OPEN CALL: Under the Oak / (Re)building a Garden

EKA students, staff, alumni and friends; join us for (re)building EKA aed behind K10 building under the oak tree. We will work to initiate the beginnings of a new garden site, this one-day event (with some additional preparation days if you feel like it!) will be a starting point, somewhere to lay down our roots, take up space within the institution’s expanding campus, and dream of ways the garden can unfold and grow. 

Throughout the day we’ll spend time building a garden; practically, poetically and politically.. 

Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Materials and plants will also be provided, but if there is anything specific that you want to plant we welcome you to bring seeds/plants. 

You are welcome to join whether you would like to be involved in the garden’s future, have been involved in its past, or if you just want to spend a mid-summers Sunday under the oak tree; the garden will be passed between hands year after year.

All welcome, no experience necessary. 

Please sign up for the garden day here: https://tally.so/r/PdrNYP

Day content:

• 10-10.30: Arriving, simple breakfast and introductions 
• 10.30-11.45: reading together (excerpts of texts that cover various garden-foundations: compost, seeds, the commons, poetics/politics of community gardens)
• 11.45-13.00: filling raised beds with compost, mulch
• 13:00-14.00: lunch
• 14:00-14:45: A notion to the future gardeners (yourselves or others) – manifesto, a list, a promise, an intention, a hope, 
• 14:45-15.15: planting plants/seeds
• 15:15-16:15: A holding space (rug decoration, from the previous activity)
• 16:15-1700: final reflections, tidying up, ending.

One-day workshop is led by Jake Shepherd and Yvette Bathgate and funded by Transform4Europe.

Opening on 8.06 at 2:00 PM, in Narva
Exhibition open 8.06 – 22.06.2026

“A Breath” is an exhibition created as a school project by students of the Contemporary Art and Curatorial Studies programme at the Estonian Academy of Arts. It invites visitors to slow down and notice what often remains hidden between everyday moments.

The exhibition explores quiet moments of breath that arise both in solitude and in the company of others. These small pauses, often delicate and easily overlooked, carry reflection, intimacy, and a sense of shared presence. The project invites viewers to momentarily forget the turbulence and uncertainty of daily life and instead contemplate states of being, moments of silence, and quiet observation. Through works in various media, the exhibition creates a space where visitors can slow down and experience these fleeting yet meaningful moments.

At 2:30 PM, visitors are invited to enjoy an edible artwork by Mia Maria Rohumaa and Maria Wrang-Rasmussen. As Virginia Woolf wrote, “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”

You can take the 9:55 AM train departing from Tallinn.

Artists: Daria Morozova, Maria Wrang-Rasmussen, Mia Maria Rohumaa, Lotta Karoliina Räsänen, Kertu-Liisa Sarap
Curator: Karen Aasa

Opening on 8.06 at 2:00 PM, in Narva, Green Gallery 

Opening of the exhibition “I hate violence and I see it everywhere” at 18:00 at OKAPI Gallery in Tallinn

Yeva Sihachova

Curator: Ilja Jakovlev
Graphic design: Ksenia Kvitko

I hate violence and I see it everywhere.
Not only in war or catastrophe, but in the ordinary choreography of living alongside others.
I see how it impales the body, leaving no space for resistance.
I see how, through force, it restructures culture, embedding itself across generations as trauma.
I see it in the attempt to make everything defined – what does not fit is forced to take form, yet even when fixed, it remains out of place.
I see how it alters the body until adaptation turns pain into routine.
I see how it quietly inhabits the spaces between people.

The exhibition explores the ontology of violence: where it lives, how it manifests itself, what language it speaks, where it is born, and what it eventually transforms into.

The works focus on moments in which violence has not yet become fully visible or fully named – on the normalization of discomfort, on adaptation as a survival mechanism, on repetition, pressure, fixation, and the unstable distance between bodies.

Again and again, the exhibition returns to the question of connection.
Perhaps violence begins much earlier – in the attempt to fix, define, or fully overcome distance.

Fear becomes one of the central mechanisms within the exhibition. The attempt to understand violence can become an attempt to rationalize it, to make it predictable, and therefore less threatening. As if analysis could create a certain form of control over what is feared. But the need for control itself easily begins to reproduce the logic of violence.

The works do not offer a stable definition of violence. Instead, they trace the moments in which it quietly enters everyday life – reorganizing proximity, settling into ordinary forms of coexistence, and changing the ways bodies learn to exist alongside one another.

Drinks at the opening are provided by PÕHJALA!

Exhibition dates:
11.06–19.07.2026
Wed–Fri 12:00–18:00
Sat 12:00–16:00

OKAPI gallery
Niguliste tn 2, 10146, Tallinn

We thank the exhibition supporters:
EKA Student Council, OKAPI Gallery, PÕHJALA

EKA Arh Conference 2026 is titled To Be Continued….From Scattered Facts to Shared Concerns, and takes place as Day 1 of the two-day Tallinn Architecture Biennial TAB Symposium.

Tickets for the EKA Architecture Conference and the entire TAB Symposium — available at an early-bird price until 31 July — can be purchased on Fienta.

The 2026 EKA Arh Conference focuses on one of the central questions facing architecture and urban development today: how do we move forward when starting from scratch is no longer a viable option? While knowledge about climate transition, resource limits, and the built environment is abundant, translating that knowledge into collective action remains a challenge. Rather than asking only what comes next, the conference asks what can and should continue.

Across urban, building, and material scales, international speakers and researchers explore adaptation, reuse, and transformation in the built environment. The programme brings together perspectives from architecture, planning, construction, and research to discuss how existing places, buildings, and resources can support meaningful change, and how scattered knowledge can become shared concerns capable of shaping long-term action.

Programme

09:30–09:45
Opening Words

09:45–10:30
Transformation Keynote
Aleksi Neuvonen (Demos Helsinki, Finland)
Finnish futures thinker and co-founder of Demos Helsinki, whose work explores societal transformation, post-growth futures, and new models of collective action.

10:30–10:45
Coffee Break

10:45–12:15 | Parallel Sessions

Main Hall – Session I: Spatial and Architectural Transformation

This session explores processes of spatial transformation across urban and architectural scales, examining how cities, landscapes, and built environments adapt to changing social, ecological, and cultural conditions. Contributions address themes such as urban restructuring, adaptive reuse, spatial continuity, and the relationship between territorial systems, public space, and architectural intervention.

Monumental studio – Session I: Prefabrication, Retrofit, and Adaptive Reuse

This session examines prefabricated and industrialized approaches to the transformation of existing buildings and urban fabric. Contributions explore themes such as adaptive reuse, modular retrofit systems, circular renovation strategies, and the extension of building lifecycles, addressing how contemporary construction methods can support more sustainable and resource-conscious forms of spatial transformation.

12:15–13:15
Lunch

13:15–14:00
Adaptation Keynote
Hiroto Kobayashi (Keio University, Tokyo, Japan)

Japanese architect, professor at Keio University, and founder of Kobayashi Maki Design Workshop, known for his work on adaptive reuse, post-disaster reconstruction, and resource-conscious architecture.

14:00–14:15
Coffee Break

14:15–15:45 | Parallel Sessions

Main Hall – Session II: Material Systems and Circular Construction

This session focuses on material systems, construction processes, and circular approaches to the built environment. Contributions examine themes such as material reuse, prefabrication, tectonics, fabrication methods, and resource-aware design strategies, addressing how construction systems can support more adaptive and sustainable spatial practices.

Monumental studio – Parallel Session II: Participatory Planning and Urban Transformation

This session explores participatory approaches to urban transformation through digital mapping, GIS-based spatial analysis, and collaborative planning tools. Contributions address themes such as tactical urban interventions, community engagement, and urban greening strategies, examining how localized actions and participatory processes can inform broader spatial and policy frameworks and vice versa.

15:45–16:00
Coffee Break

16:00–16:45
Panel Discussion

16:45–17:00
Closing Words

At the seminar, we will introduce Met(s)aRING, a joint research and development project by EKA PAKK (Estonian Academy of Arts) and RMK (State Forest Management Centre), which aims to develop a circular and modular construction system for RMK’s visitor infrastructure, including small-scale structures and cabins.

The project explores how infrastructure can be designed to be adaptable, upgradable, and reusable over time. The focus is on recurring standardized timber components, the use of production residues, and solutions that reduce material consumption, simplify maintenance, and extend the lifespan of structures.

The aim of the seminar is to gather practical feedback from builders and manufacturers on the applicability of the system currently under development. We will discuss how standardized or flexible a construction system should be, the opportunities for using reclaimed or lower-grade timber, and how procurement models and collaboration frameworks influence the implementation of sustainable solutions.

You can register for the event HERE!

PROGRAMME

27 August 2026, 9:30–12:30
EKA White Building (Kotzebue 10, Tallinn)

9:30 Introduction to the ongoing research project, RMK’s long-term goals and ambitions (RMK)

9:45 Eight Design Principles for Visitor Infrastructure Design (EKA)

10:00 Introduction to the Construction System (EKA)

10:15 The Use of Underutilized and Lower-Value Timber in Construction (TalTech)

10:30 Coffee Break and Introduction to the Construction System Prototype

11:00–12:30 Workshop

Research at EKA PAKK is co-funded by the European Union and the Estonian Research Council through the project “PUUSTER: Development of Methods for Valorising Underutilized Timber and Wood Materials in Construction” (TEM-TA80).

This event is part of the Adapter Network Collaboration Club Series, a platform where researchers, companies, and representatives of the public and private sectors come together to engage in meaningful discussions and explore opportunities for collaboration. You can find all Adapter Collaboration Clubs here.

Tammsaare park
6 June 11:30

As part of this year’s Baltic Pride programme, we invite everyone to join us for a simple shared moment in public space.

While the fabric is held open, the choirs Vikerlased (Estonia) and Riga Queer Choir (Latvia) will perform, creating a short shared moment of togetherness in public space before the fabric is folded together again.

The fabric was originally created in 2022 by artists Karl Joonas Alamaa and Lisette Sivard for an exhibition addressing school bullying. Sewn together from many different leftover fabric pieces, the work symbolises a society where nobody is left aside – where differences can exist together, support one another, and form something whole.

This year’s Baltic Pride theme, “Vaikides vaenu vastu ei saa” (“Silence will not stop hate”), reminds us that visibility, presence, and standing together matter. Sometimes even a simple shared gesture in public space can carry meaning.

The gathering is peaceful, short, and open to everyone.

Come take part, or simply be there with us.

Sõprus cinema 06.06. at 5–7 pm

Free entry

Join us at the screening of bachelor’s and master’s theses in animation of the Estonian Academy of Arts, which will take place on June 6 at 5 pm at the Sõprus cinema. The screening is free of charge.

Afterwards there will be a Q&A with the authors at EKA campus, Põhja pst 7.
The screening will take place within the framework of the EKA thesis festival TASE ’26. TASE is the Estonian Academy of Arts’ annual graduation theses festival, where the faculties of architecture, design, art culture and liberal arts present this year’s graduation theses at both bachelor’s and master’s levels. The TASE festival is growing every year, and this year we will present nearly 280 works to visitors.

Check out the TASE ’26 program and list of graduates on the website tase.artun.ee. The written parts of the graduation theses can be viewed in the EKA Digital Archive at eka.access.preservica.com.

Participants: Christopher Galinos, Karmen Müürsoo
Kadi Rebane, Viktoria Shmidt, Chia-Hui Lei, Vilmos Péter, Valerie Sarle, Fernanda Resende
TASE Anima organisers: Lyza Karoly Jarvis, Lilli-Krõõt Repnau
Graphic design: Grittel Kastan, Martin Kislõi, Richard Vainola
Visuals: Christopher Galinos

Welcoming drinks from Punch Club.

FB

TASE DAY on Saturday, June 6th:

1–9 pm TASE exhibition open
1–3 pm guided tours of the Faculty of Design, in Estonian
3–3.30pm guided tours of the Faculty of Art and Culture, in Estonian
3–6 pm burning ritual at Kail Timusk’s installation “Requiem Larium” on the sea terrace of the main building
3.45–4.30pm Jaak Juske’s historical tour around EKA, in Estonian
5 pm TASE Anima ’26 screening at the cinema Sõprus
7 pm TASE Anima ’26 Q&A in the lobby of the main building of the Estonian Academy of
Arts, moderated by Lyza Karoly Jarvis and Kaur Järve, in English

Keithy Kuuspu’s durational performance in the yard of Kotzebue 4

– “Indirect Performativity” on Wednesday, June 17 at 7 pm

Burning rituals at Kail Timusk’s installation “Requiem Larium” on the sea terrace of the main building of EKA

– Sat 6.06 at 3–6 pm
– Sun 14.06 at 4–7 pm
– Fri 19.06 at 1–4 pm

Margaret Tilk’s study club “Girls, In Theory”

Tuesday, June 9 at 6 pm at EKA Gallery, with pre-registration, in Estonian

GUIDED TOURS

All tours start in the lobby of the EKA main building and participation is free of charge.

Historical tour

Saturday, June 6 at 3.45–4.30 pm historical tour around EKA, led by Jaak Juske, in Estonian, donations are welcome

Guided tours of the Faculty of Architecture

– Thursday, June 11 at 2–3 pm guided tour of the Department of Interior Architecture led by Gregor Taul, in Estonian
– Thursday, June 11 at 3.30–5 pm guided tour of the Departments of Architecture and Urbanism led by Roland Reemaa, in Estonian
– Monday, June 15 at 5–6 pm guided tour of the Faculty of Architecture led by Sille Pihlak, in Estonian
– Tuesday, June 16 at 1–2 pm guided tour of the Department of Interior Architecture led by students of the faculty, in Estonian

Guided tours of the Faculty of Design

– Saturday, June 6 at 1–3 pm, guided tour by Kätlin Leokin and students of the faculty, in Estonian
– Sunday, June 14 at 1–3 pm, guided tour by Kätlin Leokin and students of the faculty, in Estonian

Guided tours of the Faculty of Arts and Culture

– Saturday, June 6 at 3–3.30 pm, guided tour by Valve Saarma, in Estonian
– Sunday, June 14 at 3–3.30 pm, guided tour by Valve Saarma, in Estonian

Guided tour of the Faculty of Fine Arts

– Sunday, June 14 at 4–5 pm, guided tour by Elo Vahtrik, in Estonian

More info at: https://tase.artun.ee/

Faculty of Fine Arts invites: Public artist talk by acknowledged Australian contemporary artist Mikala Dwyer at 18.00 on June 4th in EKA, A-501

In works that explore how we relate to the object-world, Mikala Dwyer has pushed the limits of sculpture, painting and performance, establishing herself as one of Australia’s most important contemporary artists. She has been honoured with solo survey exhibitions at Sydney’s two major art museums, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and the Museum of Contemporary Art, as well as at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, and the Institute of Modern Art in Brisbane.

Her many exhibitions internationally include The Recent, Talbot Rice gallery, Edinburgh, Ichiahara Art + Mix Triennale, Japan, Blessed Be, MOCA Tucson, USA (2018); The End of the 20th Century, The Best is Yet to Come—A Dialogue with the Marx Collection, Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin (2013); Face Up: Contemporary Art from Australia at Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin (2003); Verso Süd at Palazzo Doria Pamphilj, Rome, curated by Franz West (2000); and shows at The Graz Museum, Austria; Zachęta National Gallery of Art, Warsaw; and Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff, UK. Her work has been selected for the Lyon Biennale (2026) Istanbul Biennale (1995), the Biennale of Sydney (2010 and 2014) and the Adelaide Biennial of Contemporary Australian Art (2010 and 2020)

Mikala Dwyer’s compounds invite open-ended interaction and take the viewer across boundaries of time, space and geography. While playful and exuberant on the surface, they almost always impel us to imagine something darker beneath—or above. Ordinary and familiar materials draw us in, transformed so as to bring attention to the unseen or occult or what society banishes from view. Emerging from a deep and disobedient engagement with modernist form and space, Dwyer’s works have an eye on the future and relationship at their heart—they have been described as ‘profoundly sociable’.

Dwyer’s work is always responsive to site and context, and her successful public art commissions include Monuments for Fishes, Barangaroo, Sydney 2026; Sydney Metro, 2024; Apparition, University square, Melbourne, 2020; In the Smoke of Ghosts, MUMA 2020; Egg Swing, 2012, Royal Women’s Hospital, Paddington, Sydney; Windwatcher, 2011, Central Park, Chippendale, Sydney; A Lamp for Mary, 2010, Mary Place, Surry Hills, Sydney; Swamp Sculpture, 2006, Omi Sculpture Park, New York, NY; and IOU, 2005, Docklands, Melbourne.

https://www.mikaladwyer.com/

Being / Becoming
Põhjala tehas, Marati 5-3, 2nd floor
Exhibition open June 4–14, everyday 11:00–19:00
Opening: Wednesday, June 3, 18:00

From materials to maker,
from environment to mind.
Through the fingertips into an object,
which then finds its way back to the environment again.

The practice of craft is one of interconnection: between material and body, environment and society, thought and action. Craft extends beyond the production of a physical object – it shapes the ways we relate to the world around us and to one another.

The exhibition Being / Becoming presents works by the first year students of the Craft Studies MA program. Developed alongside one another over the past year, the works emerge through conversations between materials and makers, processes and practices, experiments and outcomes – shaped through sharing spaces of making, thinking and exchange.

Being is existing in the same space with others. Becoming is an endless process of change until we decide to lay a pause on it.

Participating: Astrid Davis, Þórey Björk Halldórsdóttir, Carmen Kremm, Anna Larionova, Athaly Lens, Marco Manfredino, Teresa RA, Anna-Maria Saar, Kay Shek, Laura-Maria Vahimets

In curatorial dialogue with: Anu Vahtra
Graphic design: Andrew Kuus-Hill & Linda Morel

Thank you: Juss Heinsalu, Kärt Ojavee, Põhjala tehas
Supporters: Craft Studies, Estonian Academy of Arts, Punch Club OÜ

Throughout the exhibition we have a few events organised for the public, including tours, workshops and a finissage:

Tours
Sunday, June 7, 11:00–12:00
Sunday, June 14, 15:00–16:00
In English & Estonian
* Free participation

Workshops
‘Materializing the Handwriting. The Workshop’ by Anna-Maria Saar

The hand-stitching workshop develops participants’ awareness of their personal working methods through hands-on experimentation with different materials. It supports learners more broadly in understanding and articulating their intuitive choices as makers.

Sunday, June 7, 13:00–13:45
Wednesday, June 10, 18:00–18:30
Thursday, June 11, 18:00–18:30

* Workshops take place in the exhibition space, free participation with prior registration: anna-maria.saar@artun.ee. Materials are provided on site.

Finissage
Sunday, June 14, 16:00–19:00