MUU Helsinki Contemporary Art Center"The McGurk Effect"September 5 - October 4, 2026
Maria Koolen Hellmin and Johanna Byström Sims are holding an artistic dialogue around a shared interest in science, space, transparency, musical form and language, which has lead to the finding of a common basis in the intersection of the material and the immaterial. It is an exploration of the shift that occurs when interpreting different forms of language, where distortions and gaps in our perception arise.


The artists apply the McGurk Effect to the Nordic countries and their respective languages. Using a broad definition of language including musical elements they introduce a collaboration with musicians Maria Kalaniemi and Larisa Ljungkrona-Mönttinen. With the accordion being a wind instrument the exploration of its possibilities becomes natural within the theme.


With support of the Swedish Arts Grants Committee and Kulturfonden för Sverige och Finland.


https://www.muu.fi/muuspace/exhibitons/maria-koolen-hellman-johanna-bystrom-sims-the-mcgurk-effect/

"Destination Unclear"

In 2025 I was asked by the municipality of Sundbyberg to make a site specific sound art piece for a pedestrian and bicycle path along the wall of the Marabou Park. In the Spring of 2026 the piece was installed and can be heard by the public passing by until 2028.


All images copyright Johanna Byström Sims, 2024.

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