COMPANY
Recover Laboratory (RecLab) is one of the pioneers of the Finnish site-specific and immersive art scene. The collective, which has been active since 2016, develops multi-arts based on contemporary circus, visual arts and experientialism.
Core team
RecLab is led by a multidisciplinary, highly qualified core trio: contemporary artist Miradonna Sirkka, visual artist Sofi Häkkinen and producer and experience designer Inna Huttunen. The trio has directed, produced and managed the group’s activities together since 2016.
Miradonna Sirkka
(she/her)
Artistic director, performance and circus artist (MA)
Miradonna Sirkka is a contemporary circus and performance artist, director and performer. She graduated from Turku University of Applied Sciences as a circus artist and from Aalto University as a Master of Arts. She has also studied media art at Tama Art University in Tokyo. Sirkka and Recover Laboratory’s works have been seen both nationally and internationally, from house parties and random caves to giant performance stages. Plasticity, Northern pine woods, femininity and grittiness appear in Sirkka’s work, which draws inspiration from pleasure, joy, big emotions, disgusting and top secret thoughts, human contact, and everyday awkwardness.
Sofi Häkkinen
(they/them)
Artistic director, visual artist (MA)
Sculptor and performance artist Sofi Häkkinen holds a Master of Fine Arts (Academy of Fine Arts, 2025), a Master of Arts (Aalto University, 2018) and a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Tampere University of Applied Sciences, 2016). Häkkinen works in the field of art, in addition to their role as an artist, as the artistic director of Recover Laboratory, as well as an artistic designer, director, curator, stage designer. At night you can find them doing gigs as VJ Saint Sifi. Häkkinen is actively involved in artistic work both nationally and internationally. In 2026, Häkkinen will be working with grants from the Finnish Cultural Foundation and the Finnish Art Association.
Inna Huttunen
(she/her)
Executive Director, experience designer (MM)
Inna Huttunen is an experience designer and producer specializing in meaningful and multidisciplinary experiences. Huttunen has an international Master’s degree in Art Management (HEC Montreal, SDA Bocconi, SMU Dallas) and an degree in Experience Management (Haaga-Helia). Huttunen has been e.g. creating the escape game industry in Finland, at the frontline of InsideOut Escape Games. In addition, she has led several Finnish pioneer productions regarding games and experiences, ranging from escape games to gigantic labyrinths and new technological experiments. Along with Recover Laboratory, Huttunen designs and produces immersive and game-like performances, with e.g. The Center of Everything and the interactive virtual reality show Love Simulation EVE.
Background
Recover Laboratory has been built around the work team of the production named Recover Laboratory, originally realized in 2014. Miradonna Sirkka wanted to bring contemporary circus together with other arts and off the stage by breaking the fourth wall. The goal was to develop a more interactive audience-performer relationship and to modify the prevailing structures in the field to be more equal.
From the Labyrinth to the Earth’s Surface
In the early years, Recover Laboratory became known for its site-specific, experiential labyrinths. They were realized in Turku at the wastewater treatment plant, located underneath the Aura River and in Helsinki at the HSY wastewater treatment plant. Later, labyrinth works were also seen in an old heating plant in Stockholm and in the Helsinki City Rescue Department’s civil defence shelter.
Since 2017, Recover Laboratory has also started working on works for the stage, site-specific walkable works and various commissioned works. Since then, RecLab has been involved in the concert tour of rap artist Pyhimys and has curated art exhibitions and multi-art installations for a wide range of events. In 2020, when the recession hit, RecLab responded to the challenges of the pandemic by creating performances both remotely and in urban spaces.
Today, the Recover Laboratory has a collection of works that includes works for traditional stages, site-specific works, children’s works and custom-made commissioned works.
Multi-art
RecLab’s works combine visual art and contemporary circus with music, performance art, theatre, dance, sound and light art, game design and many other art forms.
Themes
RecLab’s recurring themes in its productions are interpersonal encounters, surrealism, confrontation and humour. A key theme is the development of a more equal and interactive audience-performer relationship.
Set of Values
At the heart of RecLab’s work is the promotion of equality, humanity and equity. Playfulness and honesty are emphasised in both the works and the working culture. The underlying force is the thoroughness of the artistic work.
partners
In 2026, Recover Laboratory will be funded by City of Helsinki and the Arts Promotion Centre of Finland.
In addition, our supporters and partners include:
Artists with whom we have worked
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