Tellervo Kalleinen & Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen

b. 1975, Finland & 1971, Germany

Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain — Lily Tomlin

Through flyers spread around the city, we invited the people of Birmingham to complain about anything they wanted. Many people sent in their complaints – about Birmingham, about other people, about world issues, and most of all about themselves. Fifteen people, who had the courage to take responsibility for their complaints, finally signed up to the project. The participants transformed their complaints – with the help of local musician Mike Hurley – into an impressive choir song during a two-week complaints workshop.

Members of the 1st Complaints Choir of Birmingham are Naomi Bulmer, Lance Bekford, Pamela Ginn, Michael George, Reuben Henry, Tellervo Kalleinen, Karen Kihlberg, Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen, Ian Marshall, Julie O’Neill, Delpha Hudson, Andy Pryke, Hannah Rumsby, David Thomas, Jo Tremarco, Lisa Tremarco, Edward Wakefield and Jimmy Whiteaker. Complaints Choirs in other cities will eventually be formed – for example, during 2006, in Helsinki, St Petersburg and Hamburg.