• Pasi Autio, Hälytystila, Still 1
  • Pasi Autio, Hälytystila, Stillkuva
  • Pasi Autio, Hälytystila, Stillkuva

Pasi Autio

State of Alert

Huuto IV 6.2.-2.3.2025

Pasi Autio
State of Alert
6 February–2 March 2025

Video work

In State of Alert, light, darkness, a shadowy figure and rhythmic sounds play central roles.

When light illuminates something, it simultaneously highlights the surrounding darkness. This visual blind spot highlights the limited nature of knowledge and opens up the possibility to use your imagination. Will the light ultimately illuminate something meaningful or is its purpose merely to outline the darkness? Due to the rapid alternation of light and darkness, one cannot be sure of what they actually see and what is a figment of their imagination.

The natural sounds included in the work sometimes resemble the sounds of emergency vehicles, at times mixing with sounds produced by machines and humans, urban sounds. In the turbulent soundscape, repetitions and rhythms remind us of the life-sustaining pulse and create a sense of security and continuity.

The starting point for the work was a psychological, vague sense of being in a constant state of alert. It stems from a feeling of insecurity, a feeling I currently seem to share with many others – whether on a personal, everyday level, due to the global political situation or concerning the survival of humanity in the midst of climate change.

The production of the work has been supported by:
Scriptwriting support / AVEK
Konstsamfundet

Thank you
Saku Koistinen
Tuomo Väänänen

Pasi Autio (b. 1974, Vaasa) is a Helsinki-based media artist who works with moving images, sound, performances and photography. His themes have included the unequal interaction of humans with the entire ecosystem, the connection between the mind and body, loneliness, temporality and death. Autio’s works often contain humorous elements, even when dealing with serious topics.

Autio’s works have been on display at numerous solo and group exhibitions since 2000. His Bird Disco performance has been seen at Helsinki Biennial (2021) and Riga White Nights (2023) and at the opening of XXVII Mänttä Art Festival (2023) and Supermarket Art Fair (2021). Autio’s works are included in the collections of HAM Helsinki Art Museum and the Finnish State Art Commission.