Zodiak Laboratory is Zodiak's residency concept. In March 2026, the ZodLab residency artist is Biret Haarla Pieski, together with their working group.
During the residency, we will develop our new dance work, Main Character, together with our working group. The piece will premiere at Kiasma's URB Festival in summer 2026.
Main Character is a dance performance that explores social codes and examines how they shape our behaviour and the world around us. It questions human self-centredness and our relentless pursuit of approval, looking at how this tendency manifests in everyday performative self-expression, particularly in public situations.
The work challenges the idea that humans are the main characters on our planet and perhaps reframes the role of humans by introducing the concept of láhtet olmmožin. This Northern Sámi term refers to the inherent responsibility tied to living as a human: to take care of the environment.
The working group is convened by dance artist Biret Haarla Pieski and consists of performers Raul Aranha, Satu Herrala, and Ching Shu Huang, as well as sound artist Hayden Dean. Throughout the residency, we will explore these themes through movement and sound, fostering connection with one another and with our surroundings. We approach the subject gently, in a way that nurtures hope.
Supported by: Jenny & Antti Wihuri Foundation, Finnish Cultural Institute for the Benelux, Sámi Artist Council, Culture Moves Europe -EU mobility support
Residencies: Lake Studios Berlin Residency, Eskus Residency
Thank you: Early research in collaboration with Belmon / Therese Bendjus and Marta Marja Ruszkowska