Category: Contemporary Art

On September 6, 2023 at 18.00, the co-exhibition of Kelli Gedvil and Kristen Rästas Wake Me Up, When It’s All Over will open in Draakon Gallery.

Wake Me Up, When It’s All Over, the co-exhibition of Kelli Gedvili and Kristen Rästas, poetically reflects on the introverted urge to find shelter from everyday sensitivities and encapsulate in the digital world. The artists are focused on creating an atmosphere in which they explore the contemporary condition of humans living through one crisis after another.

Persuading Hard Matter

Sophia Hallmann, Loora Kaubi, Mattias Veller, Oliver Wellmann

15.07–10.08.2023

Opening 14.07 at 6 pm

Join us for the exhibition Persuading Hard Matter opening on 14.07, 6 pm at EKA Gallery! The entrance to the exhibition is via Kotzebue street.

The metaphor of “softening stones” (kive pehmeks rääkida) conveys the idea that a person is able to affect or manipulate even the most resistant and solid objects, much like speaking can lead to an emotional breakthrough or change.

In this exhibition, the artists found common ground in dealing with what is larger than themselves: be it phenomena that go far back in time or those that are situated in the minds of groups. Stones can be viewed as the embodiments of still-enduring old ideas. Some of them have since eroded into the dust of prehistory, others still stand like monuments. As time has passed, many have become burdens, but they are often too heavy to cast off of our collective shoulders. Systems of belief have learned to resist change by cultivating delusions in the minds of their believers.

In Sophia Hallmann’s work “Hyperstimuli”, sugar has been transformed into glass-like thorns. Her installation juxtaposes the fragility and sweetness of the material with the prickliness of the thorn shape. These contrasting aspects evoke the concept of sweet pain. Appealing also to the senses of taste and touch, the work deals with the complex relationship between pleasure and discomfort. Isomalt sugar has been transformed into a seemingly luxurious glass-like object. Because both the branches and sugar are organic, they will eventually decompose, breaking the illusion of eternal security that luxury creates.

Persuasion is a tool for shaping reality. It can be used to create an illusion of safety, which is a delusive contentment. Loora Kaubi’s work addresses the domination of a patriarchal system through violent architecture. In her installation, Kaubi performs a contorted body walking in bridge position towards the viewer, suggesting the mental damage done by conforming to oppression. In “Mind and hand follow an evil path” objects combined with choreography are used to reflect on feelings of hostility and discomfort. Is it the outside world that one must be protected from or should we protect the outside from the world within? The fences come across as material representations of the fear that is omnipresent for anyone not standing safely at the top of the power hierarchy.

On the topic of domination, the practice of storytelling can be seen as a tool that liberates from the burden of having no voice. It encourages us to claim the right to be heard and express things as we desire them to be, under the guise of objectivity. Oliver Wellmann’s work circulates around mythic traditions, exploring their controversiality. The work „Raunen (Fires)“ stems from the ongoing performance cycle “Raunen” (ger. ‘whispering the truth’), in which dark rural worlds blend with elements of the auto-fictional. Hay is a material that often self-ignites, eventually causing major fires.

Another grand story is the mythic narrative of the nation, which looms over the individual like a massive rock. Mattias Veller expresses frustration at having to accept it and all of its inconsistencies. Individually, he is unable to coax the rigid national mythos to soften, so he decides to turn the tables. In “The Donkey in Estonia” he demonstrates the absurdity of the ways in which collective identity is shaped. He is interested in how belief works and how to fool the gullible.

The works in “Persuading Hard Matter” can be seen as the artists’ interpretations of the tensions between themselves and overwhelming forces. Be it acceptance, toleration, protest or domination, some kind of persuasion always occurs. Its effectiveness can never be known in advance.

​​Sophia Hallmann (b. 1995) lives and works in Berlin, where she studies sculpture and installation at the Berlin University of Arts. In her work she deals with different moulding techniques and casting processes, where the relationship between the depicted object and the material used plays an important role. Often her works evoke a sense of tension with the human body. During her Erasmus exchange at the Estonian Academy of Arts, Sophia Hallmann participated in the Young Sculptor Award Exhibition 2023 at the ARS Project Space and won the 3rd prize. In addition, she has participated in several group exhibitions in Berlin and received a scholarship from the Tutsek Foundation.

Oliver Wellmann (b. 1991) is an artist living and working in Berlin who is currently studying at the University of Arts Berlin. His artistic practice interlocks internal sources with external ones or those that have frequently been abandoned. The imagery in his work distinctly revolves around rural areas, folkloric traditions and spiritual empowerment such as witchcraft. Oliver’s artistic exploration of witchcraft in a contemporary context raises questions in a society that thirsts for meaning and spirituality, but where both are simultaneously classified as vanishing phenomena. In 2023 he exhibited extracts of the performance cycle „Raunen“ in Iceland and will continue to do so in Estonia, followed by Denmark in the fall.

Loora Kaubi (b. 1998) is an artist working in Tallinn. She holds a BA degree from the Estonian Academy of Arts’ Fine Arts department and did part of her studies at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. She has also attended Casa Lü residency in Mexico City. Kaubi’s practice revolves around the (female) body and the societal relations and power structures that are involved with it. Wandering between the real and the imaginary, in her work she approaches life as a spectacle and focuses on creating a scene through which to perform intense emotions. Kaubi has been awarded the Artist of the Week Award of the Estonian Young Contemporary Art Union and has participated in exhibitions and performances in Tallinn, Narva, Haapsalu, Valga, Põlva, Vienna and Mexico City.

The recurring topics in Mattias Veller’s (b. 1998) artistic practices are physical labour and the relationship between human and material. Conceptually, he is rather minimalistic and technically he is precise, often applying time-consuming manual approaches. Veller is currently most interested in collective consciousness and history. He has been awarded the Artist of the Week Award of the Estonian Young Contemporary Art Union. His works have been shown in group projects in the ARS Project Space and Uus Rada Gallery (2023), EKA Gallery (2022) and in a duo exhibition in Infinite Life Gallery (2021).

Supported by: Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Student Council of UdK Berlin, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany Tallinn

The artists would like to thank: Ulvar Kaubi, Saara Liis Jõerand, Elss Raidmets, Patrick Zavadskis, Mirje Veller, Riina Veller, Karl Linnasmägi (OÜ NovaElement), Valge Kuup OÜ

Defence presentations of Master’s theses in Contemporary Art and Animation curricula
June 5–6, starting 10.00 at the TASE ‘23 exhibition at Tallinn Art Hall, Vabaduse väljak 8

5. juuni / June 5

10.00 – 10.45, VI floor
Heli Haav – master’s thesis: artistic component “Lilith” and written component ”Looking into the invisible: Attempts to find unspoken connections between the health of the Earth and the well-being of humankind”, supervisor Anu Vahtra (MA). Reviewer Elnara Taidre (PhD).

10.45 – 11.30, V floor
Jonathan Stavleu – master’s thesis entitled ”Museum of the 20th Century Archeology”, supervisor Anu Vahtra (MA). Reviewer Camille Laurelli (PhD).

11.30 – 12.15, IV floor
Samuel Lehikoinen – master’s thesis: artistic component “Unemployment Simulator 2018” and written component ”Everyday is Sunday”, supervisor John Grzinich (MA). Reviewer Taavi Varm (MA).

Lunch 12.15 – 13.15

13.15 – 14.00, III floor
M. Mojtaba H. Davijani – master’s thesis: artistic component “The Little Goldfish” and written component ”Shoot for Freedom”, supervisors John Grzinich (MA) and Kersti Uibo (MA). Reviewer David Ross (MA).

14.00 – 14.45, II floor, elevator
Stina Isabel Gavrilin – master’s thesis: artistic component “Break out. Give in.” and written component ”Seele Brennt”, supervisors John Grzinich (MA) and David Ross (MA). Reviewer Camille Laurelli (PhD).

15.45 – 16.30 ZOOM in EKA
Keawalee Warutkomain (Animation MA) – master’s thesis “Being-in-Between: A Journey to Contemplate the Notion of ‘Life/Death’ via an Improvisational Animation Approach”, supervisor Michael Croft (MA). Reviewer Mari-Liis Rebane (MA).

Assessment committee: Kristi Kongi, Sten Ojavee, Kristina Õllek, Agnė Jokšė, Rebecca Duclos.

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6. juuni / June 6

10.00 – 10.45, Kunstihoone
Triin Türnpuu – magistritöö koondpealkirjaga „Kunst on sinu ümber. Pea meeles – võid katsuda, mitte vaadata!”, juhendajad Ingrid Allik (MA) ja Else Lagerspetz (MA). Retsensent Tamara Luuk (MA).

10.45 – 11.30, Kunstihoone
Marleen Suvi – magistritöö koondpealkirjaga „18:25”, juhendajad Merike Estna (MA) ja Eik Hermann (MA). Retsensent Kaarin Kivirähk (MA).

11.30 – 12.15, Kunstihoone
Lisann Lillevere – magistritöö loominguline osa „Sulav tõde” ja kirjalik osa „Ma ei tea, mis on reaalsus, aga ma tean, mis mulle meeldib”, juhendajad Marge Monko (MA) ja Helen Sirp (MA). Retsensent Elnara Taidre (PhD).

12.15 – 13.00, I korrus
Anselm Oja – magistritöö koondpealkirjaga „Tuunitud eneseotsingud pimedatel sisetänavatel”, juhendajad Reimo Võsa-Tangsoo (MA) ja Anu Vahtra (MA). Retsensent Elo Liiv (MA).

Paus 13.00 – 14.00

14.00 – 14.45, III korrus
Kristiina Aarna – magistritöö loominguline osa „518 päeva” ja kirjalik osa „Nähtamatu hääl ja hool naiskunstnike loomingus”, juhendaja Marge Monko (MA). Retsensent Brit Pavelson (MA).

14.45 – 15.30, III korrus
Heleliis Hõim – magistritöö koondpealkirjaga „Täitumatus (Unfulfilled)”, juhendaja Reimo Võsa-Tangsoo (MA). Retsensent Holger Loodus (MA).

15.30 – 16.15, VI korrus
Annika Hint – magistritöö loominguline osa “Recreate.betterlife.jpg” ja kirjalik osa “Trying to grasp a rainbow is the surest way to make it vanish”, juhendaja Taavi Talve (MA). Retsensent Hanno Soans (MA).

16.15 – 17.00, VI korrus
Liis-Marleen Verilaskja – magistritöö loominguline osa „Jumaliku surm: Apokalüptiline unenägu” ja kirjalik osa „Jõudmine unenäost usuni ja kunsti”, juhendajad Eve Kask (MA) ja Andrus Laansalu (MA). Retsensent Lilli-Krõõt Repnau (MA).

Hindamiskomisjon: Kristi Kongi, Sten Ojavee, Kristina Õllek, Sandra Kosorotova, Tõnis Saadoja. 

A group exhibition “Pretty Gimmicks, Charming Trinkets and All the Other Things” will open on Friday, June 2nd at 6 pm at the end stop of the Kopli tram line.

The six participating artists are united by their love of things: their artistic practice revolves around nearly forgotten objects as if prolonging their lifespan. At a time when there are more (and far too many) things than ever, people are still deeply attached to the tangible. It is this ‘something’ that makes things the anchors to which we attach our identities and the vessels in which we gather our experiences. The inner life of things observed in this way turns them into capsules of humanity, which carry the invisible evidence of being human as they ‘marinate’ in time. The artists use objects to engage with autobiographical, poetic as well as anthropological questions.

The exhibition takes place in an old kiosk at the last stop of the tram line in Kopli. Spread across the counter, the works explore the human love of trinkets, the absurdity of mass production, and the power of objects to unite and divide communities.

Instead of a kiosk vendor, one of the artists is on duty every day so that the exhibition experience takes a slightly different form each day through the presence of each artist or curator.

Participating artists: Sandra Ernits, Rose Magee, Mara Kirchberg, Sarah Nõmm, Siim Preiman, Leonor Talefe
Graphic design: Kertu Klementi
Curator: Anita Kodanik

Kiosk next to the building at Kopli 99b, Kopli tram line end stop.

The exhibition is open until June 11, Mon-Fri 14:00-20:00, Sat-Fri 12:00-18:00

Special thanks: Mart Veelmaa, Anders Härm, Margit Säde, Mattias Veller, Derevjashka cafe 

More info: Anita Kodanik / anita.kodanik@artun.ee, +372 55507327

Facebook event

On May 18 and 19, we invite you to visit the EKA gallery and the open spaces on the 2nd and 5th floors, where over the course of two days this semester’s works by the first-year MA Contemporary Art students will be exhibited.

The exhibition is open on both days from 15:00–18:00 and is part of the Fine Arts Assessment Marathon, which offers an unique opportunity to get to know the current works of the young artists.

In addition to the EKA building, works by several students can be seen in other locations:

– Rose Magee’s exhibition is open at Vent Space gallery until Wednesday, May 17, 16:00–19:00

– Lara Žagar’s exhibition will open at Vent Space gallery on Friday, May 19, 19:00.

– Sarah Nõmm’s work can be seen at the exhibition Naturally It Is Not at the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design until June 11, Wed & Fri–Sun 11:00–18:00, Thu 11:00–20:00.

– Eri Rääsk’s work can be seen at Balta (between Vana-Kalamaja street 1 & 3) on Friday, May 19, 17:00–03:00.

Students participating in the exhibition: Rose Magee, Sarah Nõmm, Mia Felic, Mara Kirchberg, Mirjam Varik, Siim Preiman, Anna-Liisa Kree, Iryna Tanasiichuk, Sarah Noonan, Eri Rääsk, Leonor Talefe, Sandra Ernits, Mari Steinberg, Lara Žagar, Alisa Khellberg, Gerda Hansen and Syed Sachal Rizvi.

The students were supervised by Marge Monko, Kirke Kangro, Merike Estna, Taavi Talve, Anu Vahtra, John Grzinich, Paul Kuimet, Taavi Piibemann, Sirja-Liisa Eelma, Eve Kask, David K. Ross.

May brings an opportunity to experience, in an exhibition format, works produced by students in the Faculty of Fine Arts as their term projects: every day there will be a fresh crop of university students’ works on display in the gallery.

Works in contemporary art, prints, installation, sculpture and painting curricula will be on display. On each morning of the marathon, a new exhibition will be installed and in the evening the exhibit will give way to the next one. Hopefully, viewers will be able to keep up with the pace of the young artists.

SCHEDULE

02.05. Painting, supervisors Merike Estna, Alice Kask, Kristi Kongi, Holger Loodus
03.05. Photography, supervisor Madis Kurss
04.05. Drawing, supervisors Maiu Rõõmus, Matti Pärk
05.05. Drawing, supervisors Tõnis Saadoja
08.05. Drawing, supervisor Ulvi Haagensen
9.05. Drawing, supervisor Lilli-Krõõt Repnau
10.05. Drawing, supervisor Tõnis Saadoja
11.05. Graphic Art, supervisors Charlotte Biszewski, Eve Kask, Rene Haljasmäe, Viktor Gurov
12.05. Graphic Art, supervisors Kadi Kurema, Maria Erikson, Charlotte Biszewski, Britta Benno
15.05. Photography, supervisors Marge Monko, Paul Kuimet
16.—17.05. Scenography, supervisors Ene-Liis Semper, Mark Raidpere
18.—19.05. Contemporary Art, supervisors Marge Monko, Kirke Kangro, Merike Estna, Taavi Talve, Anu Vahtra, John Grzinich, Paul Kuimet, Taavi Piibemann, Sirja-Liisa Eelma, Eve Kask, David K. Ross

The Dirt Road, Vent Space Exhibition by Masters of Contemporary Art student Sarah Noonan opens May 2 at 18.00.

Exhibition Opening times are 2–7 May from 15.00–19.00.

02.05–07.05 The Dirt Road by Sarah Noonan

On September 24th, 2022 a small hurricane in Atlantic Canada destroyed an abandoned tree farm on a dirt road. The exhibition The Dirt Road symbolizes how the attachment to a specific location and the origin of home can turn a place into somewhere that is precious. Materials and memory teleport familiarity while roaming unnaturally through structures and color. To explore the ethereal desolation of nature, textile sculptures create an abstract representation of the dirt road. This installation environment recollects sensitive traits from this cherished place. It reveals how the roots of our upbringing are abandoned by abstract forms and imagining memories; But ground feelings of regret with youthful honesty.

Sarah Noonan uses her own discarded clothes and belongings to transform worn and renewed fabrics into hand-sewn, mixed media sculptures. Through indiscriminate uses of craft and textile materials they investigate material qualities of durability and softness. Their art reveals fragile layers of sentiment around us that navigate connections to inhabiting places. Changes in time, place, and acceptance encourages us to identify feelings of intrinsic worth.

Anu Vahtra will open her solo exhibition along the wall, down the stairs, outside in Hobusepea gallery at 17:00 on Thursday, May 4th, 2023. Exhibition will be open until May 29, 2023.

The exhibition along the wall, down the stairs, outside is a new installation by Anu Vahtra, consisting of works created since 2020. The process of observing and documenting situations, solutions and decisions in a city that is constantly under construction is reflected in photographs, videos and found objects. These works were originally created for exhibitions in Amsterdam, Athens and Brussels.

The title of the exhibition is borrowed from Anne Carson’s essay Chez l’Oxymoron (1988). The exhibition is accompanied by a text contribution by artist Lieven Lahaye and a film contribution by artist and filmmaker Ingel Vaikla. Graphic design by Elisabeth Klement.

Anu Vahtra (1982, Tallinn) is an artist working primarily with photography, video and installation. Initiated by the architectural characteristics as well as historical and contextual background of a certain site, Vahtra’s works often focus on the exhibition format and specifics of an exhibition space but also tackle issues of urban space. Vahtra has participated in numerous group exhibitions and has had solo exhibitions in Estonia and abroad. In 2017, she was an artist in residence at ISCP in New York and in 2020 at the WIELS Contemporary Art Centre in Brussels. Since February 2022, Vahtra works as the head of MA Contemporary Art program at the Estonian Academy of Arts.

Thank you: Maris Karjatse, Lieven Lahaye, Tanja Muravskaja, Ingel Vaikla, Johannes Säre & Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia (EKKM), Cultural Endowment of Estonia.

Exhibitions in Hobusepea gallery are supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Ministry of Culture and Liviko Ltd.

Roman-Sten Tõnissoo and Ellen Vene dive into the medieval darkness in Draakon gallery

Roman-Sten Tõnissoo & Ellen Vene will open their co-exhibition If This Is Light, Then Give Us Darkness in Draakon gallery at 17:00 on Thursday, May 4th, 2023.

Exhibition will be open until May 27th, 2023.

If This Is Light, Then Give Us Darkness, the co-exhibition of Roman-Sten Tõnissoo and Ellen Vene, serves as an ongoing collaboration between the two artists. Their distinctive styles exchange locations, reflect each other and create new forms of dialogue.

Through site-sensitive artwork, Tõnissoo and Vene attempt to disentangle and redefine visuals from fantasies that stem from one’s desire to escape into alternative environments from the restless quintessence of the world. Relying on technological development, the practice of referring and sampling has established itself even more firmly in visual culture – and therefore, the perception of contemporaneity is increasingly complemented by a collage of fragments from different eras. During pivotal times, one often yearns for magical archaism, a concept based on the imaginary, fragmented past. With their current exhibition in Draakon gallery, located in the heart of the old town of Tallinn, the artists observe the Middle Ages as a platform where all kinds of ideas and ideals can be projected. Examples of recycled medieval aesthetics, symbols and milieu are found in every field of culture – music, fashion, fiction, games and films. The darkness of the Middle Ages seems to be an alternation to the flickering light of screens reflecting modern despair.

Roman-Sten Tõnissoo (b. 1989) has graduated from the department of photography (BA) and contemporary art (MA) at the Estonian Academy of Arts, and has also studied at FAMU, Film and TV School in Prague. The focal point of his artistic practice lies in the quest for spirituality and purpose in contemporary society, and in the fragile connections between aggression and the sense of security. The artist’s cross-media work methods refer to and search for spatial moments of dialogue, including the potential to visualize new possible future perspectives. Among his recent exhibition projects are “Your Afterlife Is Cancelled” together with Ellen Vene in ARS Project Space (2022), “Out of Sight Is Out of Mind” together with Ellen Vene in ROAM Project Space in Berlin (2022) and “Dreams in Unfreedom” together with Sven Parker in the Monumental Gallery of Tartu Art House (2022).

Ellen Vene (b. 1990) has obtained BA in the department of sculpture and installation and MA in contemporary art at the Estonian Academy of Arts, and additionally studied at the University of Applied Arts Vienna and Central Saint Martins College in London. The core of her installative artistic practice includes strategies based on cultural and art history while illustrating the ways how historical systems and roles are reflected in the present. Among her recent exhibition projects are “Exercises for Dreamkeeping” in TYPA gallery (2022), “Your Afterlife Is Cancelled” together with Roman-Sten Tõnissoo in ARS Project Space (2022), “Out of Sight Is Out of Mind” together with Roman-Sten Tõnissoo in Roam Project Space in Berlin (2022).

Exhibition is supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia

Exhibitions in Draakon gallery are supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Ministry of Culture and Liviko Ltd.

Sidney Lepp residency exhibition “Leave the keys outside..I know these doors, I know these windows..doors, windows..day of open doors..open doors day..window closed – door open, door closed – window open..each window is a door?”

Kanal gallery is attended by interdisciplinary artist Sidney Lepp, who started a month-long residency in the Liiva-ATE in early April. To experience the exhibition process, everyone interested will be able to meet the artist in Kanal gallery in April. The exhibition exhibits behind-the-scenes of the art field and opens to viewers how the production of the exhibition or project takes place – why and based on what are choices made; how to get the exhibition to the gallery and how the artist developes during the process.

The artist considers it to be the most important part to show an otherwise invisible fragment of the exhibition – process, preparations, production. Usually the audience is directed to consume the artist’s final work, and without context and numerous co-texts it is difficult to read it. This time, the window is opened right in the middle of the creative process. It is possible to see how ideas and nuances that influence the result arise. By becoming part of the process, it is possible to interact with the work of the gallery as well as the activities of the artist.

The exhibition focuses on the artist’s ideas, discussions, activities of installers and the gallerist, and their interpersonal dynamics. The exhibition exhibits opinions that influence the process. The project gives the participants the opportunity to see the exhibition in the special stages of its emergence, becoming aware of a possible lack of motivation or, on the other hand, a creative outbreak. In any case, the situation may be interfered with if desired. The aim is to show sincerely and honestly how much work, failures and successes accompany the production of one exhibition.

The documentation of the two-month process contains topics that have proved to be current in society during this period, later serving as a time capsule as a reminder of this moment.

The idea is inspired by William Grieve’s cult (documentary) film series “Symbiopsychotaxiplasm 1-3.”

Visual introduction to the exhibition.

Sidney Lepp (1994) is a fluidum that adapts very quickly to the (art) scene. Most of the time, he handles the space in an installation and grafts onto the works such features as to be as interactive as possible. Sidney is a graduate of the EAA in fine arts with a BA and a MA in contemporary art. His current playing field has been Tallinn, Riga, Berlin, Kiev and Brussels.

http://sidneylepp.com/

8.04 Kunstiministeerium

https://cca.ee/ajakiri/mida-motlevad-noored-kunstnikud

The exhibition will be open until 3 June 2023.

Graphic design: Henri Kutsar

The exhibition is supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and Võru linn

Kanal gallery

Liiva 11a, Võru, 65609

Mon-Fri 12-17 Sat 12-15

FB: Kanal galerii

IG: Kanal galerii

Additional information:

Mari Škerin / gallerist

mariskerin@gmail.com

+372 53449447