​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Three weekends to immerse oneself in the passages of memory and the courses of time, flowing through the ´deserted house´ as original insight. Discovering familiar contours and contemplating new angles, in a program of events that will explore the narratives of art, with its intertwined languages and contemporary approaches, up to cultural aspects and museum conservation.

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Bekim Hasaj, Valentina Gelain, and collaborators warmly invite you to take part in this research, interpretation, commentary, which will unfold in a series of events between the end of September and the beginning of October 2025. The events will take place at various locations in the village of Övermark.

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The main event opens to the public the site-specific and interactive installation ´The Hidden Spots´, where artistic interventions have been incorporated into a century-old empty house and prompting visitors to explore and interact with the surroundings to uncover concealed anecdotes, or those that are about to be forgotten. 

At the opening, dancer Ailish Maher will contribute to the work. Her performance within the installation explores the layers between memory, absence, space and the body. Moving through the rooms and engaging with the material environment, she explores how actions and physicality can embody and evoke memory--connecting with the intangible and the unseen, the past and the present.

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The second weekend will see a seminar presenting museum’s services and consultancy for renovating protected dwellings, as well as to reflect and be inspired by the possible values and meanings that encompasses caring for an old house, which bears the marks of time and history, including collective one.

Guests and speakers are Vaasa Museums buildings researcher Annika Harjula-Eriksson, architect and specialist in built heritage Ruusa Viljanen Rossi. Hasaj and Gelain will introduce and close the seminar, providing an overview of the project, the artistic process, and the results.

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On the third and final weekend, following the general thematic line, Botnia Film Centre will screen a selection of clips and shorts at Övermark UF. The collection will be curated and presented by Pia Murto, guiding the audience on an exploration of time in filmmaking.

The house and the immersive work ´The Hidden Spots´ will be open to the public every weekend at designated times. Artists Hasaj & Gelain will be there to welcome you!

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PROGRAM

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When:

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Weekends: 26-27-28 September / 3-4-5 October / 10-11-12 October

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Where:

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EXHIBITION/PERFORMANCE: Old private house - Deermossvägen 20, 64610 Övermark / Parking: spots on site and 10min away / WC: yes (on September 26-27

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SEMINAR: Övermark B&B - Vasavägen 1488, 64610 Övermark / Parking: yes / WC: yes / Entrance ramp: no / www.overmarkbnb.fi

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SCREENING: Övermark UF - Smedsvägen 1, 64610 Övermark / Parking: yes / WC: yes / Entrance ramp: yes / www.overmarkuf.sou.fi

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You will find general directions and information on site. Suitable for all ages-children to be accompanied and supervised by adults.

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WEEKEND #1

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26 September 

Exhibition opening + Performance by Ailish Maher 17:00-19:00

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*17:00 ~ doors open, 17:05 ~ introduction, 17:15 ~ tour of the exhibition/installation, 17:30 ~ starting per-formance, 18:30 ~ end of performance, 16:00 ~ closing exhibition/installation.

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27 September 

Exhibition + Performance by Ailish Maher 14:00-16:00

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*14:00 ~ doors open, 14:05 ~ introduction, 14:15 ~ tour of the exhibition/installation, 14:30 ~ starting per-formance, 15:30 ~ end of performance, 16:00 ~ closing exhibition/installation.

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The exhibition can be visited in small groups at a time. In the courtyard, there will be a gather corner where guests can mingle around the fire, enjoying drinks and snacks.

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28 September

Exhibition 12:00-16:00

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WEEKEND #2

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3 October

Exhibition 14:00-18:00

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4 October 

Seminar 14:00-17:00 + Exhibition 17:30-19:30

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*14:00 ~ introduction by Gelain & Hasaj, 14:15 ~ 45min presentation by Annika Harjula-Eriksson, 15:00 ~ 10 min break/change, 15:10 ~ 60min presentation by Ruusa Viljanen Rossi, 16:10 ~ 10 min break, 16:20 ~ Q&A session, 16:45 ~ closing by Valentina & Bekim.

NB. The seminar is in Swedish-Finnish and the introduction in English.

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5 October

Exhibition 12:00-16:00

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WEEKEND #3

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10 October

Exhibition 16:00-19:00 + Screening 18:00-20:00

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*18:00 ~ doors open, 18:15 ~ screening begins, 19:00 ~ 10 min break, 19:55 ~ closing / NB. The event is in Swedish and Finnish.

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11 October

Exhibition 12:00-16:00 

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12 October

Exhibition 12:00-16:00

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For further questions and requests, write to team@blackboxgenesis.com. Please note that you should regi-ster in advance to attend the seminar, write to the same email address no later than September 28th.

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Collaborators e grantors

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The event is organised by Balck Box Genesis. Collaborators of the event are Vaasa Museums, Regional Dance Centre of Ostrobothnia, dancer and performer Ailish Maher, architect and specialist in built herita-ge Ruusa Viljanen Rossi-Tidorum, Botnia Film Centre, Övermark Byaråd.

​The art project and event are supported by Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Svensk-Österbottniska Samfundet, Svenska Kulturfonden.

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The sound work is in collaboration with Stefan Backas and Eyra. An audio work was created using archive material from the Society of Swedish Literature in Finland.

Many thanks to Roger Palmroos and Camilla Ågren for opening a door with more than wished for. A big thank you goes to the other contributors and everyone who participated in the project.

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About the project

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The interdisciplinary project ‘What is Left in the Temple of Memory’ is based on community research, video art and site-specific installations to investigate the dynamics and phenomena between memory and time.

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The artist duo Hasaj-Gelain probed the human perception and alteration, the traces left behind that wear out quickly and those that endure, history that fades and evaporates by repeating itself. What was so impor-tant and what is now—linked to the personal, human and transcendental dimension. Perceiving differently the possible values of impermanence in perpetual awareness.

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From this universal perspective, as a counterbalance, attention is paid and value is given to sharing existen-ces that bring us back to our present, to our surroundings.

‘Home’ as a body… as symbol of us. Intimacy and individuality, but also connective structures to the commu-nity and collectivity. Personal memories that belong to us, and reminiscences imprinted unaware within us.

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Disused, abandoned, forgotten places what do they whisper… what do they exude? 

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The immersive and interactive installation ´The Hidden Spots´ attempts this depiction. A deserted old hou-se becomes a work of art through targeted interventions and modifications, also including and concealing multidisciplinary art in the environment. Apparently usual, empty settings for the public to interact with, discovering memories and revealing stories that for some reason have now fallen into oblivion.

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For all information and materials regarding the project ‘What is Left in the Temple of Memory’, please visit the dedicated page > LINK.

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*The event is part of the public art development project in rural areas (DPARA) > web page

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Event program in Swedish and Finnish

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