In the midst of last-minute cables, tech runs, and conceptual chaos, we caught up with the curatorial team of SAAL Biennale to find out what’s brewing behind the scenes. What can you expect on the stages (and forests) of Tallinn from 21 to 30 August?
Think sexiness laced with sorrow, collectivity haunted by spookiness, and a festival that defies definition. Read on for the vibe check and a few hand-picked recommendations from the team.
What are the trumps of this year's SAAL Biennale?It’s a stack of cards full of only trumps and self-aware, nuanced subjectivity.
What emotions can you expect?Sexiness, rage, collectivity, spookiness, the joy of recognition, space for hidden sorrow, belonging and nostalgia, and being caught by rhythm.
How has the SAAL Biennale changed over time?SAAL Biennale dates back to 1996, when it was called Augusti TantsuFestival. The festival is such a fluid space of communities that it’s completely different each time. One distinct change, however, is that since 2023, the festival has been curated by the entire Kanuti Gildi SAAL collective.
How does the organization and curation of such a diverse event work?Day by day.
How do you convince your conservative great-aunt to see a show with you?We tell her there will be cake, but we don’t say at which show.
Undersang by Harald Beharie is a ritual-like performance that takes place in a forest. The audience is invited on a small hike before the performance, which raises questions about cultural frictions and belonging. It’s definitely a performance for those who yearned to get out of the city this summer but never managed to.
Teenage Songbook of Love and Sex is a performance where young people from Estonia and Iceland take the stage to talk about their sexual and romantic relationships. It’s an empowering and bold performance for everyone who currently is—or ever has been—a teenager.
Silenzio! is an ironic opera by Ramona Nagabczyńska. It’s a performance full of humor and twists, illustrating the role of women in society.
Ely Daou’s performance is for anyone who travels in memories, who likes to listen, and who wants to get to know someone. It’s a performance of maps of childhood homes and stories of wartime.
All Together by Michikazu Matsune is a performance that doesn’t leave anyone cold. It’s sincere and moving, nostalgic with good taste. It’s about the people we have loved and carry in our hearts—even if they’re not currently in the same space with us.