The multi-arts performance gallery MULF built in the Muhos environment will be held for the fifth time on Saturday 30 August 2025, from 12:00 to 22:00. The theme of the festival is ROOTS.
MULF V explores the role and positioning of humans in relation to the environment. How do humans shape their environment, how do they form their relationship with nature and what do they begin to consider nature? Why do humans choose the place they settle in? What kind of roots have generations before us grown and are they a part of us? How could we build a sustainable lifestyle in Muhos by planting and nurturing roots without destroying the environment?
This year MULF is moving away from home. For the first time MULF includes a residency which takes place at the Laitasaari Clubhouse. The purpose of the residency is to strengthen the connection between artists and to jointly search for new, more eco-socially sustainable ways of working and producing works. During the residency Joona Saraste will take the artists on a mushroom-themed forest orientation and Mayumi Niiranen-Hisatomi will teach the artists how to dye with plants and mushrooms. The residency at the Laitasaari Clubhouse will be open to the public on Friday 29 August.
On Friday 29 August, a basket weaving workshop by Mayumi Niiranen-Hisatom will also be held at the Koivu ja Tähti Cultural Centre, and it is open to residents who have registered in advance. Registration must be made by email by WED 27 August.
In collaboration with the Muhos Library, the community artwork Lepotalkoot (The rest work party) will be implemented from 11 August to 14 September. Lepotalkoot is a space open to everyone. There one can rest, calm down, lie down or sit, read in silence or chat in a quiet voice with others. Rest is an attitude and the opposite of ongoing growth. Our planet needs care but so do humans. Without rest, humans cannot care for it, but on the other hand, caring is also rest. In the Lepotalkoot one can explore what one needs most to find its place and role in the biosphere and relationship with other species. What things do you need rest for to feel better? You can drink tea from your own Moomin mug at the Lepotalkoot. You can also bring your own blanket.
The book exhibition will be on display at the library from 12 August until 15 September and there will be a resting area open to everyone from 30 August to 7 September in the Kotiseutuhuone.
Lepotalkoot will set off with the mobile library on Friday 29 August at 17:30 to Laitasaari Clubhouse 29.8. where Sari Maarit Karjalainen will talk about the roots of Laitasaari.Audience will also get to know the artist residence of the Laitasaari clubhouse. On 30 August at 14:00 the mobile library will head to Kylmälänkylä with the author Laura Porola, whose roots are in Kylmälänkylä. Porola’s brand new debut novel Yövilkka has been published by Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava.
The festival culminates with the Night of Arts at Muhos Cultural Centre Koivu ja Tähti, where the artists from the Laitasaari Clubhouse’s artist residency, the artists from the international ERROR:gender project and the working group of the multi-artistic opera Like a wave, river, will meet. The festival’s art works and performances can be seen both indoors and outdoors.
Muhos Lifestyle Festival – MULF brings up social issues through art. The conceptual artwork has in previous years explored, among other things, middle-class family life and ordinary life, the constructions of home and family, and destruction within the home.
Festival Programme
ERROR:gender / the Hub at Koivu ja tähti Park
12:00 You had your period and we forgot to throw you a party – vernissage & mini concert (45 min) / Íris Stefanía, Jóhanna Vala Höskuldsdóttir & Sigríður Eir Zophoníasardóttir / in English
13:00 The Pleasure Book Club (45 min) / Jenni Kinnunen / in Finnish
14:00 Pieces of me – photo workshop (50 min) / Kain Luosujärvi
klo 15 Contour -croquis-piirustustyöpaja (40 min) / Jérémy Gaudibert / in English
16:00–18:00 Bodies meet matter – durational performance (2 h) / Mari Bø & Alma Bø Getachew
18:00–20:00 Origami hangout & Silent disco (2 h) / Hosting Åsne Storli / in English
20:00–21:00When I masturbate – story circle (60 min) / Íris Stefanía, Jóhanna Vala Höskuldsdóttir & Sigríður Eir Zophoníasardóttir / in English
21:00–21:45 Silent disco
ERROR:gender / Mari Bø, Íris Stefanía, Jenni Kinnunen, Eva Svaneblom, Ingvill Fossheim, Jóhanna Vala Höskuldsdóttir, Sigríður Eir Zophoníasardóttir, Alma Bø, Åsne Storli, Remi Johansen Hovda, Dash Che, Jérémy Gaudibert & Kain Luosujärvi
Artworks
12:00-22:00 Lepotalkoot / Kotiseutuhuone
12:00-22:00 Photos and Paintings / Sami Mustonen and Laura Mustonen / Exhibition space Lyyra
15:00–22:00 Croquis drawings from the workshops/ Jérémy Gaudibert / Exhibition space Lyyra
Performances and workshops
15:30-17:00 Like a wave, river open rehearsal / Mari Kämäräinen, Mari Bø, Mari Sainio, Eeva Hartemaa, Liisi Pettersson, Mari Klemettilä, Marja Kukkala, Peppi Gestrin, Saara Puolitaival, Lotta Aakko, Satu Lotvonen and Virve Karén / Koivu ja Tähti hall
17:00-19 Making rings from birchbark, workshop / Mayumi Niiranen-Hisatomi / Outdoor terrace or Kotiseutuhuone
18:00 Opening fanfare of the evening program, J. Cage: Branches (10 min) / Mari Kämäräinen and Laura Heikkilä / Cultural Center lobby
klo 18.15 TÄYDELLINEN nainen, demo (15 min) / Paula Vilmi / Koivu ja Tähti -sali
19:00 Rise of a woman (12 min) / Liisi Pettersson / Koivu ja Tähti hall
19:30 Music from Underneath a Lonesome Forest (28 min) / Fabio Cassano / Koivu ja Tähti hall
20:00 Ilman Henget, Veden Henget (10 min) / Fabio Cassano / Koivu ja Tähti hall
20:15 Backroom (30 min) / Annamaria Hannonen, Laura Heikkilä / Corridor between the group work rooms (Otava and Orion) and the Koivu ja Tähti hall
20:50 Video recording of the Hiekkasilmä Chamber Opera (47 min) / Sanna Ahvenjärvi and Jenni Kinnunen / Koivu ja Tähti hall
21:45 Closing Fanfare, J. Cage: 4.33´ (4.33 min) / Laura Heikkilä/ Kotiseutuhuone
Changes possible
Artists
Artistic directors & producers – Mari Kämäräinen & Laura Heikkilä
Artists – Sanna Ahvenjärvi & Jenni Kinnunen, Fabio Cassano (IT), Annamaria Hannonen, Jenni Kinnunen, Mayumi Niiranen-Hisatomi, Sami Mustonen, Laura Mustonen, Liisi Pettersson, Laura Porola, Mari Sainio, Joona Saraste & Paula Vilmi
ERROR:gender – Mari Bø, Íris Stefanía, Jenni Kinnunen, Eva Svaneblom, Ingvill Fossheim, Jóhanna Vala Höskuldsdóttir, Sigríður Eir Zophoníasardóttir, Alma Bø, Åsne Storli, Remi Johansen Hovda, Dash Che, Jérémy Gaudibert & Kain Luosujärvi
Kuin aalto, joki – Mari Kämäräinen, Mari Sainio, Mari Bø and singers Peppi Gestrin, Eeva Hartemaa, Virve Karén, Mari Klemettilä, Marja Kukkala, Liisi Pettersson, Saara Puolitaival & Satu Lotvonen
Visual look – Lauri Ahtinen
Photographer – Inkeri Jäntti
In co-operation – Muhos Municipality & Muhos Library
MULF thanks for the support – The Finnish Cultural Foundation
ERROR:gender thanks for support – Nordic Culture Fund, Nordic Culture Point, Finnish-Norwegian Culture Foundation, Arts Council Norway, Davvi – Centre for performing arts & Fond for utøvende kunstnere
Kuin aalto, joki thanks for support – Teosto
Audience Guide
The festival is free of charge.
Festival Area
The festival will be held both outdoors and indoors between 12:00 and 22:00. Please be prepared with weather-appropriate equipment.
Arriving
Muhos Cultural Centre Koivu ja Tähti where the event will be held, is located near Muhos train station. Muhos can be reached by train from both Kajaani and Oulu. Check the current timetables on the VR website. You can find buses from Oulu on the Oulu Region Transport website.
If you arrive by car, you can use a navigation system, Google Maps and other map applications. The signs will direct you to the parking lots. Muhos can be reached by train from both Kajaani and Oulu. Check the current schedules on VR’s website. You can find buses departing from Oulu on the Oulu Region Transport website.
When you arrive with your own car, you can use the navigator, Google Maps and other map applications. The signs guide you to the parking lots.
Safer Space Guidelines
We kindly ask everyone who participates in the activities and events of the Northern Opera Company to respect and act in accordance with the principles for a safer space below.
Common guidelines
Don’t assume. It is natural to make assumptions about other people, but we strive to be aware of our own presuppositions and we are open to different kinds of topics and people. We don’t define experiences on behalf of anyone else and we don’t generalize our own experiences to others. We don’t make assumptions about anyone’s sexuality, gender, nationality, religion, values, socioeconomic background, health, appearance or ability to function, but we respect everyone’s right to self-determination.
Don’t degrade. We don’t degrade or embarrass anyone by their externals. We treat others as we would like to be treated.
Don’t reproduce. We don’t reproduce racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, or ableist stereotypes in our speech, actions, or behavior. We strive to use language that doesn’t exclude anyone.
Intervene. If we witness any offensive behavior, we will not remain silent, but we will intervene.
Respect. We respect other people’s physical, mental, and emotional personal space. We remember that we cannot know the boundaries of one without asking from them and we don’t touch the other without permission. If necessary, we ask for space for ourselves as well.
Give space. We make sure everyone has space to participate in the discussion and we treat sensitive topics with respect.
Give and receive feedback. Everyone is allowed to give appropriate and constructive feedback from inappropriate treatment. If someone gives you feedback on your actions, please listen to the feedback provider. We are open to the feedback we receive and we will take the feedback into account in our own activities in the future.
If you have encountered harassment or unfair treatment
Please raise any concerns you may have by immediately reporting them to the festival staff, harassment contact persons or the event organiser so that we can consider the best way to resolve the situation. The harassment contact person will be introduced at the event and will be identified by their blue NOCPOK badge. You can also reach the opera company’s harassment contact persons Laura and Mari at info@nocpok.fi
