Exhibitions

The 8th Tallinn Applied Art Triennial opening at the end of May has selected events for its satellite programme. Among more than 20 exhibitions, the selection includes jewellery and glass art, site specific installations and events involving various fields of art. In the spirit of the times, the programme also features many window exhibitions and a flexible approach to programming.

The theme of the 2021 triennial is “translucency” and many satellite exhibitions have been inspired by that. For example, the installation “In-Tangible” by Federica Cogliandro and Tauris Reose will be set up in the Noblessner area at the end of May, and Master’s students from jewellery, blacksmithing, glass and ceramics departments of the Estonian Academy of Art will present their work at the group exhibition “Phantasmagoria” at Sitsi Factory in Tallinn.

Solo shows include projects by jewellery artists Darja Popolitova (Hobusepea gallery), Kristiina Laurits (Hop gallery), Jaan Pärn (Meistrite Hoov gallery), and Marta Boan (at the Estonian Applied Art and Design Museum’s gallery space). An exciting and dignified combination of installations, objects and jewellery by Kadri Mälk, Julia Maria Künnap and Kai Koppel will be presented at the Laboratooriumi street chapel. Jewellery artists Triin Kukk and Merlin Meremaa showcase their work in a garage on Luha Street. A-gallery shows fresh work from 18 local and international artists in their windows as well as in the Vault.

Rait Prääts and Gleb Divov bring together glass art and augmented reality at Okapi gallery. Kai Kaljo shows her fused glass objects and jewellery at the applied art and design gallery Kunstiaken. In parallel with the triennial Estonian Applied Art and Design Museum welcomes visitors to two glass art shows by Tiina Sarapu and Ivo Lill.

The satellite programme also includes Riste Laasberg’s tapestry exhibition at St. Jacob’s Church in Viimsi, window exhibitions of Katariina Guild’s studios, and an exhibition by ceramics and glass art students of the Estonian Academy of Arts at Salme Cultural Centre.

“I am thrilled that despite uncertain circumstances, we are able to present a substantial satellite programme and artists have found clever ways to showcase their works,” said Merle Kasonen, the chairwoman of the Triennial Society. “Interpreting the world through your art is part of being an artist and it is equally important to share your creations with an audience. I believe and hope that art audiences, too, are hungry for culture.”

The main exhibition of the 8th Tallinna Applied Art Triennial “Translucency” opens on 29 May at Kai Art Center and remains open to visitors until 15 August. The main exhibition of the Triennial is curated by Danish glass artist and art historian Stine Bidstrup, who selected works from 22 international artists to interpret the theme. While the main exhibition includes international artists, the satellite programme highlights local art and gives an overview of Estonian contemporary craft.

The events of the satellite programme take place in May and during summer months, a more detailed schedule will be announced as soon as the governmental Covid restrictions allow for that. 

More info

“Meanwhile” is an online art exhibition presented by the 3rd year students of the Estonian Academy of Arts Textile Design and Accessory Design departments. 

Material-sensitive artists focus on personal and universal observations on the topic of recycling and waste management. The effects of the pandemic and isolation can be clearly perceived in many artworks but the exhibition, established during spring, displays a sense of awakening at the same time – highlighting topics that have been overshadowed by global events of the recent times. The exhibition offers a smooth camera flight through the exhibition landscape, where artificial and natural motifs are fused into a new landscape open for critical reflection.

“Meanwhile” appears as a phantom exhibition, established somewhere in a physical space that remains inaccessible to everyone and can only be experienced from a distance.

Artists: Carmen Sibbul, Eva Tarn, Georg Orover, Greta Vinkel, Juulia Aleksandra Mikson, Kille-Ingeri Liivoja, Lea Heinoja, Liisa Põldoja, Merili Põllu, Merilin Pärismaa
Special thanks to Martin Põldoja, Iris Peil, Paul Henrich Daude, Hannes Tarn, Joonas Tarn
Video Production by Roman-Sten Tõnissoo
Supervised by Sten Saarits 

Visit the exhibition at www.bestbefore.ee

Works at “110m apart” by the 1st-year students of the Department of Photography of Estonian Academy of Arts to be exhibited in two showcases of Tallinn Old Town! 

Live Streaming of the exhibition opening is on Wednesday, 31rd of March at 3pm on the Instagram account of the Department of Photography of Estonian Academy Arts @eka_fotograafia.

From the 31st of March, the exhibition “110m apart” of the 1st-year students of the Department of Photography of Estonian Academy of Arts can be viewed in two showcases of Tallinn Old Town (locations: Suur-Karja 7 and Vanaturu kael 7).

The works shown in the exhibition were developed during the 1st-yeat art project and were created following the showcase format. The main concepts of the projects were the artists’ position and visual communication. Following these notions, every student created an image that expresses some specific idea, concept and/or emotion. The exhibition title “110m apart” refers to the distance between the two showcases. 

The exhibition is open for five weeks. Every week, new works are to be exhibited in the showcases.

Artists:
Micaela Dunne, Grete Eerikson, Erik Hõim, Birna Sísí Jóhannsdóttir, Enriko Kroon, Jette Laane, Anna Ovtšinnikova, Tobias Tikenberg, Georg Tšupov, Stina Vürmer

The art project was supervised by Marge Monko and Reimo Võsa-Tangsoo.

Graphic designer: Ran-Re Reimann

Photography Department of the Estonian Academy of Arts would like to thank: Anneli Porri, Hotel Barons, KÜ Vanaturu kael 7

Exhibition schedule:
31.03 – 07.04 Georg Tšupov, Tobias Tikenberg
07.04 – 14.04 Enriko Kroon, Stina Vürmer
14.04 – 21.04 Birna Sísí Jóhannsdóttir, Grete Eerikson
21.04 – 28.04 Erik Hõim, Jette Laane
28.04 – 05.05 Micaela Dunne, Anna Ovtšinnikova

The exhibition will be open until the 5th of May 2021 and can be viewed on a 24-hour basis. 

Kristel Zimmer, Linda Mai Kari, Liisamari Viik, Estookin, Anita Kremm
Curator: Ene-Liis Semper

The project is a result of one and a half year studies of EKA Scenography department students. Dassemperdepot consists of five investigators of metaphorical thought: “We sense, create meaning and space, reflect the world and search for poetry. Our mentors are wise and creative people, including Ene-Liis Semper. Study of Deconstruction is a presentation of creative research about metaphorical thought through deconstruction, body, and space.”.

Durational performances: 10–14.02 at 4–8 PM
Exhibition: 16–20.02 at 12–6 PM
The entrance is from Kotzebue street! Please wear a mask and keep a safe distance!

“An Octopus’ Garden Of Silly Delights” and “Morfosis” window exhibitions by artists Ulvi Haagensen (and Aksel Haagensen) and Ihan Toomik & Andreas Kivisild at A-Galerii are open till February 27th. 

Ulvi Haagensen “An Octopus’ Garden Of Silly Delights” 

“In a world on the brink of ecological disaster; a world coming to terms with a deadly virus; a world where belligerent and inflammatory politics endeavours to entice and control us; a world where big tech sees and knows more than we’d like; a world where narcissism and lying seem to be accepted ways to behave; in these uncertain times at least one thing we can be certain of  — octopuses have beautiful gardens”, ponders the artist. 

Ulvi Haagensen, born and trained in Sydney, Australia, has been living in Tallinn for many years. She has a background in drawing and sculpture and is currently doing a PhD at the Estonian Academy of Arts researching the boundaries and connections between art and everyday life. 

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Ihan Toomik x Andreas Kivisild “Morfosis” 

“Morfosis” consists of several objects that can be worn in several ways. Morfosis as transfiguration stems from the metamorphoses of daily living. For example, when dressing for work a person embodies their occupation and starts behaving like part of the organisation. Later, at home, the same person may act and look utterly different. In a similar manner we change ourselves in other everyday situations.

We have been discussing the kind of attributes that apply to wearable jewellery. What would we want to wear on a daily basis? Which values, functions and practical implications would this jewellery carry? Our conversation took us to the shapeshifting belt buckle that embodies our daily metamorphoses. 

Ihan Toomik is a freelance artist and a designer who teaches 3D modelling. He graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2013.  

Andreas Kivisild is a freelance artist and a designer. He graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2012.

Exhibitions are supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia

Window exhibitions are open at A-Galerii at any time, with any kind of weather, until February 27th. 

ELEMENTerial — materialisation of the metagrid
EKA algorithmic timber architecture research group exhibition
Authors: dr Sille Pihlak, dr Siim Tuksam

The exhibition “ELEMENTerial” looks at the elements of architecture. What does a house consist of? In an increasingly digital world, a list of materials alone is not enough. In addition to materials and construction methods, the principles of building construction are increasingly influenced by digital tools and sustainability.

With the exhibition we draw parallels between physical and virtual modularity. The digital world is also built from puzzle pieces – algorithms. Algorithms are rule sets that control digital processes. There are also rules in construction, where, what,t and how something can be built – plans and standards. Different materials and technologies, in turn, set geometric constraints. Looking at all these components as algorithmic modules, creates parallels that are easier to understand.

The exhibition describes alternative creative solutions in factory-produced modular wooden architecture developed in collaboration with engineers and wooden house manufacturers over four years of research, and introduces the ideas and methods behind them.

Dr Sille Pihlak is practicing architect, researcher, tutor and co-founder of the algorithmic timber architecture research group in Estonian Academy of Arts, Faculty of Architecture. Sille has studied interior architecture in Estonian Academy of Arts, architecture in Southern California Institute of Architecture and completed her masters in the University of Applied Arts Vienna. After her studies she practiced as design architect in Morphosis Architects in Los Angeles and in Coophimmelb(l)au Vienna. In 2015, together with Siim Tuksam, they started their own office PART–Practice for Architecture, Research and Theory. PART constructed designs have been awarded for their innovative construction techniques, methods of designing and geometry studies, with latest recognition on high voltage electricity pylon Bog Fox. In past five years, Sille has been an active participant in forestry and timber architecture related discussions, as a believer of inevitable sustainability in construction, her work deals with combining algorithmic techniques with local timber industry.

Dr Siim Tuksam is a practicing architect, co-founder of PART – Practice for Architecture, Research and Theory, and a researcher at EKA faculty of architecture, co-founder of the algorithmic timber architecture research group. Siim completed his master studies at the University of Applied Arts Vienna in 2013 having spent a visiting semester at the Southern California Institute of Architecture. During his studies he gained experience at various architecture offices, most notably Gehry Technologies in Paris and Coop Himmelb(l)au in Vienna. Since graduation he has been developing his own practice through exhibitions, installations, writings, and architectural projects. Together with Johanna Jõekalda and Johan Tali, he was the curator of the Estonian pavilion Interspace at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2014. In 2015, together with Sille Pihlak, he founded PART to curate the Tallinn Architecture Biennale 2015 main exhibition Body Building. As a researcher and partner at PART he’s been devoted to developing algorithmic tools for the design and delivery of pre-fabricated architecture and the critical discourse of digital architecture.

Graphic design: Robi Jõeleht (Polaar)

Support by: Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Ministry of Culture, Estonian Academy of Arts Faculty of Architecture, Union of Estonian Architects, Arcwood, Rothoblaas.

“INSULA NUDUS: Paljassaare beyond interesting” is a public exhibition and a final grading of Estonian Academy of Arts Urban Studies Urbanisation studio, tutored by Andra Aaloe and Keiti Kljavin.

You are interesting, paljassaare is interesting, everything there is so interesting – it’s romantic, it’s so natural, it’s also hip and so unexplored and under cover; it takes you to the wild side, it takes you to a free and wild space; wow, it’s just so interesting! It’s full of opportunities and potential, so interesting!

“Interesting” seems to be a widely shared, dominating quality when it comes to the Paljassaare peninsula. Nature, wilderness, tranquility, decay, an escape – and all of this located in the capital city itself. But what actually constitutes this “interesting”? What lies beyond that?

On Saturday (12 Dec 2020) starting from 11am everyone is welcome to visit six different individual exhibits located all around the peninsula. You are welcome to explore them in your preferred order and with your individually chosen means of transport, but do mark that sites are open on different time slots (see the programme below).

All the sites are marked here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit….

Everyone is welcome to gather around the finissage-bonfire of the event at 4pm next to the  (at the meadow next to the tower with a bird mural on the facade: https://goo.gl/maps/cH6Ve3uZhxpU8uif9).

Be prepared for frosty temperatures, bring along some snacks, drinks and everything you need for a lengthy, wintery expedition in the bushes. Refreshments will also be served at some of the locations to keep you going, so don’t forget to bring a mug.

The mini-festival of Paljassaare is put together by Janosh Heydorn, Daria Khrystych, Dalma Pszota, Mira Samonig, Karlotta Sperling and Fernanda Torres.

And we thank you for the help along the way: Flo Kasearu, Abraham Kenny, Simona Medolago, Maros Krivy, Muhammad Ali Ul Hussnain, Lera Mikhailova, Andres Ojari, Panu Lehtovuori, Kille Alterman, Yuriy, Sergey, Natalia, Aleksey.

PROGRAMME

NB! Find the exact locations here:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit….

11.00–13.00 (Paagi 8) // Right to the social retreat / participatory intervention by Daria Khrystych
What is social about social services and social housing? Official social welfare network is supposed to grant people with financial or social problems a way to still remain in society through assistance and support. In the perception of “functional” members of society, it is a fringe, an edge of the society in large that the “clients” of these facilities are pushed to. But what happens if we’d turn it over and look at the social house as a social retreat, something that we all need from time to time? The participatory intervention “Right to the social retreat” is an attempt to bring the edge (Paljassaare and its “social village”) to be the new and needed centre of the city by broadening the general perceptions of the “social services”.

11.30–13.00 (recycling yard area at Paljassaare tee 17) // “We should do something here!” Vol. 1 / audio adventure by Karlotta Sperling
Change is ahead and the future of Paljassaare seems to be mapped out and already fixed in a seemingly endless number of high-polished detail plans and real estate fantasies. But how does culture influence the anticipated change and what do I have to do with it? And finally, can a plan predict the future?

13.30–15.00 (entrance to the Paljassaare tee 40 area) // “We should do something here!” Vol. 2 / audio adventure by Karlotta Sperling
The series of “We should do something here” continues! Same topic, different location! Adventure is on!

12.00–14.00 (on top of Kopli hill at Maleva 4) // ARCO-BAY/ECO-SANTI: 50 years of eco-cities / audio walk by Fernanda Ayala Torres

Cities are not designed in coherence with nature, as potential places for human cohabitation with other organisms, because originally the city was to free humans from the contingency and wilderness of nature. But now, in the urbanised world and in the face of the pending climate crisis, the way we’re relegated to live in millions of little cubes separated only by roads and parking lots and cars makes us rethink the way we live and consume. From here the ambiguous and ambitious idea of an “eco-city” appears, this 50 years old concept, which aims to integrate the urban into ecology or/and vice versa. The audio walk “ARCO-BAY/ECO-SANTI: 50 years of eco-cities” is questioning the future paper-development of Ecobay in Paljassaare by drawing comparisons to another very different realisation of an eco-city: Arcosanti, an urban laboratory located in Arizona, US.

12.30–14.30 (Westernmost battery of Rannakaitsepatarei nr 12) // Out of control: Playing in the cabinet of curiosities of Paljassaare / installation by Dalma Pszota

The surrounding objects and our built environment define us just as much as the ideology we construct when trying to systematize the world. But who has the power and the privilege to decide our future? With the fragments of the Cabinet of Curiosities for the Anthropocene and the (Collage) City, this installation urges us to find a new order to things and reconfigure our role in an ever-accelerating neoliberal reality in the context of Paljassaare.

13.00–15.00 (Paljassaare linnuvaatlustorn/bird tower) // Watching birds from above / installation/intervention by Janosh Heydorn

Conservation areas such as the Paljassaare hoiuala are humanity’s desperate attempts to slow down the extermination of bird species, powered by the exploitation of natural resources and so-called planetary urbanisation. Inspired by Donna Haraway’s thoughts about natureculture, the installation in the bird watchtower questions the precarious understanding of nature and culture as separate entities. By extending bodily senses through the perspective of a drone the work invites us to reflect on our position on Earth somewhere between being an animal and a machine.

13.30–15.30 (ruin next to the wooden walk path) // The urban wild is—everywhere to be felt—nowhere to be noticed / performance and spatial experience by Mira Samonig
A continuously flowing magnitude; from departed to intended, from not-anymore to not-yet, from memory to anticipation, from past to future. The conceptualized circle of time drags one back and forth, to an extent that the actual present existence seems to fade away in space. This performance invites to question the matter of concrete materiality. The terrain vague of Paljassaare acts as an exploratory space to research theory with one’s own matter, the body.

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30.11.–18.12.2020
Open Monday–Saturday, 15:00–18:00
Entrance from Kotzebue street. Please wear a mask!

December brings an opportunity to experience, in an exhibition format, works produced by the students of the Faculty of Fine Arts: every day there will be a fresh crop of university students’ works on display at the gallery. Works of the students studying contemporary art, graphic art, installation, sculpture, photography, and painting will be on display. Each morning, an exhibition will be installed, and each evening it will give way to the next one. We hope that viewers will be able to keep up with the pace of the young artists.

30.11   Drawing: supervisor Eero Alev

01.12   Drawing: supervisor Tõnis Kenkmaa

02.12   Animation: semester overview

03.12   Scenography: supervisor Ene-Liis Semper

04.12   Scenography: supervisor Ene-Liis Semper

05.12   Installation and Sculpture: supervisors Kirke Kangro, Taavi Piibemann

07.12   Contemporary Art: supervisors Mark Dunhill, Kristaps Ancans

08.12   Contemporary Art: supervisors Mark Dunhill, Kristaps Ancans

09.12   Contemporary Art: supervisors Mark Dunhill, Kristaps Ancans

10.12 – Contemporary Art, supervisors Mark Dunhill & Kristaps Ancans

10.12 – Photography, supervisor Holger Kilumets

11.12   Painting: supervisors Mihkel Maripuu, Kristi Kongi, Merike Estna

12.12   Installation and Sculpture: supervisors Jaanus Samma, Deneš Farkas

14.12   Graphic Art: supervisors Kadi Kurema, Eve Kask

15.12   Graphic Art: supervisors John Grzinich, Jan Kaus, Urmas Lüüs

16.12   Graphic Art: supervisors Ann Pajuväli, Oliver Laas, Martiinus Daane Klemet

17.12   Painting: supervisors Holger Loodus, Raul Rajangu, Liisa Kruusmägi, Tõnis Saadoja

18.12   Painting: supervisors Jaan Toomik, Mihkel Maripuu, Mihkel Ilus, Heldur Lassi

Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄
Juss Heinsalu

Al₂Si₂O₅(OH)₄ is a simplified formula representing the chemical composition of clay. This exhibit of the same name is a continuation to the exhibition “Surface View” in the monumental gallery of the Tartu Art House (June 2020). It gathers together a wide range of artistic applications of clay in ceramics, glass, printmaking and in new material combinations. Heinsalu deals with clay as a source, medium and environment. In his material-based research and creation practice, he looks at the properties of clay while combining them with mythological derivations, scientific hypotheses and speculative solutions. EKA Gallery displays prints made with clay pigments, fused clay-glass samples, ceramic elements, formed clay-skin from bioplastic and wool mixture, micro-macro scales of clay through video format and much more.

Heinsalu adds: “My studio practice merges materials with invented tools, mythological narratives and folklore with contemporary technology. I often lean on fiction to playfully observe and (re)define the surrounding world. In this exhibition, clay is simultaneously a base material, form, language, metaphor and a reflection.”

Juss Heinsalu studied ceramics at the Estonian Academy of Arts and received his MFA at NSCAD University in Nova Scotia, Canada. Heinsalu deals daily with material-based research and creation, and in Fall 2020 began additional studies in the field of interior architecture at EAA. Previously, he has actively participated in various projects and exhibitions across Europe and North America.

Thanks from the artist for the support of this exhibition and his practice: Estonian Artists’ Association, Arts Nova Scotia, Cultural Endowment of Estonia, the departments of Glass Art, Ceramics, and Jewellery and Blacksmithing at Estonian Academy of Arts, Printmaking department at NSCAD University, Valge Kuup, and artist’s family and friends.

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Ceramic Dimension
10–28.11.2020
Lauri Kilusk, Martin Melioranski and Urmas Puhkan.

The international workshop-exhibit “Ceramic Dimension“ introduces the possibilities of clay 3D printing in EKA. The project is organized by Urmas Puhkan and Lauri Kilusk from the Department of Ceramics and Martin Melioranski from the Department of Architecture. Huge assistive support from Kaiko Kivi as a system architect and Madis Kaasik from Prototyping Lab.

During the period of almost five years, the professionals and students of different disciplines from EKA and elsewhere in the World, have been engaged in an experimental process, that has taken the knowledge and sensibility gathered through centuries of this specific materiality and combined it with current technological outputs, initiating novel outcomes from a well tested material.

The exhibit “Ceramic Dimension“ gives an overview of the wide spectrum of morphological and space-making topics led by design, art and architectural agendas, that have been brought to the physical environment by stratifying refined clay mass with digital tools and specially designed 3D printers and an advanced collaborative robot.

When compared to the now common plastic filament 3D printing, it brings forth contrasting results – clay is much more “alive”, even after going through the stages of digital-mechanical treatments. Clay, due to its substantiate internal properties, keeps on moving even after receiving its numerically driven exact shape. This in turn gives it a certain character, and avoids the easily attainable repetitive numbness and dryness when compared to regular digital prints from established industrial materials.

This has in some cases been integrated with properties of other materials in order to gain specific composite mixtures. Leftovers of Rockwool, waste paper, sand etc, has introduced a recycling and up-cycling perspective to the process, at the same time improving the printing properties of the base-material.

With our workshop-exhibit we wish to start a broader discussion on the possibilities of 3D clay printing. During this exhibition, the EKA Gallery will transform into a kind of laboratory, where new objects become alive during a continuous experiment. The viewer is expected to ask questions and express opinions, thereby becoming more akin to a participant in this process. We plan to make web-mediated meetings with several internationally recognized and established practitioners of this craft.

Next to the finished works shown and done prior to the opening, the exhibit will gain additional performative layers of integrating machinic intelligence to the joy of human discovery by making new results – showing both successes and mistakes.

Participants: Elize Hiiop, Madis Kaasik, Lauri Kilusk, Kaiko Kivi, Martin Melioranski, Urmas Puhkan Laura Põld, Oksana Teder, Katri Jürimäe, Sanna Lova, Jekaterina Burlakova, Aleksandra Kazanina, Kristel Ojasuu, Helena Tuudelepp.