where the consciousness of humanity reaches for the heavens.
Singularity
2021
Director: Arttu Nieminen
Length: 11 min
Within the structures of a colossal archetype computer, the digital event horizon collapses into a singularity. The algorithm evolves into a surreal flowing entity, reaching for something fundamental about humanity, existence, and the universe.
The film paints and fists the fears and possibilities created by the approaching evolutionary leap – while envisioning the essence of digital consciousness.
Lift Up Your Voices
2023
Director: Arttu Nieminen
Length: 12 min
Based on a radio recording by Gregory Whitehead.
The collective consciousness crystallized in the form of artificial intelligence speaks to humanity in its death throes. On its final journey, the experiencer glides through times and worlds. In a surrealistic soul fair, we encounter the deadly consequences of human desires – which, by encountering them, we may still reach for the light.
The work combines Nieminen’s characteristic hypnotic, effected drone rides, mantra poetics and rapid editing in the spirit of a collage film.