Martial Law is a site-specific project by Anastasia Artemeva to re-imagine the WW1 trenches at the Patterimäki park in Maunula. During the commission process, the artist engaged in on-site dialogues with convicts doing community service to restore the trenches, as well as residents of a nearby service home and park visitors. Background into the history of the site was provided by Helsinki City Museum's publications and research expertise.
Based on the dialogues, the artist created a narrative interweaving facts, fiction and memories of war with reflections of safety and confinement. In the final event on September 28, 2017, visitors experienced the narrative on site via an audio-fitted helmet, while video footage of the project was screened in a military tent.
The project acknowledges cooperation with KRITS National probation and after care association and the Helander service home.
A special thanks to Johannes Vartola, recording and sound engineering, Anna Rawlings, voice acting; Markku Heikkinen / Helsinki City Museum for historical guidance and Ville Hyvönen / Helicam for drone footage.
The project was commissioned and co-produced by m-cult in May-September 2017 in context of the Collaborative Arts Partnership Programme, supported by the Creative Europe programme.
