Category: Photography

Presentation of the new book by EKA photography professor Marge Monko in New York.

On Wednesday, October 12, artist Marge Monko, professor of the Department of Photography at EKA, will present her new monograph “Flawless, Seamless” in New York, at the Margot Samel Gallery. At the book presentation, Monko talks to the critic and theoretician R.H. With Lossin.

The editor of the book is Laura Toots, an alumnus of the photography department of EKA, the graphic designer is Indrek Sirkel, a doctoral student and junior researcher of EKA, and the publisher is Lugemik.

“Flawless, Seamless” is Marge Monko’s first monograph, which includes the artist’s works from 2014-2021. The book presents nineteen works, all of which in their own way explore the “architecture of desire,” a term Monko has used to characterize his work. Monko draws inspiration from messages in public spaces, print advertisements, store displays, shop windows, etc. Ubiquitous advertising strategies designed to create lasting desire try to convince us that the products being presented will help us achieve luxury, romance, and happiness. Monko’s interest in these integral elements of capitalist society stems from his childhood in the 1980s, when goods were scarce in the Soviet Union.

The works are accompanied in the book by an essay by curator and theorist Moritz Scheper and three conversations with Monko’s fellow artists and friends: Erika Hock, Maruša Sagadin and Paul Kuimet. Scheper discusses the connections between Monko’s earlier and more recent works and the different forms of expression of femininity dominant in the East and the West. Conversations touch on topics such as creativity, materiality, collaboration and book making. The completion of the book was supported by the Estonian Cultural Foundation and the Association of Photographers (Foku).

The book presentation will take place as part of the Lugemik publishing house’s participation in the world’s largest art book fair, NY Art Book Fair 2022. Lugemik will show at the fair, besides Marge Monko, a large number of publications by EKA alumni and teachers: Ott Kagovere, Sandra Nuut, Edith Karlson, Paul Kuimet, Mari Laanemets and Flo Kasearu. Lugemik’s participation in the fair is supported by the Estonian Ministry of Culture and the Estonian Cultural Foundation.

Please join us for the launch of Flawless, Seamless – a new monograph by Marge Monko – on Friday, September 23 at 6 pm at Kai Art Center in Tallinn. At the launch Marge Monko will premiere her film Window on the Visible World, which is followed by a conversation with Maarin Ektermann. The film and book are in English, discussion is held in Estonian. During the launch the publication will be sold at a special price of 25 euros. 

Flawless, Seamless is the first monograph of Marge Monko, encompassing works from 2014 to 2021. The book presents nineteen works that explore what the artist calls “the architecture of desire,” drawing inspiration from public banners, print advertisements, shop displays, show windows, etc. These ubiquitous promotional strategies, designed to evoke an abiding, aspirational desire, suggest that the products they represent will fulfill the promise of luxury, romance, and happiness. Monko’s interest in these inseparable elements of capitalist society can be traced back to her childhood in the 1980s, which in the context of the Soviet Union was marked by the shortage of commodities.

The works are accompanied by an essay by curator and writer Moritz Scheper and three conversations with Monko’s fellow artists and friends, Erika Hock, Maruša Sagadin, and Paul Kuimet. In his text, Scheper makes connections between Monko’s earlier and more recent works, and elaborates on different femininities prevailing in East and West. The conversations touch upon the subjects such as artist’s work, materiality, collaboration, and bookmaking. The publication is edited by Laura Toots, designed by Indrek Sirkel, and published by Lugemik. The publication was supported by Cultural Endowment of Estonia and the Estonian Union of Photography Artists (Foku). 

The conversation with Maarin Ektermann is preceded by the premiere of Marge Monko’s film Window to the Visible World at 6.15 pm. The 21-minute film made in 2021 reflects upon the role of the window in architecture and visual culture. It is accompanied by a voice over written and read by the artist. A view from one’s window has been a recurrent motif in the history of visual art. Focusing on the legacy of the modernist architecture, the film draws parallels between the views from windows recorded in São Paulo and Tallinn. It follows different modes of images that equally serve as metaphors for the window – from engravings and paintings to virtual images on our computer and cell phone screens. The film was commissioned by Videobrasil in Context and Estonian Contemporary Art Development Center.

Marge Monko is a visual artist who lives and works in Tallinn. She has studied at the Estonian Academy of Arts, University of Applied Arts Vienna, and Higher Institute for Contemporary Art (HISK) in Ghent. Monko works with photography, video, and installation. Her works are inspired by historical images and theories of psycho-analysis, feminism, and visual culture. She works as a professor in the Department of Photography at the Estonian Academy of Arts.

Maarin Ektermann is an art worker who deals with creating points of contact between contemporary art, more and less experimental education, art criticism, etc. In addition to managing several projects in the field of art, her focus has also been mediating what is happening in the field of art – both through writing art criticism and organising public debates. She has been one of the initiators and leaders of the art criticism blog Artishok, and hosted the show Kultuuriministeerium in Klassikaraadio (with I. Grigor). She has taught several different courses at the Estonian Academy of Arts, where she also works as the head of Centre for General Theory Subjects.

You are welcome to the BA graduation exhibition of the department of photography of Estonian Academy of Arts in ARS Art Factory (Pärnu Road 154) at 18:00 on May 27th. 

This year, a record number of BA students will graduate from the department of photography. Their graduate exhibition presents diverse artist statements and formats – from music videos and staged photographs to charcoal drawings and sculptures. 

Exhibition is open from May 28 – June 9, 2022, every day 12:00–18:00 in ARS Art Factory.

Website: tase.artun.ee 

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Participating artists: Andra Junalainen, Elo Vahtrik, Imbi Sõber, Ivor Lõõbas, Jana Mätas, Joosep Kivimäe, Kertu Rannula, Laura Maala, Laura Ruuder, Markus Mikk, Meel Paliale 

Supervisors: Marge Monko, Laura Kuusk, Reimo Võsa-Tangsoo 

Public defence of the graduation works will take place at 10:00 on June 3rd in ARS Art Factory.

Assessment jury:
Kristi Kongi, associate professor and head of curriculum of the painting department of Estonian Academy of Arts (Tallinn, Estonia);
Liina Siib, professor and head of curriculum of the department of graphic art of Estonian Academy of Arts (Tallinn, Estonia);
Taavi Talve, head of curriculum and head of the department of sculpture and installation of Estonian Academy of Arts (Tallinn, Estonia);
Tuukka Kaila, artist, lecturer (Helsinki, Finland)

Exhibition is supported by: Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Punch Drinks, Põhjala Brewery, Tiks Wine Bar (cheaper drinks with EKA student card in the bar), Kuma Kombucha, Anora. 

Today, 16 May at 4 pm, EKA Ukrainian students will open their pop-up exhibition Will in the foyer. 

The portraits were created in the course led by Tanja Muravskaja and will remain on view for 4 days.

When you think about the phrase “beautiful legs’’, you may first associate it with the idea of something feminine and seductive, which reflections are secretly stored in our minds through advertising culture. What if the stereotypical and restrictive standards would turn into playful self-expression where feminine accessories could easily be worn by anyone, regardless of their gender identity? The photo is inspired by fashion photography and advertisements from the turn of the century and the last decades, using known symbols in a twisted manner.

The actors of Lunacharsky Drama Theatre have arrived in Tallinn! Let us introduce: The Christmas Boy, The Knight, Mr. Xavier and The Dog With a Man’s Body. The collage is composed of pictures taken in the 1970s which were found in a former military base.

Having buried her daughter and husband, 69-year-old Polina Rayko found solace in painting. The walls of her home became her easel. I spent a day in Rayko’s footsteps, covering my kitchen with floor-to-ceiling drawings. I didn’t have a definite plan and found myself, like Rayko, illustrating personal memories.

In this portrait, I embody the absurd hyper-sexualised ‘ideal’ woman portrayed in the media. The inspiration for creating this image came from Gillian Flynn’s novel ‘Gone Girl’ (2012). The protagonist describes her experience as a woman trying to be the perfect ‘cool girl’ stereotype her whole life. ‘Cool girl jams hot dogs into her mouth like she’s hosting the world’s biggest culinary gang bang.’

This work is about the internal and external changes I have experienced since moving to Tallinn. Leaving home has given me the time and space to figure out who I am and where I fit in in this new environment. I took this image during a walk through the Old Town enjoying the sunlight after many months of overcast clouds. The text is taken from my own personal writing accounts, I feel it compliments the idea of self-discovery that the cut out silhouette in the image conveys.