iriaarenas

Movement Performance Visual Arts

About

Coming from a remote village in Spain, my eagerness to escape the traditional 'pueblo' life has led me to live in England, Germany and now the land of saunas and Marimekko: Finland. I do not limit my practice to a single artistic field, and I am an advocate for the potential of art to inspire meaningful change—whether in society, in the perception of the world, or both (that depends on the level of ambitiousness on the day). Throughout my career, shaped by consistent freelance work, I’ve had the chance to delve into areas like performance, choreography, dance, lighting design, and practice-based research, while also taking on roles such as website developer, office coordinator, and social media manager for the independent dance scene in the city of Kassel (documenta-Stadt). In my latest work, I examine how power structures shape and manipulate the body to reinforce and sustain social forces, exploring dominant narratives in art history and their influence through the lens of Transgender Studies. When I'm not stuck in a loop of thoughts, you’ll find me dancing at home, grooving with friends or clubbing when possible on weekends to keep my sanity in check. I firmly believe in the power of club culture and dance to spread unity and love—two key ingredients we desperately need in this world. Additionally, I live with UC, which doctors insist on labeling as a "chronic" illness. While I prefer not to fully embrace that title, it certainly plays a significant role in my life and dictates what I can do and when—definitely keeping things interesting.

Education

Other

Master in Visual Cultures, Curating and Contemporary Art. Aalto University, Espoo (FI), 2024-ongoing.
Postgraduate in Performance Research Studies. SOZO vim. Kassel (DE), 2017-2018.
Master in Theatre and Performing Arts. Complutense University of Madrid. Madrid (ES), 2016-2017.
Bachelor in Visual Arts and Contemporary Dance. Rey Juan Carlos University. Madrid (ES), 2010-2014.

An Introduction to Trans Studies - Open Course. Åbo Akademi University. Turku (FI), 2023.
Developing an Artistic Research Project - Open Course. Stockholm University of the Arts (SE), 2021-2022.

Work Experience

Teacher. Hip Hop and House Dance. Saiffa - Flow Mo Dance School. Helsinki (FI), 2023-ongoing.
Theater Technician Assistant. Zodiak - Centre of New dance. Helsinki (FI), 2023-ongoing.
Teacher. Introduction to Stage Lighting and Web Development. SOZO vim. Kassel (DE), 2020-2023.
Website Designer and Social Media Coordinator. Tanzwerk Kassel e.V. Kassel (DE), 2020-23.
Office Assistant/Coordinator. Tanzwerk Kassel e.V. Kassel (DE), 2020-21.

Grants

Goethe Institut. Culture Moves Europe. Individual Mobility Grant, 2024.
Kulturförderung Kulturamt Kassel, 2023.
Fonds Darstellende Künste. NEUSTART KULTUR. #TakeHeart Rechercheförderung, 2023.
NATIONALES PERFORMANCE NETZ - STEPPING OUT, 2022.
Kulturförderung Kulturamt Kassel, 2022.
Goethe Institut - Nachwuchsförderung, 2021.
Brückenstipendien - Hessische Kulturstiftung , 2021.
Kulturförderung Kulturamt Kassel, 2021.
Hessische Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst, 2021.
Kulturförderung Kulturamt Kassel, 2020.
AC/E Programme for the Internationalisation of Spanish Culture (PICE), 2018.

Residencies

Sonnenstein Loft. Linz (AT), 2024.
ON DISPLAY. Lake Studios Berlin (DE), 2022.
Studio Practice and Artistic Process. Stockholm University of the Arts (SE), 2021.
Atelier Real (REAT). Lisbon (PT), 2018.
Oulu Dance Hack. Oulu (FI), 2017.
DOCH Summer Residency. Stockholm (SE), 2016.

Lighting Design

NEFES & Global Music Master’s Transcultural Ensemble. Vapaan Taiteen Tila. Helsinki (FI), 2024.
Zipora and Friends. Sibelius Academy. Kalliosali. Helsinki (FI), 2023.
STREAMS #4. Aura Antikainen & Niv Melamed. Halle 2. Kassel (DE), 2023.
Sie starb und sie lebte. Rosalie Kubny. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE), 2023.
DIE FLACHE ERDE. Lauren Rae Mace. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE), 2022.
Silken Veil. C/O Mareike Steffens. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE), 2022.
Visitors. arenas&antikainen. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel, Germany (DE), 2021.
EPILOGUE. Deborah Smith-Wicke. Halle 2. Kassel (DE), 2021.
Could you stay for tea?. Aura Antikainen. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE), 2021.
Body of land. TANZWERKE '21. Aura Antikainen. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE), 2021.
Protrahere. Deborah Smith-Wicke. Halle 2. Kassel (DE), 2021.
Rock, water, spell. C/O Mareike Steffens. Kulturhaus Dock 4. Kassel (DE), 2020.
Choreografische Werkstatt, Staatstheater. Kassel (DE), 2019.

Dance / Performance

Guest Dancer / Performer

Red Bull Dance Your Style, Helsinki (FI), 2024.
check your body at the door. Hällä-näyttämö. Tampere (FI), 2024.
check your body at the door. Kulturhaus Dock4. Kassel (DE), 2023.
anverso. Stockholm Fringe Festival (SE), 2021.
anverso. Gothenburg Fringe Festival (SE), 2021.
late for laundry, again. Galeria Kollektiva. Kassel, (DE), 2021.
anverso. Oops Festival. Brighton (UK), 2019.
anverso. RandFilm Festival. Kassel (DE), 2018.
Wortenlust. Stockholm Fringe Festival (SE), 2017.
Wortenlust. OT301 Highs and Lows #22. Amsterdam (NT), 2017.

Terrain. Boris Charmatz. Theater Spektakel. Zurich (CH), 2019.
Ares. Statisten-Staatstheater Kassel. Johannes Wieland. Kassel (DE), 2019.
Reflections: Triple Bill. Body Politic Dance Company. Oxford (UK), 2016-2017.
Dancers. Coproducción Sonia Gómez + CORPO A TERRA. Ourense (ES), 2017.

Installation

anverso. Violett Kunstgalerie. Body Tales. Kassel (DE), 2022.
anverso. tonwerkstatt kassel. Kassel (DE), 2022.
anverso. Pilotenkueche. Moving surreal curiosity. Leipzig (DE), 2022.
anverso. 4bid Gallery. Amsterdam (NL), 2022.
anverso. CreativQuartier Fürst Leopold. Dorsten (DE), 2022.

Video

anverso. Festival Antigone. Centre Culturel d'Uccle . Brussels (BE), 2023.
anverso. Tanzhaus Temporär Nº1. Berpark. Kassel (DE), 2022.
anverso. LAKE Studios Berlin. ON DISPLAY Screening. Berlin (DE), 2022.
anverso. Queeres Kurzfilmkino im TiF. Staatstheater Kassel (DE), 2022.
anverso. United Cowboys. Seasoning Summer 2020. Eindhoven (NT), 2020.
anverso. NB Film Festival. Puebla, Mexico and Texas (US), 2019.
anverso. VideoSkin Festival. Ontario (CA), 2019.
anverso. SzoloDuo Festival - Ork_Kota_Platform. Budapest (HU), 2019.

Index