A Seal Story, 2019

installation with a HD video (12:56), framed paintings, papier-mâché sculptures

Hydra and Marcos heavy and sweaty Hydras fingers
somewhere inside Marcos in the midday sun two fingers only
Hydra dreaming Marcos watching Hydras dreams.

 Hair growing longer on the tops of her fingers around
the belly down under the silk of her back gone thick
hair making its way to Marcos’ reality Hydras dream.


Read the full text here.

Taking its starting point from the legend of Kópakonan (the Seal Woman), one of the best-known folktales in the Faroe Islands, A Seal Story is a queer take on a contemporary love triangle. In the legend seals were believed to be former human beings who voluntarily sought death in the ocean. Once a year they were allowed to come on land, strip off their skins and amuse themselves as human beings. Filmed in a barren and remote fishing community off the Icelandic coast, as well as in a hotel room in Helsinki, the story is told through its three main characters: Eleanor – Lost Seal in the Pigeon Bay, Hydra – Daughter of the Fisherman and Marcos – a travel writer.

Text: Nastja Säde Rönkkö
Cinematography: Iris Kärkkäinen
Edit and post production: Heli Kota
Music: Timo Kaukolampi
Hydra: Rosaliina Paavilainen
Marcos: Autuas Ukkonen
Voiceover: Aino Lintunen
Installation images: Aboa Vetus, Ars Nova / J. Nieminen
Thank you: Hotel Klaus K Helsinki 
Supported by AVEK The Promotion Centre for Audiovisual Culture