performansseissa

Performanssi, or performance art, is a form of contemporary art where live action, time-based events, and the artist’s presence are central to the work. The Finnish word performansseissa is the inessive plural form of performanssi, meaning “in performances” or “at performances.” This form appears in Finnish descriptions and analyses to indicate locations, occasions, or contexts of performance works, for example: Taiteilija esiintyy performansseissa.

Typical features of performanssi include live action, duration over time, and a focus on process, context, or site. Works often resist traditional art objects in favor of experiential or relational outcomes, and may involve the artist’s body, voice, gestures, audience interaction, or social interaction. The practice frequently crosses disciplinary boundaries, drawing on theatre, dance, visual art, and conceptual approaches. Influences can be traced to early 20th-century movements such as Dada, Fluxus, and happenings, while contemporary forms increasingly incorporate video, installation, and participatory elements. The aim is to provoke reflection on questions of authorship, spectatorship, temporality, and the nature of art itself.

In Finland, performanssi has been integrated into the broader contemporary art discourse through galleries, festivals, and academic contexts. Finnish practitioners have used performanssi to explore topics such as politics, gender, memory, and public space. Finnish media and scholarship commonly use performanssi and its inflected forms, including performansseissa, to describe works and performances across diverse venues.