April 25th 2017 and how it all began

It was 2013 early summer when I met Pixelache team members. We shared an office for three months as I was an intern at the Bioart Society in Suvilahti, Helsinki.

Can I say that partly I was influenced by Pixelache event Maaland to see potential in the land what I own? I think I can. I remember saying to Mikko Laajola that if they won't find land or property for their projects in Finland then they only need to build a boat or a raft and sail to Virtsu where I have this nice little land and maybe there Maaland project can start to thrive.

The same year, at the end of summer I left Finland to travel to Asia. I ended up staying there for more than 3 years. It was instructive and unforgettable experience in many reasons. As a traveller I wondered a lot about the meaning of home, roots, heritage, land, ownership, family and friendship. It was interesting to experience life without having home and family. I remember my bags where almost always packed, often I ate in restaurants cause I didn't have kitchen, I never bought more than I needed or didn't fit in my bags or what I knew I won't be able to sell. Saying goodbye was the hardest. I think I never really learned how to do that. But what I realised was that it's always better to be the one who is leaving. I started to understand what means to be world citizen and homeless - I literally had occasions when I needed to sleep outdoors on the bench. My home was there where I ate and slept: Indian trains, airport and train station floors, villagers houses in Himalayan mountains, artist residency space in Taiwan, Indonesia, India, surfers beaches, couchsurfers flats etc. I enjoyed and learned from the experience but also started to miss to have my own space and stability in my life. Maybe Maalabor can be my home where I can invite my left behind friends? If my dream comes true then Maalabor will one day have big enough building to host artists, scientists and travellers. I would love to make them feel they are welcomed. Hopefully they will find inspiration from the surrounding forests and sea for their creation.

Things started to move in December 2016 when I contacted Henri Hütt who is the head of DAMA network and got his confirmation to lead one week workshop in Virtsu. I sent him concept notes and few months later in June 2017 he announced me the good news that Nordplus is covering the travel costs of ten dance and new media students and two teachers from Nordic and Baltic countries. I was thrilled but also worried because I realised if we want to make Toortuumik festival in 2018 June to be a success, then we need strong team and contributors.

I think it was January or February 2017 when I contacted Andrew Paterson from Pixelache to first ask if, after more than three years, he still remembers me and then his thoughts about the idea to use available land in Virtsu for art and culture events. He himself must know better what he first thought about my approach but I think without much thinking he agreed to participate in the project. Other Pixelache team members and parasite radio project will hopefully be included in the first festival hosted by Maalabor. Raft is half way there.

Lilli Tölp