Kalle Hakkarainen
[1982]

Kalle Hakkarainen is a Helsinki-based magician and video artist. In his work he examines the new kinds of expression possibilities provided by video image and its capacities related to time and space. Kalle Hakkarainen has specialised in inventing new, and new kind of magic and magic tricks. His inventions have been published in numerous magic publications, including MAGIC-magazine, the biggest magazine of the field.

He has also succeeded in numerous national and international magic competitions, including the world championships of magic (FISM), where he won the third prize in the Inventions category in year 2000. He is among the youngest magicians ever to win a prize in this competition.

In addition to his work as a magician, Hakkarainen has worked as a director, editor and animator in TV programs, commercials and short films. He has also designed and made videos for various new circus and theatre productions.

Together with juggler Ville Walo and costume designer Anne Jämsä he has formed the new circus group WHS. The performances of the group; Odotustila [Waiting Room/State of Waiting 2003], Katoamispiste [Vanishing Point 2004] Keskusteluja [Discussions 2006], and Puun syy [Tree's fault 2008] have been a crucial factor behind the rise of Finnish new circus that has rapidly occurred in the past decade. In the press the performances have been called avant-garde also in the larger contexts of theatre and art in general. The performances have been on the sharp edge of the latest developments of theatre as well as circus.

The shows have toured in more than 20 countries worldwide, including Norway, Denmark, Latvia, Germany, Korea, Netherlands, Belgium, Brazil, Luxembourg, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Colombia, Croatia, Serbia, Slovak and Czech Republic.

In September 2010 will be the premier of the group WHS' new triple bill show in Kiasma.

Theatre productions

2010   Nopeussokeus, Kiasma Theatre, Helsinki. Solo by Kalle Hakkarainen / WHS.

2008   Puun syy, Kiasma Theatre, Helsinki. Ville Walo & Kalle Hakkarainen / WHS.

2006   Keskusteluja, Kiasma Theatre, Helsinki. Performance combining video and circus.

2004   Katoamispiste, Vanishing Point. Kiasma Theatre, Helsinki. Together with Ville Walo, New Circus and video projections.

2003   Odotustila, Kiasma Theatre, Helsinki. New Circus, Juggling, Video, Magic. Ville Walo & Kalle Hakkarainen

Awards

2000   Third (3.) prize in the world championships of magic (FISM), in the category of Inventions. Among the youngest magicians ever to win a prize in this competition.

2000   Among the seven finalists selected in Magic Moments magic video competition. Magic Moments competition had over 3000 participants. The names of top seven were published.

1996 & 2000   Winner of the Finish junior championships of magic.