Ancient Streaming Assembly (ASA)
Evolving amidst the shadows of an imminent environmental crisis, the Ancient Streaming Assembly, helmed by visionary Kimmo Kuusniemi and enriched by ethnomusicologist Tuomas Rounakari, is a harrowing cross-arts odyssey. ASA bridges the chasm between mankind's ancestral wisdom and our dystopian reality, crafting an immersive audiovisual journey. Through haunting melodies, gripping visuals, and the echoes of ancient tales, ASA beckons the world to confront our fragile existence and rediscover the harmonies that once bound us to nature. As a fluid and evolving project, ASA invites collaboration across diverse art forms, seeking to intertwine varying artistic expressions into its profound narrative.
To contact us: tarja@ancientstreaming.com
Collaborate with ASA: A Confluence of Art, Culture, and Environment
At ASA, we believe in the transformative power of art as a universal language that transcends cultural boundaries. In an era where our planet faces unprecedented challenges, the ability to communicate the splendour and fragility of our natural world through diverse artistic mediums becomes paramount. We're not just pushing the boundaries of art; we're endeavouring to shatter them, intertwining them with a potent environmental message.
Are you an artist rooted in your culture yet passionate about the global environment? Do you envision your art as a bridge between worlds, echoing the whispers of the Earth and the voices of various cultures? If this harmonises with your beliefs and you’re eager to meld your creative talents with a profound purpose, ASA extends its hand to you.
ASA is on a quest for collaborations with artists determined to amplify environmental awareness and preservation through their craft. Whether your art form is visual, auditory, performative, or an intricate blend, your unique voice has the potential to inspire and unite across cultural vistas.
Join us as we forge a symphony of art, culture, and environment, instigating a worldwide dialogue and spurring collective action. Interested artists, let's redefine boundaries and sculpt a sustainable, harmonious future. Contact ASA, and let our combined visions light the path.
About Kimmo Kuusniemi
Finnish-born visionary, Kimmo Kuusniemi stands at the intersection of art, music, film, and environmental advocacy. In the late 1970s, Kuusniemi founded the legendary band Sarcofagus. Melding progressive and experimental elements with heavy rock, Sarcofagus crafted their unique version of heavy metal that was ahead of its time. Always at the vanguard of innovation, Kuusniemi has consistently harnessed the latest technology to expand his artistic expression.
In 1981, showcasing his forward-thinking prowess, Kuusniemi produced and directed a full album length music video for his third album, Kimmo Kuusniemi Band “Moottorilinnut”. Coincidentally, this was the same year MTV made its debut in the USA, signaling the onset of a new era for music and visual media. Though MTV was launching on the other side of the Atlantic, Kuusniemi's ambitious project underscored his position at the forefront of the evolving music-video landscape.
In the 1980s, Kuusniemi ventured deeply into environmental film-making. He produced a series of informational short films highlighting various environmental topics, aimed at educating and raising public awareness. One of his standout projects from this era was a multi-part documentary that diligently chronicled the development of the Ämmässuo landfill site over a span of over 10 years, offering a profound examination of the intricate and evolving relationship between man and environment. This commitment to environmental consciousness culminated in the early '90s with the "Dream On" project—a compelling film and extended single produced for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
Following "Dream On", Kuusniemi continued to make his mark in the realm of film and television. He produced several TV documentaries that achieved international distribution. Among his most notable works is the groundbreaking 8-hour adventure/history TV series, "Baltic Sea Adventure," which garnered widespread acclaim and captivated audiences globally.
Whether through his compelling documentaries, informational films, or innovative projects like the Ancient Streaming Assembly, Kuusniemi's work continues to intertwine ancestral wisdom with the pressing concerns of the modern world. His endeavors resonate with the urgent call to harmonize with nature, drawing insights from the past and weaving them into the tapestry of today's narrative.
About Tuomas Ruonakari
Diving deep into the archived recordings of Siberian shamans, Tuomas birthed the SHAMANVIOLIN performance. His art is deeply influenced by the historical wax-cylinder recordings made by Finnish ethnographer Kai Donner between 1912 and 1914, which highlighted extinct languages and forgotten songs. Tuomas’ field trip to Siberia in 2002 further immersed him in the indigenous Khanty and Forest-Nenets cultures, expanding his repertoire.
A child prodigy on the violin, he always had an affinity for music that sent him into a trance state. Moving to New York City in 1998, Tuomas explored World music and recognized the value of oral traditions. This epiphany led him back to his Finnish roots, where he discovered the intersection of Siberian shamanic music with Finnish laments.
By 2001, Tuomas was back in Finland, evolving his Shamanviolin performance and integrating his compositions with musical traditions from the Eurasian Arctic. This journey also led him to teach laments, revitalizing this almost-extinct musical tradition.
Today, Tuomas continues to travel the globe, performing with Shamanviolin, while also conducting workshops on shamanic traditions and music. As a current doctoral student at the Sibelius-Academy, he's uniting traditions, times, and cultures, inviting all into a transcendent musical experience exclusively through the soundscapes of Shamanviolin.