Himera: Lisa Ullén
A native of Seoul, Korea, Lisa Ullén (b. 1964) grew up in the northern part of Sweden, and is based in Stockholm.
She is a graduate of the Royal Musical Academy in Stockholm, Sweden, where she studied classical piano in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Since the late 1990s, she has devoted herself entirely to improvised music, in the form of free jazz as well as avant garde and contemporary classical and experimental music. A versatile player with a singular musical vision, Ullén has repeatedly proven her ability to imprint her absolute sense for tonal texture on whatever musical context she appears in.
Internationally recognized as a distinctive and uncompromising musician and composer, Ullén over the last decade has produced more than fifteen albums.
Ullén has collaborated extensively with many well-known Swedish artists and dancers, and has also scored several dramatic productions. She’s also performed and recorded music by contemporary composers .
In 2018 she released the triple album Piano Works and Ep Sekvenser och Lager on her own label Disorder.
In Oktober 2018 Lisa Ullén was awarded the Jazzcomposer of the Year-prize by the Swedish Radio
“Extraordinary is all I can say as I dive in to her unique approach. …Amazing piano, some of it prepared, which should appeals to fans of John Cage as well as of Cecil Taylor”.
Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery
Himera Festival 2025
At the threshold towards winter, this year’s Himera Festival brings two days of experimental music, presenting free jazz ensemble Oaagaada, composer and pianist Lisa Ullén, musician and visual artist Shakeeb Abu Hamdan, guitarist Finn Loxbo and sound and visual artists Piia Rinne and Miia Rinne.
The festival events will be held at Dynamo, The Sibelius Museum and Contemporary Art Space Kutomo in Turku from October 31 to November 1, 2025. The festival is organized by Himera in collaboration with Ehkä-tuotanto. The event is supported by the City of Turku.
pe 31.10. Oaagaada, Dynamo (attic) 19:30, 5€
la 1.11. Lisa Ullen, Sibelius museum 14:00, 10€
la 1.11. Shakeeb Abu Hamdan, Finn Loxbo, Piia Rinne and Miia Rinne, Contemporary Art Space Kutomo 18:00, 10€