The research project examines the multifaceted relationships between art and politics during the late Soviet and transition periods, focusing on visual culture and architecture as well as their connections to other artistic practices.
Its aim is to move beyond simplified interpretations of art as merely a political instrument and/or a tool of resistance, and to reveal the complex and intertwined network of their reciprocal interactions. Secondly, the project draws on the concept of “aesthetic democracy,” which provides a theoretical framework for understanding the cultural and social transformations of this period.
The project contributes to raising awareness of the heterogeneity of the late Soviet and transition eras and to a broader discussion on the role of democracy and culture in contemporary society.
The results will be disseminated through academic and public-facing publications, open seminars, and international conferences.
Project leader: Virve Sarapik
Principal investigator: Andres Kurg
Investigators: Matthias Jost, Neeme Lopp, Merily Salura, Sven Vabar, Ulla Väljaste
Project funding period: 2026–2027
Funding source: EKA research grant