A BODY MANY HOMES:
from the ground to the earth, we low flying and have travelled far…

Don’t thank for the food
Moving in November
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Iida Valmé (all pronouns) is a Finnish-Haitian-American queer multidisciplinary artist with an international practice currently based in Helsinki. Love is at the center of their practice. Valmé's existence and expression is a direct homage to their ancestors, a declaration of love to those whose ancestor they will one day be. Their work and creative process draw power from their community, nature, intuition, and the spiritual realm.Currently Valmé studies at the Academy of Fine Arts in the Sculpture Department, where they are focusing on expanding their toolkit for artistic expression. From filmmaking and writing to painting and sculpting, Valmé continues to learn through joy and play.

Artist Statement:My work is love. My work is play, it is life, it is living, existing.  We are whole, embodied, full, infinite beings. Beings that need connection to live. I am a creator of new connections, a highlighter of existing ones, a storyteller.Roots are a central part of why I do the work that I do. Physical roots, memories, moments of interconnectedness. Spiritual roots. Ancestry, ancestors. Love as the fascia that connects roots to trunk to branches to blossom to the pollen that drifts into the unknown. I make art because I love it. I make art because I am love. I make art because I love myself so much that I want to heal myself, the wounds I embody, no matter where they begin. My existence and expression is a direct homage to my ancestors, a declaration of love to those whose ancestor I will one day be.

Contact
email: [email protected]
instagram: @iidavalme




2021 -2020 - 20212017 - 2019






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Curriculum Vitae

EDUCATIONTaideyliopiston Kuvataideakatemia, Sculpture department // BFA + MFAAcademy of Moving People and Images // Film Industry professional (Director)McGill University // B.Sc Kinesiology



EXHIBITIONS, PUBLICATIONS, AND PROJECTSRosa by Sasha Huber // Short Film // Actor, production assistantFUTURE ANCIEN by Emilia Kabalu // Short Film // ActorKulttuurikeskus CAISA // A Body, Many Homes // group exhibition // Curator & ArtistRECOVER LABORATORY // very low-key zodiac show (always in retrograde) // group exhibitionGalleria LONGA // Red Room Goes Performance // Pole performanceKohta Kunsthalle // Machines // Pole performanceOulu Museum of Art // Maja // group exhibitionKuvA Tila // UniArts BFA Exhibition // group exhibitionEphemeral Reverie // Short film // PerformerKulturhuset Stadsteatern // Southnord Artfest // Mirage short film screeningVapaan taiteen tila // Fabulous // group exhibitionFinnish Museum of Photography // Soon we’ll be scattered showers // group exhibitionURB festival // KAIROS x URB: To be in Perpetual Dawn // Kiasma museum of
Contemporary Art // Mirage short film screeningLove & Anarchy: Helsinki International film festival // KAIROS x R&A //
Mirage short film screeningThe Floor is Lava (Cybersad) by Tiia Kasurinen & Landys Roimola, directed by Viivi Huuska
// Short Film // Director’s assistant & Production assistantMirage // Short film // Director, Scriptwriter, Producer, EditorBehind Shut Eyes: QTBIPOC Dream Anthology // Journal Entry: A Written PieceIt Ain’t Nirvana // Short Film // Actor
When Were You Born // Short Film // CinematographerSound // Short Film // Sound person
Serotoniini — Baby Blu // Music Video // Director and ProducerR&A Trailer // Director’s assistant
Yksinäistä — Hassan Maikal // Music Video // Production AssistantShameless Dance Crew Dance Video // Director and ProducerPerhosefekti — Yeboyah // Album Music Videos // Production assistantBlack in a White Space // Short film // Director, Scriptwriter, Producer, ActorElovena EP —Yeboyah // Music Videos // Production assistant, Actor



RESIDENCIES2024 2024 Villa Karo // Grand-Popo, BeninOrkedi Foundation Art Residency // Nanyuki, Kenya



AWARDS2022 Conch Shell International Film Festival // Best Student Film // Mirage



WORK EXPERIENCEInternship with Sasha Huber as an artist’s assistant — January 2025Freelance Film Industry Professional — 2019-presentPoimu Feminist Workspace Admin — March 2022-May 2022More Upon Request

Villa KaroGrand-Popo, BeninApril 2024 - July 2024

Orkedi Foundation Artist ResidencyNanyuki, KenyaJanuary 15, 2024 - January 29, 2024

Performance // MACHINES (2025)


Untitled (Who Gets to Be an Artist?) (2021)



Technique: Single channel experimental video
Duration: 1 min 13 sActor: Angela Emanuel Mugisha

FUTURE ANCIEN (2025)

Created and directed by: Emilia Kabalu
Actors: Ama Kyei, Angela Emanuel Mugisha, Iida Valmé
Styling and MUAH: Emilia Kabalu, Edith Njoroge, Amelie Hawa
Lighting and Cinematography: Derek Okekeani, Sedo Boor
Editor: Emilia Kabalu
Created for @ifadeou ‘s music video
Photo credits: Edith NjorogeSpecial shoutout to Maman Emi and The Ancestors🖤

Performance // MACHINES (2025)

Pole performance at KOHTA Gallery


Mirage (2021)

Password: AMPI2020*2021

Iida Valmé – Mirage
In collaboration with Academy of Moving People and ImagesTechnique: Short film
Duration: 7 min 57 sDirected by Iida Valmé
Produced by Iida Valmé and Academy of Moving People and Images
Director of Photography: Sanjay Shrestha
Assistant Directors: Libbie Katsev, Imaneh Ameli
Editor: Iida Valmé
Colourist: Hannu Käki
Music: Benjamin Kolanen, Isa Sinivalo
Audio Engineering / Sound Design: Kirsi Korhonen
Mastering: Ville Kuukka
Stylist: Marié-Grace Iradukunda
Set design: Björk HijoortStarring: Hope Achan, Kevina IgiranezaWith thanks to Hävikkikukkakauppa Kukkis, Wanda Holopainen, Sofia Ilmonen, Swati Goyal

The Ancestors (2024)

Technique: Sculpture
Material: Raw East African clay
Dimensions: two 20 cm x 25 cm clay faces

Juurimatka / Root Voyage (2024)

Technique: Mixed Media Installation, single channel video
Marterial: Beninese Khaya senegalensis mahogany, North Karelian wood (pine), found & readymade objects, canvas
Dimensions: 300 x 300 x 300 cm


Becoming Water
(2026)

Coming soon...

Picture from Red Room Goes Performance
Galleria LONGA

Pearls (2025)

Pole Performance
Galleria LONGA


Fabulous (2023)

Technique: Single channel video
Duration: 2 min 18 s