DOCTOR OF ARTS REIJA HIRVIKOSKI
Reija Hirvikoski - photographer Juha Reunanen
Doctor of Arts Reija Hirvikoski has been a professional freelance
set and costume designer for the Finnish theatres since 1979. She has designed
stages, costumes and sets for movies, TV and theatre and mounted over one hundred
productions, including classics, musicals, dance, circus, children and new drama
(many world premieres). Hirvikoski has also designed brochures, posters, exhibitions,
furniture and interior designs for editorial and broadcasting offices including
MTV3 news house and news studio in 2001.
Reija Hirvikoski has actively
worked towards improving the visibility and status of scenic design as a writer,
editor and publisher. She has been a quest lecturer in many Finnish universities
and vocational schools.
Hirvikoski is also the president of Finnish OISTAT
(International Organization of Scenographers, Theatre Architects and Technicians)
Centre, Chair Elect (2009) of the Scenography Commission of OISTAT, member of
IFTR/FIRT and Finnish Theatre Researchers Association. In 1987, she was the
first female scenographer to win the Jussi-award (Finnish Oscar), which she
got for the visual design of the movie The Snow Queen. In 2006 Reija Hirvikoski
was awarded with the state's artist-grant for the whole year. She was named
Honorary Professor of Arts for 2009-14 by the Arts Council of Finland.
Out of range, Rovaniemi Theatre, 2010.
Direction Atro
Kahiluoto. Sets Reija Hirvikoski. Costumes Ina Jakobsson. Photographer Reija
Hirvikoski
Moments in the Lighting Design.
Relatio Artis -seminar 26.5.2011
In her speech Moments in the Lighting
Design Reija Hirvikoski described the emergence of Finnish lighting design
as an independent art form through personal experience and the works of sixteen
designers.
In Finnish theatre the field of lighting design was dominated
by electricians. The chance was brought about by the esthetics and methods of
dance theatre according to Hirvikoski. In dance productions lighting has traditionally
had more prominent role. Choreographers also tend to give light designers more
freedom to realize their visions than theater directors. As performers dancers
are also more humble and submissive than the ever questioning actors.
Out of range, Rovaniemi
Theatre, 2010. Direction Atro
Kahiluoto. Sets Reija Hirvikoski. Costumes Ina Jakobsson. Photographer Reija
Hirvikoski
Reija Hirvikoski regards Claude Neville as the lighting design pioneer.
A new era in Finnish theatre lighting began with his staging of the play
Endless Enigma (1982). Neville removed and redirected the ceiling
lights and thus instantly transformed a fixed and given stage element into a
tool of interpretation.
Hirvikoski’s relationship with the emergence
and development of this era is personal. She was involved in the famed
Endless Enigma production as a stage assistant, worked as an
independent artist in the groundbreaking Jorma Uotinen’s Kalevala (1985),
and testified how this development culminated in 1986 when her alma mater
School of Art and Design (Aalto University) finally got its own lighting and
sound design department. It is worth mentioning that this department is
currently the only place in Europe where you can get master and doctoral
level training in the field.
Katariina Lipsanen
Relatio Artis page
Kalevi Aho
Reija Hirvikoski
Juhani Pallasmaa
Catarina Ryöppy
Jussi Tiainen
Timo Valjakka