PhD Thesis Defence of Margus Tamm

On 12 December, 2025 Margus Tamm, external doctoral student of Art and Design curriculum, will defend his doctoral thesis „Artistic Interventions in the Public Space: Tactical Media and the Communicative Turn in Protest Culture at the Turn of the Millennium“ („Kunstilised sekkumised avalikus ruumis. Taktikaline meedia ja kommunikatiivne pööre protestikultuuris aastatuhande vahetusel“).
The public defense will take place at 11.00 at EKA (Põhja pst 7), room A101.

Thesis is available in EKA digital repository.

Supervisors: Prof. Andres Kurg (Estonian Academy of Arts)
Prof. Marek Tamm (Tallinn University)
External reviewers: Dr. Ingrid Ruudi (Estonian Academy of Arts)
Prof. Daniele Monticelli (Tallinn University)
Opponent: Prof. Daniele Monticelli (Tallinn University)

Summary:

The political culture of the 21st century is increasingly shaped by protest movements and protest politics. Against the backdrop of weakening traditional democratic institutions, protest activism has become a fertile ground for civic participation and democratic renewal – revitalizing political debate, creating new collective identities, and expanding the ways of political engagement.

This research focuses on the spectacular dimensions of contemporary protest culture and on the period 1990–2010 – an academically under-studied transitional era during which a radically democratic and artistically interventionist protest repertoire emerged. The dissertation consists of five articles that, through case studies and theoretical discussion, examine the defining features of interventionist artistic activism, accompanied by an introductory umbrella chapter that frames the research topic and situates it within a broader discussion.

The study addresses the following questions: what kind of social role do protest movements and popular protest politics play in contemporary Western democracies; how has the communicative turn in the social sciences shaped the conceptualization of protest movements; what is the role of artistic practices in contemporary protest culture; what developments characterize democratic protest culture during the period of 1990–2010; and finally – and most crucially – how can the passion for political change be reconciled with institutional sustainability?

The broader aim of the dissertation is to examine contemporary protest culture as a point of intersection between artistic and political expression, to contribute to the critical discourse on its expanding social role, and to highlight both the challenges and opportunities that arise from employing artistic practices for activist purposes.

We invite all architecture and urbanism students to join on Monday, November 17, at 18:00, in EKA auditorium A101, to the presentation of TU Delft students work in the city of Tallinn, which is going on now for the third consecutive year. Professor Klaske Havik will give an overview of earlier projects, as this year’s students during the ongoing two weeks are  researching the city’s diverse urban spaces and developing their own design briefs based on these studies.

The graduation studio ‘A Matter of Scale’ examines the Estonian capital Tallinn, where the human scale is constantly challenged by buildings and urban plans of very different sizes. Layers of Hanseatic, Soviet, and contemporary market-driven developments coexist as much as they clash in Tallinn, conditioned as they are by the city’s distinct natural and cultural conditions.

The graduation studio is the chair of Methods of Analysis and Imagination is led by Klaske Havik (Prof.Dr.Ir.), Jorge Mejía Hernández (Dr.Ir.), Pierre Jennen (Ir.), and Freek Speksnijder (Ir.).

Teams link:

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/5c5cc647-a839-4491-a006-cc7c3dc2013d@6d356317-0d04-4abc-b6b6-8c9773885bb0

Bintan Titisari (Postdoctoral researcher, University of Leeds, Colour4CRAFTS)

“Natural dyes ecosystem in textile and fashion industry” (in English, online)

Description: Natural dyeing is one of the oldest traditions in European textiles, deeply tied to cultural heritage and local craftsmanship. Today, it is re-emerging as an important practice in the textile and fashion industries, extending from small workshops into larger-scale production. This lecture examines the broader ecosystem of natural dyes, exploring how they intersect with heritage, sustainability, design practice, and trend forecasting. The relationship between artisanal and industrial approaches can appear divided, yet each contributes valuable knowledge and innovation. By recognising these interconnections, we can better understand how natural dyes offer not only a link to tradition but also a pathway toward more sustainable and creative futures for fashion and textiles.

Bintan Titisari (PhD), University of Leeds, postdoctoral researcher. Bintan Titisari (PhD) is a postdoctoral researcher at the School of Design, University of Leeds. Her research interests are in the textile and fashion design industry, focusing on the interdisciplinary aspects of textile design, colourants, sustainable practices, and consumer behaviour. With over a decade of academic experience in Indonesia, Brunei, and the UK, she has taught and developed courses in sustainable fashion, craft design, resist dyeing, and smart textiles. In her textile-making practice, she combines natural dyes with the resist dyeing technique to create unique textiles. She is a member of the EU Horizon project Colour4CRAFTS.

–

The lecture is part of a series “Textile Dyes of the Past and Future: sharing the Colour4CRAFTS Experience” begins, initiated by the EU Horizon project Colour4CRAFTS.

The webinar series brings together EU Horizon project Colour4CRAFTS members and important guests to discuss and share their knowledge on textile dyes of the past and future. The series is brought together by the University of Tartu and Viljandi Culture Academy in collaboration with the Estonian Academy of Arts.

EU Horizon project Colour4CRAFTS combines a multidisciplinary team of experts from research institutes and R&D companies to carry out studies of bio-based textile colouration in traditional historic perspective and in combination with cutting-edge technologies of colourants biosynthesis and waterless applications techniques. Colour4CRAFTS members are the University of Helsinki, University of Lapland, University of Tartu, KIK-IRPA, University of Leeds and PILI Bio.

11.11 16.00

Deb Bamford (doctoral researcher, University of Leeds, Colour4CRAFTS)

” What can we learn from using mordants?” (in English, online)

In natural dyeing, mordants are often required. These substances help dye molecules bind to the fiber and can influence the final hue. Their effectiveness depends on the type of fiber, the dye used, and the mordanting method. The most commonly used mordants are various metal salts, historically among which alum-based compounds are particularly popular. How do mordants work, and what should be considered when using them?

Deb Bamford, University of Leeds, doctoral researcher. Deb Bamford is a doctoral student at the University of Leeds, School of Design. Her research interests include history of dyes, dyeing and textiles. Her thesis title is “Investigations to improve the mordanting process for natural dyes on cotton and wool using aluminium salts or alternative bio-mordants”. She is a member of the EU Horizon project Colour4CRAFTS project.

The lecture is part of a series “Textile Dyes of the Past and Future: sharing the Colour4CRAFTS Experience” begins, initiated by the EU Horizon project Colour4CRAFTS.

The webinar series brings together EU Horizon project Colour4CRAFTS members and important guests to discuss and share their knowledge on textile dyes of the past and future. The series is brought together by the University of Tartu and Viljandi Culture Academy in collaboration with the Estonian Academy of Arts.

EU Horizon project Colour4CRAFTS combines a multidisciplinary team of experts from research institutes and R&D companies to carry out studies of bio-based textile colouration in traditional historic perspective and in combination with cutting-edge technologies of colourants biosynthesis and waterless applications techniques. Colour4CRAFTS members are the University of Helsinki, University of Lapland, University of Tartu, KIK-IRPA, University of Leeds and PILI Bio.

On November 11 at 5:00 p.m., an exhibition of biennial proportions will open in the Telliskivi Green Hall, where young artists from the Estonian Academy of Arts will explore how the relationship between industry and society has developed and changed over time. The exhibition features more than 100 artworks.

The exhibition “Invisible Stones. A Young Artist’s View of Industry” focuses on the dialogue between industry and society. The exhibition features over a hundred works that invite us to think about responsibility, sustainability and the impact of humans on the landscape.

The works were created during summer internships at the industrial landscapes of Viru Keemia Grupp in Ida-Viru County. The young artists’ gaze moves from poetic landscape views to intimate everyday stories – oil shale sometimes becomes a decorative wallpaper pattern in the living room, sometimes a monumental cathedral that records the layers of time.

The collaboration is motivated by the 100th anniversary of the Estonian shale oil industry. The exhibition invites the viewer to stop and reflect on the traces that work, landscape and people have left on each other and how their relationship could develop in the future.

The summer internship at the industrial landscapes of Viru Keemia Grupp took place in June and August 2025. A total of 65 students participated in the summer internship, including students from the departments of scenography, animation, graphics, sculpture, contemporary art, fashion and painting. The exhibition also presents the work of designers and applied artists.

Participating artists: Adele Sillat, Alexander Matthias Saage, Aliisa Ahtiainen, Anastasia Nikiforova, Anastasia Ananjeva, Anu Jakobson, Beata Batejev, Bob Bicknell-Knight, Darja Malõševa, Edvard Vellevoog, Emma Reti Tikenberg, Grete Kangro, Hannah Segerkrantz, Ivor Mikker, Karl Uustal, Kaspar Lesk, Kateryna Tyshchenko, Karolina Peterson, Kirke Kirt, Kirke Kits, Kristjan Tammjärv, Ksenia Verbeštšuk, Liisa Nurklik, Linda Teemägi, Lume Tuum, Maibrit Kaur, Marek Huntsaar, Maria-Eliise Muinaste, Marit Loitmets, Marta Huimerind, Marta Konovalov, Mia-Stella Aaslaid, Nora Schmelter, Oskar Vels, Patrick Soome, Paul Aadam Mikson, Piia Bianka Pere, Robin August Vöörmann, Rosa-Maria Nuutinen, Sander Haugas, Selene Taur, Stuudio Kollektiir, Stiina-Marie Sarevet, Taavi Teevet, Tauris Reose, Teresa RA, Veronika Pavliuk, Visa Nurmi, Yuna-Lee Pfau, Denis Kudrjašov

Exhibition curators: Lilian Hiob-Küttis, Kirke Kangro and Ruth Melioranski

Project team: Irina Bojenko, Kaia-Liisa Jõesalu, Kaja Krustok

Supervisors: Anita Kremm, Britta Benno, Charlotte Biszewski, Ene-Liis Semper, Francesco Rosso, Holger Loodus, John Grzinich, Karl Joonas Alamaa, Laura Põld, Lilli-Krõõt Repnau, Mark Raidpere, Mihkel Ilus, Taavi Talve, Viktor Gurov, Zody Burke, Björn Koop, Eve Margus, Heikki Zoova, Juss Heinsalu, Kaja Altvee, Kärt Ojavee, Lieven Lahaye, Linda Kaljundi, Nils Hint, Piret Hirv, Urmas Lüüs

Designer: Kati Saarits

The exhibition is open until December 7th.

Thu-Fri 12-7 PM

Sat-Sun 10-5 PM

The 2025/2026 academic year open lecture series will be held in collaboration with the Institute of Art History and Visual Culture and the Faculty of Architecture. The theme of this academic year is “Architecture and the Ethics of Care” and the lectures will be curated by KVI Senior Researcher Dr. Ingrid Ruudi.

On November 27 at 6 pm Robert Mull will give a lecture “The Free World”.

Robert Mull will discuss the ethical responsibility of architecture and its duty of care to others through the work of the Global Free Unit in areas of displacement and conflict including France, Greece and Turkey and now in support of Ukraine and Gaza.

Robert Mull is Adjunct Professor of Architecture at the University of Limerick, a visiting Professor at Umeå University Sweden, and a Director at Publica, London. Robert was previously Director of Architecture and Dean of The Cass Faculty of Art, Architecture and Head of Architecture and Design at Brighton University. Robert now leads the Global Free Unit, a transnational educational structure with academic, research, NGO and institutional partners focusing on live projects within areas of displacement and war and institutions including prisons, schools and communities. Robert is currently working with partners in Ukraine in support of the Kharkiv School of Architecture and on projects in Cairo in support of displaced Gazan students and academics. Robert is also part of the Office of Displaced Designers.

Within the framework of a series of open lectures, the Faculty of Architecture of EKA presents a dozen unique practitioners and valued theorists in the field in Tallinn every academic year.

The lectures are intended for all disciplines, not only for students and professionals in the field of architecture.

All lectures are held on Thursdays at 6 pm in the EKA main auditorium. All lectures are in English and free of charge.

The lecture series is supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.

Previous open architecture lectures can be viewed at www.avatudloengud.ee

We warmly welcome you to the exhibition opening “This has always altered me” by Tea Lemberpuu and Maris Siimer in Artrovert Gallery, Tomorrow 5th of November at 18.30.

This has always altered me
Tea Lemberpuu ja Maris Siimer

There is a longing within us that carries the force of a strong wind. It drives one to move forward and seek a peaceful place. For example, one located in some border area, where one can hear the whispers of two places masterfully blending together. It urges us forward and sends us in search of a peaceful place — perhaps somewhere on the edge of things, where the whispers of two places meet and gently intertwine. Even a restless soul, pausing to listen, can become tranquil. Such quiet moments take on a form that might be considered sacred.

The sacred reveals itself in the everyday through our continuous search and our wish to notice it around us. It does not hide in a longed-for place, but rather in the pauses and flickers that slow us down as we move towards it. Perhaps it is in falling silent that the edge of sacredness becomes visible — like an invisible thread stitched into daily life, binding everything and everyone with its unbroken seam.

The sensitive paintings of Tea Lemberpuu and Maris Siimer are like snapshots from this journey — the canvas as a notebook to which the artists return, making notations in their own language of colour and form.  At once a quiet resistance and an effort to preserve sensitivity in a time whose relentless pace rarely allows us to stop.

Connection – and its absence – has always altered me. Into silence.

Tea Lemberpuu (b. 1980) holds a BA in Painting (2023) and an MA in Contemporary Art (2025) from the Estonian Academy of Arts. She has been awarded the EAA Young Artist Prize and is a member of the Tartu Artists’ Union. Lemberpuu has participated in exhibitions in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Italy. Her work, across different techniques and areas of inquiry, has consistently explored questions of time and slowness, boundaries and chance, play and visibility. In this exhibition, she seeks ways in which the sacred might emerge in everyday life through connection and love.
Maris Siimer (b. 1980) is a visual artist based in Tallinn whose practice encompasses illustration and painting. Integrating long walks in nature into her process, she observes how slowness and silence can guide us toward something greater and more sacred than ourselves. The two largest works in the exhibition were painted in open air, in the presence of light and air — as if with her ear turned toward the sounds of nature, Siimer intuitively and in layers builds up invisible searches on the surface of the canvas. Her ongoing exploration of expression and method is influenced by the organic forms of Estonia’s northern coastal landscapes. Just as nature has guided her, so too has music at moments when the connection with oneself and the sacred feels fragile. Siimer’s paintings are, in a way, an invitation to restore that connection. She is a member of the Estonian Painters’ Association and the women artists’ collective Fööniks.

Supported by the Estonian Cultural Endowment
Text: Karola Ainsar
Graphic design: Katariin Mudist
More information: Siim Raie, Artrovert Gallery, galerii@artrovert.ee | +372 507 6807 | www.artrovert.ee

The Conservation Club welcomes Kateryna Tymchyshyn from the Lviv National Academy of Arts.

Kateryna’s presentation aims to introduce the activities of the Department of Restoration of Artworks, in particular their new focus on the restoration of mural paintings. Through several specific examples of restoration projects where their students gain practical training, she will present the research methods and restoration techniques they learn and apply in their work. She will show examples of works before, during, and after the restoration process.

Agenda:

• Overview of the structure and activities of the Department of Restoration of Artworks at LNAA.
• Restoration of mural paintings in the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (18th century) in the town of Vynnyky.
• Restoration of 20th-century mural paintings in the auditorium of the main building of LNAA.
• Conservation of mural paintings in the exhibition hall of the “Under the Black Eagle” Pharmacy Museum in Lviv.

Drinks and snacks will be served.
Come and join us!

Sven Mantsik, a master’s student in Contemporary Art, has explored various disciplines such as installation, printmaking, self-publishing, animation and video games, while always nurturing his primary passion: drawing.

Sometimes fictional, sometimes autobiographical, his drawings present a social satire of an all-too-common daily life, blending melancholy, dreamlike elements, sharpness and humour. His exhibition “Timeline”, offers an in-depth look at his narrative and visual approach. The EKA Library’s showcase space features a selection of his graphic works.

The exhibition is open until December 19.