In Seppo Renvall’s works one can sense the spirit of the cinematic liberation movement that in its time inspired filmmakers to establish cooperatives and create a poetics of moving image that defies rules, comes close to life and is rough around the edges. Renvall is one of the founding members of the legendary Helsinki Film Workshop which was started in the late 1980s. His films, videos and happenings have gained recognition in some of the most esteemed international arenas of experimental cinema and visual art. Sometimes he uses as his e starting point also ready material, which is usually film-based. Besides photographs, films and video works, Renvall has also produced happening-type installations and live performances (e.g. The Ball Show together with Markus Renvall and Broken Heart Clinic, performed with various special guests).
All of Renvall’s moving image works are distinctive in character, and in their sequence of images it is impossible to predict what comes next. The gruff and twisted beauty of life is reached in Renvall’s bohemian rhapsodies through note-keeping of anecdotes from everyday life, rearrangement of material and cinematic manipulations. These skillful manipulations serve to realize mundane addictions, poetic documentations of internal and external worlds, frail moments in technology, and portraits of family, friends and random passers-by, which honor the transient nature of life. 

text Kari Yli-Annala

FILMS AND VIDEOS

EES TAAS ,2008 ,53´
Exotique, 2009,13´
Nature,2009,23´
Nicotinell,2009,4´
Little stories from Helsinki,2009 , a serie of 6 musical  videos , 28´
Return to the Humanity, 2007, 4'
Night Scientist, 2006, 7'
Planet of the Apes, 2006, 2' 45"
Rikshaman, 2005, 7’
Drumzymphony, 2004, 25’, music by Zape Leppänen
Inside, 2004, 5’
Janeiro, 2004, 2' 39"
Woody, 2003, 5' 20", music by Mira Calix, UK
My Night Star, 2002, 3’ 14", music by Huutsi
Brugge 02, 2002, 6' 20"
Warm Front, 2002, 5'
Wallpaper, 2002, 10', videoinstallation
Memo Books 85-95, 2001, 9’
Fundamental, 2001, 7’
Nicorette, 2001, 6' 30"
Paimenpoika (Shepherd), 2000, 3', hymn video, singing by Zape Leppänen
Oi muistatko vielä sen virren (Can you still recall that hymn), 2000, 5', hymn video, singing by Zape Leppänen
Hymn Videos, 2000, 11', singing by Zape Leppänen
FILMI999, 2000, 70’
FILMI999, trailer, 1999, 8'
Untitled 1-6, 1998, 26'
Elevators: No Business, 1998, 2' 45"
7 Arts, Part 3 – Film, 1998, 3'
Horn of Plenty, 1998, 2' 40"
7 Arts, Part 4 – Point of View, 1998
7 Arts, Part 1 – Art, 1998, 4'
Untitled, 1997, 12'
Private Area, 1996, 3’
One Should, 1996, 4', together with Markus Renvall
Iiris and Nalle, 1996, 3'
Home Movies -series, parts 1 & 2 and 3, 1996, 7'
Home Movies -series, part 4, 1996, 3'
7 Arts, Part 2 - Painting, 1996, 3'
Globe – Encyclopedia, 1995, 6’
Tube, 1995, 5', together with Alli Savolainen
Children of Stockholm, 1995, 2' 20"
--- " ---, 1995, 5’ 25"
Terveiset äidille (Greetings to Mom), 1994, 1' 42"
Suomen itsenäisyyden historia (The History of Finland's Independence), 1994, 25’, in cooperation with Miko Kivinen
Dancing Shortly 2, 1994, 2' 34"
Dancing Shortly 1, 1993, 1' 15", together with Alli Savolainen
Päivän kehrä, 1993, 2' 45"
Nonstoppampam, 1992, 6' 14", together with Alli Savolainen
Krokotiilin kyynel (Crocodile Tear), 1993, 3' 30", together with Alli Savolainen
The Price of our Liberty, 1990, 8’