Riina Varol “Overstream”

On 18 June at 6:30 PM, the contemporary artist Riina Varol will open her solo exhibition Overstream at the Draakon Gallery, dealing with the creative process as the formation of life.
The exhibition addresses questions of biological and non-biological self-realisation, comparing them with natural and creative processes.

The display stems from a nine-month-long pilgrimage; the space itself serving as an environment that activates perceptions, emotions and bodily experiences. The audience is presented with newly completed invisible images, small sculptures and spatial photo collages that, through their cavities and incisions, open reality as a layered experience. The exhibition space is designed as a playful and interactive sanctuary, accompanied by Helen Västrik’s atmospheric soundscape.

The rhythms of nature and creative practices that help to relate to uncertainty and existential questions play an important role in Varol’s work. In her practice, identity is seen as a fluctuating phenomenon that is formed through constant interaction with the surrounding environment. This idea is further enhanced by the materials and working methods used by the artist: plaster, layers, playing with stones, blind stamping and incision techniques.

According to Johan Huizinga, artworks belong to the sacred sphere, where play and holiness are united through rituals. In contemporary art, the esoteric dimension often reveals itself through symbols and attunement. The recurring toe motifs in Varol’s work symbolise grounding and gratitude for the Earth that carries and nourishes us. By placing them in nature and symbolically meaningful places, they might one day become archaeological finds, leading to personal mythologies. In the exhibition, the motif of the toe becomes the footprint of human experience: a sign of touch, presence and commitment.

RV: “For me, one of the main principles and qualities of creation is that I do my best to create environments which allow nature to allow ones nature to reveal in its entirety. Tactile work with materials is my way of awakening the body and the inner compass. That which seeks to eminate knows me better than i know them.”

Riina Varol is an artist and photographer based in Estonia. In her creative practice, she focuses on questions of sensorial perception and the functions of the subconscious, as well as animism and oriental philosophy. Varol’s body of work encompasses a variety of media, including site-specific multimedia installations, photography, graphics, ceramics, video, sound, tactility and smell. She studied photography at the Pallas University of Applied Sciences and the Naples Academy of Fine Arts. Varol is a member of the Estonian Artists’ Association and the Tartu Artists’ Union. She has participated in exhibitions in Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Lithuania, Ukraine and Australia. Since 2017, Varol has been a guest lecturer at the Estonian Academy of Arts and, since 2022, also at the Pallas University of Applied Sciences.

Location: Draakon Gallery, Pikk Street 18, Tallinn
Open to visitors: 19.06.–19.07.2026, Wed, Fri–Sun 12:00–18:00, Thu 12:00–19:00

Curator: Liisi Kõuhkna
Graphic design: Helmi Arrak
Sound design: Helen Västrik
Exhibition installation: Hans-Otto Ojaste
Special thanks: Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Artists’ Association, Draakon Gallery, Mari Volens, Gunnar Kalmet, Valerio Sarnataro, Helen Tago, Caroliine Pajusaar, Lauri Kilusk, Anne Eelmere, Jaan August Viirand, Hedvig and Ian, Hubert and Hilda, Christin Taul, mother, Craftrag, Punchclub, Nudist Drinks