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 Ville Walo he has made three new circus performances; Odotustila [Waiting Room/State of Waiting 2003], Katoamispiste [Vanishing Point 2004] and Keskusteluja [Discussions 2006]. The shows have toured in Norway, Denmark, Latvia, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Brazil, Luxembourg, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Colombia, Croatia, Serbia, Slovak and Czech Republic.

In September 2008 will be the premier of the group WHS' new show in Kiasma.

Theatre productions

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

2006   Espresso. New circus production by Circo Aereo. Designed films and stills for the show.

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

2004   Circo Aereo; Super 8 . Ateneum-Hall, Helsinki. Designed animations and super-8 films for the show with Circo Aereo.

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.