Vaara, Roi

Audience members seated against the wall next to Alastair MacLennan holding a large stick and covered in sheets of paper. Still from the collaborative work by Roi Vaara, Alastair MacLennan, and Boris Nieslony for Black Market International.

Roi Vaara reflected in a small mirror that he holds up. Still from the collaborative work by Roi Vaara, Alastair MacLennan, and Boris Nieslony for Black Market International.

Roi Vaara faces the audience while holding up a sign as Boris Nieslony faces the window. Still from the collaborative work by Roi Vaara, Alastair MacLennan, and Boris Nieslony for Black Market International.

A row of whole fish laying on the floor. Still from the collaborative work by Roi Vaara, Alastair MacLennan, and Boris Nieslony for Black Market International.

Alastair MacLennan stands in a dark outfit, with his face obscured, holding a tall stick. Still from the collaborative work by Roi Vaara, Alastair MacLennan, and Boris Nieslony for Black Market International.

Roi Vaara stands in a suit, with his head inside a cardboard box. Still from the collaborative work by Roi Vaara, Alastair MacLennan, and Boris Nieslony for Black Market International.

Audience members watch the performance from the floor. Still from the collaborative work by Roi Vaara, Alastair MacLennan, and Boris Nieslony for Black Market International.

Boris Nieslony stands facing the wall as Roi Vaara dangles a cup into a bucket with his foot. Still from the collaborative work by Roi Vaara, Alastair MacLennan, and Boris Nieslony for Black Market International.

Roi Vaara lays on the floor with his leg over a chair and a cup dangling from his bare foot into a bucket of water. Still from the collaborative work by Roi Vaara, Alastair MacLennan, and Boris Nieslony for Black Market International.

Boris Nieslony stands against the wall as Roi Vaara lays on the floor, next to a line of fish, lighting a cigarette. Still from the collaborative work by Roi Vaara, Alastair MacLennan, and Boris Nieslony for Black Market International.

Essay by Roi Vaara in Europa: European Tour 1998-1999 by Black Market International. Collected material for Roi Vaara's Black Market International performance.

Roi Vaara stands in a suit, next to a table with a radio and antennae and a projector screen, with a birdhouse on his head. Still from Roi Vaara for Black Market International.

Roi Vaara stands in a suit, next to a stereo on the floor, speaking to the audience. Still from Roi Vaara for Black Market International.

Roi Vaara standing in the centre of words in a six-pointed star formation (*) with a rope tied around his feet. Still from Roi Vaara for Black Market International.

Roi Vaara masked and standing with his feet tied together, next to a table with a radio and antennae and a projector screen. Still from Roi Vaara for Black Market International.

Roi Varra standing in a suit, holding a stereo, and wearing large antennae on his head. Still from Roi Vaara for Black Market International.

Roi Vaara blindfolded, standing in a suit next to a projector screen with curved lines on it, yelling outwards. Still from Roi Vaara for Black Market International.

Roi Vaara sitting at a table next to a projector screen with curved lines on it. Still from Roi Vaara for Black Market International.

Roi Vaara blindfolded and standing in a suit next to a projector screen with curved lines on it. Still from Roi Vaara for Black Market International.

Roi Vaara in a suit crouches, dipping a paintbrush into a bottle of pigment. Still from Roi Vaara for Black Market International.

Roi Vaara in a suit, painting onto a white wall in grunt gallery. Still from Roi Vaara for Black Market International.

Collaborative work by Alastair MacLennan, Boris Nieslony, and Roi Vaara for Black Market International.

Roi Vaara has been most active in Finland, becoming one of the country's most internationally recognized performance artists. His work since 1982 emphasizes an aesthetic discourse between the artwork and its specific place or situation.