Vice-Rector
Professor of Artistic Research, Performing Arts Research Centre
Theatre Academy Helsinki (TeaK)
Haapaniemenkatu 6
p.o. box 163
00531 Helsinki, Finland
Tel: +358-(0)400-792594
E-mail: esa.kirkkopelto@teak.fi

DATE OF BIRTH

25.1.1965, Luumäki

EDUCATION

2003 Docteur en philosophie, Université Marc Bloch, Strasbourg

1996 DEA degree in philosophy, Université des Sciences Humaines de Strasbourg

1993 BA in Philosophy, University of Helsinki

1991 Studies in French language at the University of Sorbonne

1985-1986 Studies in Dramaturgy in the Theatre Academy of Finland

1984 Matriculated from Taavetti senior secondary school

 POSTS, GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

2008-2010 Director of the research group “Actor´s Art in Modern Times”, financed by Finnish Cultural Foundation

2008 – 2012 Member of the Research project “Figures of Touch”,  financed by Finnish Academy (Sites of research: 1) University of Art and Design Helsinki (Taik): School of Art and Media Pori, School of Visual Culture, and School of Motion Picture, Television and Production Design, 2) University of Helsinki: Institute for Art Research, and Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies. 3) Finnish Theatre Academy, 4) University of Linköping: Department of Medical and Health Sciences.

2006 – 2007 Post doctoral position (Aesthetics), University of Helsinki

2006-2008 Member of the Research project “Encounters in Art and Philosophy”, financed by Finnish Academy, site of research: Institute for Art Research, University of Helsinki.

2003-2005 Kone Foundation: A grant for post doctoral research

1997-2002 Academy of Finland: Research funding

2002 Finnish Cultural Foundation: A grant for completing doctoral thesis

ACADEMIC EXPERT TASKS

2007 – member of the board of Doctoral Study Programme for Performing Arts, network of seven universities funded by the Academy of Finland and the Finnish Ministry of Education

2009 Preliminary examination of the doctoral thesis of Riku Roihankorpi ”From a Darkness to a Blind Spot. Encounters between Theatre, Modern Continental Ethics of Responsibility and the Concept of Evil”, University of Tampere.

2009 Examination of the MA-thesis of Riko Saatsi, “Mediamateriaalia”, “Merkintöjä näyttämöstä ja sen ehdollistumista, MA-Programme for Director

2007 Supervision of the MA-thesis of Essi Kausalainen, “Harjoituksia painovoimalle ja valolle – erään teoksen anatomiasta ja ajattelusta”, MA-Programme for Live Art and Performance Theory.

2007-2008 Supervision of the MA-thesis of Ari Korhonen, “Vulgus ja Populus – Poliittinen Derrida”, Institute for Art Research (Aesthetics), University of Helsinki.

PUBLICATIONS

MONOGRAPHS

Le Théâtre de l´expérience, Presses Universitaires de Paris-Sorbonne, Paris, 2008.

ARTICLES IN SCIENTIFIC JOURNALS

- “The Question of the Scene: On the Philosophical Foundations of Theatrical  Anthropocentricism”, Theatre Research International, vol. 34, nº3

- “New start: Artistic Research in Finnish Theatre Academy”, Nordic Theatre Studies, 20 / 2008

- "Taide vallankumouksen jälkitilanteessa" (Art in the post-revolutionary situation) Synteesi 1 /07.

- "Kolmas toisen katseessa – huomoita näyttämöllisen kohtaamisen rakenteesta" (Third in the gaze of the other, remarks on the structure of scenic encounter) Politiikka (48: 4 / 2006, 262-266).

- "Prosaic Stage: Reflections of the Theatre of Walter Benjamin", Acta Philosophica Fennica (volume 79, 2006). Same article in Finnish ("Proosallinen näyttämö. Walter Benjaminin teatterista") in Avain (volume  3-4, 2005).

- "Athenen ääni - tragedia, demokratia, dekonstruktio" (Vote of Athena - Tragedy, democracy, deconstruction) in Tiede & Edistys  (volume 3/04). Same article in Russian in Novoe Literaturnoe Obozrenie (New Literary Review) (vol. 69, 2004).

- ”Näyttämön ilmiö” (Stage as a phenomenon), Esitys katsoo meitä. Näyttämö ja tutkimus 1 Theatre Research Society, 2005).

- ”Johdatusta näyttämönteoriaan” (Introduction to stage theory) in Tiede ja Edistys (Volume 3/03).

- “Yritys Brechtin ajattelemiseksi" (Attempts at Brecht) in Tiede ja Edistys (Volume 1/99).

ARTICLES IN SCIENTIFIC COLLECTIONS OF ARTICLES/BOOKS 

- “La question de la scène”, in Philosophie de la scène (éd. Denis Guénoun & Nicolas Doutey), Éditions Les Solitaires intempestifs, 2010.

- “On the Structure of the Scenic Encounter”, The Event of Encounter in Art and Philosophy. Continental Perspectives, Kuisma Korhonen & Pajari Räsänen (eds.), Gaudeamus Helsinki University Press, 2010.     

- "Zwischen - Heidegger between Kant and Hölderlin" ("Zwischen - Heidegger Kantin ja Hölderlinin välissä") in the book Heidegger. Ajattelun aiheita (edited by J. Backman & M. Luoto, 23°45, 2006).

- "Kivi, traaginen ja moderni" (Aleksis Kivi, tragic and modern) in the anthology Romanttinen moderni (The Romantic Modern, edited by T. Hökkä, SKS, 2001).

SELECTED CONFERENCE PAPERS

24.4.2010 « Most Mimetic Animal. Overcoming Theatrical Anthropocentrism », international Symposium « Performance and Philosophy » hosted by SFB 447 « Kulturen des Performativen », Freie Univesrsitet Berlin, in association with “Performance and Philosophy” Working Group (PSi).

25.2.2010 “Intuitions, institutions”, Winter symposium of the Nordic Summer School, University of Gothenburg.

15.1.2010 “Alles Schwebt. Modernité comme expérience-limite”, Colloquium « La Limite et l´illimité », 15.-16.2010, Paris

30.10.2009 “My Life as an Object”, International Conference of Stage Animation, 29.-30.10.2009, Tutkivan teatterityön keskus, Tampere

22.10.2009 “Retrait du comédien: Lacoue-Labarthe et le paradoxe”, International Colloquium “Philippe Lacoue-Labarthe”, Parlement des philosophes, Strasbourg, 22.-24.10.2009

2.10.2009 “Intuition, Institution: Notes on Artistic Research”, Konstfakultet, Stockholm.

1.10.2009 ”Brecht and Heidegger on the Oriental Actor”, Södertörn University, Stockholm.

14.7. 2009 “Scène, Mimèsis, Acteur : Réflexions sur la phénoménologie du théâtre “, Collegium Phenomenologicum, Perugia.

25.6.2009 “Misperforming Bodies and the Politics of Modernism”, Performance Studies International, Zagreb.

3.2.2009 “Scène Philosophique”, researcht day “Philosophie de la scène » at Centre de Recherche sur l´Histoire du Théâtre, Université Paris-Sorbonne IV.

30.1.2009 ”Radical Artistic Research”, Winter Symposium 2009, Nordic Summer University, Tampere.

11.10.2008 “Tragédie de la métaphysique: à propos de l´Oedipe à Colone de Sophocle », Colloquium « Les paradoxes de la mimesis au coeur de la relation des Modernes avec les Anciens » (Athenes 9-11 October 2008).

16.7.2008 « Pearls in Search for a Thread. Heidegger and Brecht on the Oriental actor”, IFTR / FIRT World Congress, Seoul.

18.3.2007 “Jouets de Walter Benjamin”, symposium Walter Benjamin. Du droit au mythe, Parlement des philosophes, Strasbourg (17.-18.3.2007).

29.11.2007 “Pearls in Search for a Thread – Heidegger and Brecht on Theatre”, symposium Encountering Language, University of Helsinki

17.11.2007 “Théâtre entre le jeu et le jugement”, symposium Jouer et juger, Festival Mettre en Scène, Theatre National de Rennes

9.11.2006 "On the structure of scenic encounter", Colloquium Encounters in Art and Philosophy, University of Helsinki (9.-10.11. 2006).

9.8.2006 "Planetary Oedipus", Plenary speech, IFTR / FIRT World Congress in Helsinki (7.-12.8.2006).

6.6.2006 "Fascinated by terror", conference of IAPL, Freiburg, Between three: arts, media, politics (5.-10.6. 2006).

29.1.2006 "Comparatifs de Hölderlin", colloquium Déconstruction mimétique, Paris, Collège international de philosophie, Université Sorbonne Paris IV (28.-29.1. 2006).

2.6.2005 "On the structure of scenic encounter: an Example", conference of IAPL, Chiasmatic Encounters, Helsinki (2.-7.2006).

7.8.2004 "Learning to Die: Plato, Hölderlin, Brecht", Conference Philosophical Reflections on literature, Philosophical society of Finland (5.-7.8.2004).

20.7.2004 "Suffrage d´Athéna – tragédie, démocratie, deconstruction", International French-German Philosophy Colloquium, Evian (18.-24.7.2004)

24.4.2004 "Zwischen – Heidegger between Kant and Hölderlin", conference of the Nordic Society of Phenomenology, Södertörn Högskola, Stockholm (23.-25.4.2006)

17.1.2004 "Zwischen – Heidegger Kantin ja Hölderlinin välissä", colloquium Heidegger Suomessa (Heidegger in Finland), Research Group of European Thought (16.-17.1.2004)

21.11.2003 "Näyttömönteoria" (Theory of stage), colloquium of The Finnish Society of Aesthetics (21.-22.11.2003).

TRANSLATIONS

- Denis Guénoun, Näyttömön filosofia (Essays on the stage theory), translation (with K. Sivenius) and post-face, LIKE, Helsinki /forthcoming in 2007.

- Hölderlin, Huomautuksia Sofokleen kääntämisestä (Remarks on the Translations of Sophocle) translation and introduction, (LOKI-kirjat, 2001).

- Sofokles, Oidipus Kolonoksessa (Oedipus at Colonus), translation (LIKE-kustantamo, 1994).

OTHER WORKS AND ARTICLES RELATED TO THE RESEARCH TOPIC 

- ”Taiteellisesta tutkimuksesta” (On Artistic Research), Teatterikorkea, 2 / 2007.

- Nuori kaarti. Esa Kirkkopellon 1990-luvun teatteri (The Young Guard. Theatre of E. Kirkkopelto in the 1990´s), LIKE, Helsinki, 2007.

- Manifesto for Generalized Anthropomorphism, 2004, Eurozine (www.eurozine.net).

- ”Tragedia ja etiikka" (Tragedy and Ethics),  Nuori Voima (Volume 2/2000).

- "Incipit tragoedia - murhenäytelmä alkaa" (Incipit tragoedia – the tragedy begins), Nuori Voima (Volume 2/98).

- "Politiikka teatterina” (Politics as theatre), Yliopisto  (Volume 18/97).

- "Poliittisesta teatterista” (On political theatre), in the anthology Moniääninen 60-luku, Teatterimuseo, 1996.

ARTISTIC EXPERIENCE

2009 Performance-Workshop “Secret Re-education Camp”, Other Spaces (Hunger Theatre)

2007 Performance Odradek-variations, Other Spaces (Hunger Theatre)

2006 Performance Aniara, Other Spaces (Hunger Theatre)

2004 onwards, Work in progress Other Spaces (Hunger theatre)

2003 Play Vetoapua ja läheltäpiti-tilanteita, (Close Calls and Helping Hands - A Blues Comedy), Q-teatteri – script and direction.

1996 Spectacle Kostamus-sinfonia (Kostamus Symphony), Ylioppilasteatteri (Student Theatre) 70^th anniversary performance - dramaturgy and direction.

1995 Spectacle Yrjö Kallisen valaistuminen (Illumination of Yrjö Kallinen), Suomussalmi-Group – script and direction.

1994 Radiophonic play Stranger, YLE (Finnish Broadcasting Company), script, direction, performance.

1994 Sophocles Oedipus at Colonus, Q-teatteri – translation and direction.

1993 Play Huomenna kello neljä (Tomorrow at Four O´Clock), Teatteri Jurkka - script

1992 Spectacle Mahnovitsina  (Makhnovitschina), Ylioppilasteatteri – script and direction

1992 Spectacle Pontikkatehdas (Moonshine Still), Ylioppilasteatteri -  script and direction                        

1990 Theatre performance Elvytystä (Reanimation), Ylioppilasteatteri – production in co-operation with Atro Kahiluoto.

1986-1987 Member of Theatre of God –group

AWARDS

2009 Silver medal of the Central Commitee of Finnish Theatre Associations, as a recognition of 20 years of work for the Finnish Theatre (Suomen näyttämötaiteen hopeinen ansiomerkki 20 vuoden toiminnasta punaisin ruusukkein)

1993 Annual Theatre Award of the Theatre Centre (Vuoden teatteriteko)

1995 Finland Award for young artists (Nuoren taiteen Suomi-palkinto)