Category: Faculty of Design

Dominic Redfern
Neither Artificial, Nor Intelligent

Bernard Stiegler argued that humans and technology are co-constituted; humans are not separate from and do not precede technology, but instead, human evolution is entangled with the emergence and evolution of technics, a process he calls “technogenesis”. For Stiegler, humans are “always already” technological. This idea seems particularly relevant as we negotiate the present and future with AI.

Since DALL-E 2 launched it 2022, AI has gone viral.

What is AI?

What are the implications for artists and creatives?

What are artists doing with this technology?

How can AI art reflect our historical moment meaningfully?

Dominic Redfern will offer some thoughts on these questions in his lecture and offer a short reflection on his own explorations with this uncanny technology.

Dominic Redfern is a male presenting, settler Australian. He has been exhibiting video since 1997. Dominic has had three key bodies of work: a decade on performed identity; a decade of environmental studies; and his current return to abstraction and process once again addressing questions around identity and subjectivity. Across his career he has been supported by various municipalities, the ARC, the Australia Council for the Arts, and state arts funding bodies. Dominic has undertaken site-responsive projects in Brazil, the USA, Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Scotland, Germany, and France. He is an Associate Professor at RMIT’s School of Art.

PARA-EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH SEMINAR BY PROF. DR. NORA STERNFELD
in collaboration with Grégoire Rousseau, Mira Samonig and Julia Stolba

How can educational and curatorial practices of knowledge production challenge what can be said, done and seen? In an international transdisciplinary research seminar, we think about educational research and exhibition studies within and beyond the exhibition, about case studies within and beyond the canon and about research within and beyond western methodologies.

Running from Monday, 2^nd of June – Saturday, 7^th of June 2025 at EKA, the seminar is an ongoing open context for researchers in educational research and exhibition studies. It follows strategies of knowledge production as exploration, investigation, imagination and reflection. Although registration at the seminar is now closed, feel free to drop by and listen in if you are interested.

Join us for the public radio broadcast about ‘para-educational research’ aired by Station of Commons!

Thursday, 5^th of June 2025 from 5pm – in Tallinn at ETC (Niine 8a) or from anywhere via stationofcommons.com.

“MÕJU”, a group exhibition by students of the Glass and Ceramics departments at the Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA), opens on Thursday, May 22 at 18:00 in the Põhjala Tehas Cultural Centre, Marati 5, Tallinn.

From May 22 to June 8, the the exhibition presents works by eleven emerging artists who each explore the concept of “influence” — the meaning of the Estonian word “mõju” — through personal interpretations and diverse material approaches.
A shared conceptual approach ties the diverse works together. Here, influence moves quietly – through gestures, fragments, and the gentle persistence of repetition. It resides in the body, in memory, in material – often unnoticed until something shifts, suddenly becoming impossible to ignore. A surface cracks. A pattern breaks. A new perspective emerges.

At MÕJU, influence is not a force to be imposed but a presence to be sensed. It resists definition, yet leaves a trace. A mark. A memory. A motion repeated until it becomes something else.

Exploring themes such as language, memory and music—the artists employ materials ranging from glass and ceramics to photography and site-specific or ephemeral works.

Participants: Arina Golubeva, Darja Nikitina, Elisabeth Töltl, Elza Jenzena, Koidu K. Priimägi, Lilian Maasik, Lou Bolinger, Mona Sofia Tahk, Rumen Stoychev, Teresa RA, Yulia Vakina

Supervisors: Kaja Altvee, Ingrid Allik, Kateriin Rikken

Graphic design: Koidu K. Priimägi, Elisabeth Töltl

The exhibition is supported by the Estonian Academy of Arts, Vivacolor, Põhjala Tehas and
Embassy of Austria.

The exhibition opening is supported by Põhjala Brewery.

EKA Graduation Show TASE ‘25 opens on May 28, 2025

The Estonian Academy of Arts’ grad show TASE ’25 is back, with the main event being the graduation exhibition held at the “Projekteerijate maja”, located at Rävala puiestee 8, Tallinn.

The TASE ‘25 opening event will be held on Wednesday, May 28, at 17:00 in the park in front of the Rävala 8 building. During the public opening event, awards for Young Artist, Young Applied Artist, and Young Designer will be presented to both bachelor’s and master’s level students.

PROGRAM

TASE ’25 opening events schedule on Wednesday, May 28, 4:00 PM–11:00 PM:

4 PM procession from the Estonian Academy of Arts to the building at Rävala Puiestee 8

5 PM opening ceremony on the lawn in front of Rävala Puiestee 8, announcement of the Young Designer, Young Artist and Young Applied Artist MA and BA awards

6 PM TASE ’25 exhibition doors open

7.30 PM Avemaria concert on the lawn in front of Rävala Puiestee 8

8 PM Taavet Kirja DJ set

11 PM End of the party

In addition, Hulkur Bar and ÖKU food truck will be present.

TASE pop-up shop

28.05.–1.06.25 Rävala puiestee 8 first floor lobby, open Wed 18.00–23.00 Thu–Sun 13.00–19.00

TASE ANIMA 2025 animation final project screening on Friday, June 13, 17.00–19.00 at Sõprus cinema, free admission.

Participants: Paulina Belik, Maya Chaudhary, Nataliia Domini, Kate Jansone, Timofei Jerjomenko, Annaliisa Lepik, Anne Lucas, Natalya Mirzoyan, Léo Dominique Mourey, Katrina Oll, Mia Rulli, Yiyang Sun, Alex Toodu, Kaisa Vallaots, Lukas Wind, Shunyuan Yao

Thesis of the Faculties of Architecture, Design, Art Culture and Liberal Arts

Rävala puiestee 8, Tallinn29.05.–19.06.25, open daily from 13.00–19.00, free admission

The final project of contemporary art master’s students Yvette Bathgate & Jake Shepherd “a space for gathering, a space for growing”

EKKM Community Garden, Kursi 5, Tallinn

28.05.–19.05.25, open 24/7, free admission

The program has been prepared in collaboration with Keithy Kuuspu, Kati Saaritsa, Feminist Culture House, and Laura De Jager.

Art Studio Master’s student Alyona Movko-Mägi’s final project “Being. Creator. Gender.” Seek Gallery, Väike-Pääsukese 5, Tallinn6.06.–27.09.25, open June–August 20:00–2:00, September 20:00–00:00, admission 7€/5€

Event introducing the final theses of graphic design master’s students “Cover, Show”

Skoone bastion, Tallinn

6.06. 11:00–19:00

Participants: Fatima-Ezzahra El Khammas, Hanafi Gazali, Rok Ifko Krajnc, Linnea Lindgren, Laura Martens, João Pedro Nogueira, Karthik Palepu, Archil Tsereteli

Thesis “Internal Spheres” by Dana Lorên Vares, Master of Jewelry Design

Rehearsal Hall of the Von Krahl Theatre, Telliskivi 60a-9, Tallinn

2.–3.06.25, entrance from the railway side, free

Introduction of Bachelor’s and Master’s theses in Interior Architecture led by Gregor Taul, starting in the lobby of Rävala Puiestee 8.

Wednesday, June 4, 15:00–16:00, in Estonian

Social Design Studio – a series of events and installations for social design master’s students

The exhibition ends with a discussion by recent graduates on the topic “What is social design?”

6.–7.06.25 Rävala Puiestee 8, first floor lobby, free admission.

More information:  https://www.facebook.com/sotsiaalsedisainistuudio/

Faculty of Architecture exhibition tours

Open to all space enthusiasts, both incoming students and professionals in the field:
June 4, 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Interior Architecture Final Theses, Curriculum Director Gregor Taul
June 11, 4 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Architecture Today, Dean Sille Pihlak
June 18, 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Faculty of Architecture final theses will be introduced by architect and head of master’s studies, Prof. Toomas Tammis
June 18, 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Faculty of Architecture final theses will be introduced by architect and head of master’s studies, Prof. Toomas Tammis

Register for the tour here

Anna-Liisa Villmann-led tours with the laureates of the Young Designer, Young Artist and Young Applied Artist MA and BA awards, starting in the lobby of Rävala puiestee 8.

Saturday, May 31, 13–14:30, in Estonian

Saturday, June 14, 13–14:30, in Estonian

Saturday, June 14, 14:30–16:00, in English

Public defenses of final theses

Final theses defenses at the Estonian Academy of Arts and at the TASE Final Thesis Festival at Rävala puiestee 8, Tallinn, 26.05.–11.06.2025

Check out the schedule on the website https://www.artun.ee/et/kalender/eka-loputoode-kaitsmised/

Get to know TASE ‘25 program and list of graduates on the website tase.artun.ee – the website will open on May 23.

The written parts of the theses can be viewed in the EKA Digital Archive at https://eka.access.preservica.com/

TASE ’25 Facebook event

Sofiya Babiy
A spectrum of disappearance / Hääbumise varjundid
Location: Rävala 8, room A203
Defence: 12.05 at 10 o’clock

Elias Sormanen
Dreams of Novaja Zemlja / Unenäod Novaja Zemljast
Location: Pikk jalg 3, attic
Defence: 12.05 at 15 o’clock

Juulia Aleksandra Mikson
For a moment / Hetke vaid
Location: Manufaktuuri 7/2 ja Manufaktuuri kvartal apple orhid
Defence: 13.05 at 11 o’clock

Iohan Figueroa
Drifting / Kandumine
Performance: 13.05 at 16 o’clock
Location: Paljassaare hoiuala (outdoors)
Defence: 14.05 at 10 o’clock in Krulli Studio (Kopli 70a, II floor)

Hannah Segerkrantz
From Mines to Mountains / Maast Mägedeks
Location: Pikk jalg 3, III floor
Defence: 14.05 at 14 o’clock

Kati Saarits
Series of Belongings / Seeriad esemetest
Location: Koidu 23-6 apartment
Defence: 15.05 at 11 o’clock

Alyona Movko-Mägi
Creature. Maker. Mire. / Olend. Looja. Soo.
Location: Gallery SEEK, Väike-Pääsukese 5
Defence: 15.05 at 15 o’clock

Rait Lõhmus
reblow toolset: piiritus / infinite
Performance/demo: 16.05 at 13 o’clock
Location: Rakvere piiritustehas, Vabriku 6 in Rakvere
Defence: 16.05 at 14 o’clock

The Forest Whispers is a unique jewellery exhibition that brings Estonian jewellery to Finland for the first time.

The exhibition of contemporary Estonian jewellery, Forest Whispers, tells the story of the relationship with nature, the forest and its meanings for Estonians. The jewellery opens up the relationship with the forest and nature from different perspectives: through mythology, the forest connection and the production of natural materials or ideas.

This unique jewelry exhibition brings Estonian jewelry to Finland for the first time. The exhibition features the work of around 50 jewelry artists, a forest project by students from the Art School of Helsinki, and the work of Roman Tavasti artists. The exhibition is curated by PhD Kärt Summatavet.

The forest is a meaningful, even sacred place. The experience of nature opens up by spending time there in different ways: walking, sitting, listening, drawing, photographing, swimming, picking berries and mushrooms. The exhibition allows you to delve deeper into the history of Estonian jewellery, mythology and the relationship with nature. The jewellery has been transformed into experiences, observations and dreams, traditions and ancient knowledge in the hands of artists. The relationship between Finnish and Estonian people with forests is very similar and exhibition visitors will certainly find common ground in their own ideas about nature and forests.

Textiles 110: Open Lecture by Päivi Vaarula “Material and Content, Working Together in textile Art”

On April 29, at 5 p.m in room A501

Päivi Vaarula is a textile artist from Hämeenlinna, Finland. Her work is rooted in keen observation of everyday life, which she thoughtfully transforms into the visual language of textile art. Rather than seeking to entertain, she aims to create meaningful, thought-provoking works that often engage with present contemporary issues—particularly those related to the environment.

Vaarula works with local materials, traditional floor looms, and natural dyes, embracing sustainable practices in both concept and technique. For several years, she has been known for her distinctive three-dimensional woven surfaces, skillfully utilizing the expressive qualities of wool to bring depth and texture to her pieces.

Her art has been featured in over 70 group exhibitions and she has held 18 solo exhibitions, both in Finland and internationally. Alongside her artistic practice, Päivi Vaarula has worked as a full-time lecturer for more than 30 years. She has led lectures and workshops in numerous countries, including Finland, Denmark, Germany, Japan, Wales, Scotland, England, and Iceland.

Päivi Vaarula will talk about her textile journey and about her art.

Her solo exhibition “Entertainment” is also open at HOP gallery (Hobusepea tänav 2, Tallinn) until April 29th.

Textile 110 is a series of events celebrating the 110th anniversary of EKA’s textile design education, as part of which a series of open lectures focusing on textiles will be held, a series of publications will be published, and a selection of works from the EKA Museum’s textile collection can be seen throughout the year.

The lecture series opens up the spectrum of diverse opportunities in the field of textiles, both in design, industry, and creative practices, bringing out different roles and methods of creation in the field through various invited guests.

Supported by the Research Fund of EKA and the Cultural Endowment of Estonia

The exhibition “I Got a Great Lick of It Before It All Melted” is an exhibition by students of Graphic Design and Product Design at the Estonian Academy of Arts, which reflects on choices and experiences.

Opening 24 April 6 PM
ARS Art Factory – Studio 53 ja 98

Entrance from the courtyard

We all have a certain number of experiences in life, on which we build the next one. It is like an archive. You can’t ever experience anything without the latter.. And then we end up with those choices that we unconsciously and finally consciously make every day again and again. We are faced with something that is self-evident, like putting one foot in front of the other when walking or inhaling and exhaling.. we don’t notice these actions, but yet we do them constantly. Our choices shape our experiences and, when combined, our dance through life.

Artists: Riko Smirnov, Richard Vainola, Gabriella Tarja, Laura Sööt, Katriin Saulus, Anna Elisabeth Remmelg, Kenneth Pert, Hanna Milk, Anett Elis Männil, Brit Maripuu, Paula Maria Mengel, Stella Maris Liiva, Kelli Kütt, Helen Kärt Käbin, Martin Kislõi, Mark Kokotov, Teele Kiisk, Grittel Kastan, Greg Mikael Juhanson, Daria Titova, Johannes Adrik, Aries Puusepp, Rebecca Lopez,
Graphic Design: Mark Kokotov

Dance like this is the first of its kind for the students and they have been guided to this by Kristel Saan.

Supported and sponsored by Estonian Academy of Arts and Põhjala Brewery

Pablo Ignacio Hermansen Ulibarri – Visiting Lecturer at the Estonian Academy of Arts

Pablo Ignacio Hermansen Ulibarri is a designer with a PhD in Architecture and Urban Studies. He teaches and conducts research at the School of Design at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. His work focuses on co-design, interaction design, socio-natural ecosystems, photo-ethnography, performative politics in public space, more-than-human prototyping, and public services as public space.

He will be visiting the Estonian Academy of Arts from April 14–16 and will give a public lecture, “Counter Designing: Animals and Algorithms as Creative Agents,” on April 16 at 18:00 in room A501.

In January, EKA Interaction Design students visited his university in Chile to develop collaborative projects and academic exchange.

We look forward to seeing you at the opening of the CTC – Climate Truth Crisis exhibition on 11.04, at 14:00, in the open area in front of the Estonian Academy of Arts (Põhja pst 7).

The CTC – Climate Truth Crisis project deals with the spread of misinformation and understanding the climate crisis. The project involves educating young designers in these areas, creating a website that gathers information about the topic, publishing a podcast series, a dictionary and a collection of articles. In addition, students are visualizing the topic in various media. More information on the project website: https://www.climatetruthcrisis.eu/

The first workshop of the project will take place at the Estonian Academy of Arts on 7-11 April, during which students will write down concepts related to the topic, visualize them and on Friday, 11 April, open an exhibition in a public space in front of the EKA to introduce the topic to a wider audience.

The workshop is held in cooperation with the EKA Graphic Design Department and the Department of Semiotics of the University of Tartu. The students will be supervised by semioticians, conspiracy theory and disinformation researchers Mari-Liis Madisson and Daniel Tamm, Laura Vilbiks from the Estonian Foundation for Nature (ELF), and graphic designers Laura Merendi, Ott Kagovere and Kert Viiart. In addition to the supervisors, there will be students and lecturers from Bosnia, Spain, the Netherlands, England, Iceland and Lithuania.

In addition to the workshop, there will also be lectures open to the wider audience:

09.04, 16:00, A502 (EKA, Põhja pst 7)
Artist Kristina Õllek with a presentation Absorbing Hypoxic Water

10.04, 16:00, A300 (EKA, Põhja pst 7)
Graphic designer Maria Muuk with a presentation Graphic Design as a Degrowth Practice

The project will last for three years, 2025-2028, and workshops will be held at various partner universities:

Academy of Fine Arts Sarajevo,

Estonian Academy of Arts,

ELISAVA,

Iceland University of the Arts,

Royal Academy of Art, The Hague,

University of the Arts London,

Vilnius Academy of Arts