Hanna-Liisa Lavonen

• Unfinished story
• Tutor: Liina Siib
• Sound, installation

Lamentation as such has many names, layers, faces, descriptions, ways of expression and cultural peculiarities.  Lamentation, cry-singing, itk, song, mantra, whaling, whining, praying – this ritualistic activity has been found among many nations, in every country. It has many common denominators that still differ from each other. Lamentation can also be called a cultural metaphor because of its contextually charged nature that for example refers to the quality of lamenters’ life, the state of a village; describes great misfortune or pleasure; expresses ritual activity as preparations for a funeral or a wedding, accompanying agricultural or construction work etc. 

Lamentation or itk is not a widely used word in everyday context – that means it has to be explained in approximate expressions for example “cry-singing”. It has the ability to bring us closer to understanding our unconscious thoughts to the point of being startled at what hides in the soul and spiritual world. It makes us realise how vocalising our feelings, without feeling shame in the process, is important for our self expression and how it can also be comforting or motivating to others.