Workshops

Queering the Bimbo

Recently, we have borne witness to a resurgence of the bimbo archetype within popular culture. Despite its rooting in a non-gendered etymology, the term ‘bimbo’ is understood to be a slur aimed at attractive women who are deemed lascivious; their proclivity inherently paired with stupidity. Visually, the bimbo plays by the rules and expectations of patriarchy; women’s bodies are often the only thing rendered visible among the multitude of their human experience. Contrary to the lack of intelligence implied by the bimbo archetype, however, there are many examples to be seen of cultural figures embodying & using the shortcomings of the archetype to flip the script on contemporary gender discourse. From the failings of neoliberal girlboss feminism to the failings of binary views of womanhood, artists are beginning to utilize the bimbo trope to express a cognitive dissonance underpinning the expectations of femininity (and, by extension, masculinity) in the contemporary sphere.

Within this workshop, we will examine the phenomenon of performing hyperfemininity using cultural case studies and examples in contemporary art. We will discuss hyperfemininity’s capacity-versus-limitations to affect change within uneven hierarchies, and speculate on the bimbo archetype’s potential as a transformative/subversive subject and a conduit for queer/femme empowerment. As the verb form of queer, queering can refer to the act of taking something and looking at it through a lens that makes it strange or troubles it in some way. Can the bimbo be queered? Is this already happening?

Following the presentation and an open discussion, Zody Burke will guide a workshop using epoxy clay, for participants to create personal artworks. The participants will be guided to work with the medium that the artist often uses in her own works. The same materials are used in her installation at the Photo month´s main exhibition, Trance.

The workshop is limited to 12 participants, so we encourage you to register quickly to make sure you get a spot. The registration form can be found here: https://forms.gle/S3PyjvSWyAsAS1CDA

12.11 at 14.00 in Lasnamäe Pavilion

Discussion part at 14:00

Workshop part: 15:30

Now that September has flown by we can finally celebrate the traditional hazing of EKA freshmen – foxes!

All EKA students and lecturers and friends of EKA are invited!

This year’s theme is PROPAGANDA.

Register your course here

20.00 – dj loveknot

21.00 – performances

We provide an overview of the current status of the Benin traditional music project.

Introducing the traditional music of Grand-Popo in Benin (West Africa).

Composer and singer Steve Abeni (Benin) and the Benin traditional music ensemble will contribute
Hans-Gunter Lock
Andrus Haugas
Janek Samberg
Asya Dorofeeva
Andrus Kallastu 

Since Grand-Popo is one of the most important voodoo spiritual centers in addition to extremely exciting musical traditions, in addition to musicians, anthropologists, religious researchers, dance researchers, visual artists, filmmakers, cultural historians, philosophers and experts in other fields are invited to exchange ideas.

Event on Facebook

Tallinn, October 3-5, 2023

Organisers: Kumu Art Museum and Estonian Academy of Arts in collaboration with the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art

With the support of the Nordic Culture Point 

Venues: Estonian Academy of Arts, Kumu Art Museum

The climate crisis has developed into the defining crisis of our time, interlinked with the military, socio-political, and humanitarian conflicts and inequalities across the globe. The artworld must inevitably reevaluate its priorities. A major part of rethinking art in the age of the anthropocene centers around creating and adapting more sustainable practices. The global lack of resources, issues of environmental justice – and possibly also careful visions of post-extractivist futures – make art workers think through circularity and sustainability.

This workshop calls to discuss the art world’s green transition in a creative and at the same time critical manner and explore it across disciplines – inviting professionals and students from art and design, conservation, curating and museology and related fields.

How to make art institutions, art and exhibition production more sustainable? What are the other ways in which arts and culture can contribute to transforming the extractivist mindset? What is the role of artists, designers and other art workers in fulfilling the climate aims set by governments and politicians? What is the relationship between an artwork and its carbon footprint? How to avoid greenwashing? How to make space for time and effort that goes into experimenting with more sustainable practices and avoid burnout?

Valuing learning from different perspectives, skills and knowledge, the teaching staff includes experts from various fields. The event is designed for art workers, as well as students across disciplines (MA and doctoral, but also motivated BA students).

Organisers:

Linda Kaljundi (Estonian Academy of Arts)

Karin Vicente (Art Museum of Estonia)

How to apply?

Participation is free of charge. Please register here: https://form.jotform.com/231972683642060

Deadline: September 15

In case you need study credits, you can gain 2 ECTS credits by attending all the talks and visits and completing a conference report in the format of a visual essay.

Workshop programme

Day 1 / October 3

Where on earth to begin?

Kumu Art Museum

11:00–11:15

Welcome, introductions and coffee

11:15–12:15

Karin Vicente (Art Museum of Estonia): High Impressions, Low Impact: Reducing the Emissions of an Art Exhibition

12:15–13:15

Group work: How to make a difference? Moderators: Linda Kaljundi and Karin Vicente

13:15–14:15

Lunch

14:15–15:15

Kārlis Melzobs (GAISS architects): Decolonial ecologies

15:30–17:00

Guided tour at the exhibition Art in the Age of the Anthropocene by Laura Linsi and Roland Reemaa and Maria Muuk, designers of the exhibition

Day 2 / October 4

Theory into practice

Estonian Academy of Art. Meeting point: 5th floor

10:00–11:00

Laura Linsi and Roland Reemaa (LLRRLLRR): Working with material flows

11:00–12:00

Maria Muuk (graphic designer): Sustainable developments in exhibition graphic design

12:00–12:30

Lunch

12:30–13:30

Grete Arro (Tallinn University): How to fit the environment into one’s Umwelt?

13:30–14:30

Siim Preimann (Tallinn Art Hall): Keeping on keeping on: in pursuit of a curatorial approach fitting the times

15:00–17:00

Meeting point: Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia (EKKM).

Meeting with curator and a project manager Maria Helen Känd and visiting Jaanus Samma’s exhibition “Iron men”

Day 3 / October 5

Fields in dialogue: from contemporary art to collection to conservation

Kumu Art Museum.

10:00–11:00

Meeting point: painting collections of Art Museum of Estonia;

Darja Jefimova (Art Museum of Estonia): Sustainable practices in collections management

Discussant: Varje Õunapuu (Estonian Academy of Arts)

11:00–12:00

Meeting point: permanent exhibition of Estonian Art in the 1990s (4th floor, B wing)

Hilkka Hiiop (Estonian Academy of Arts): Sustainability in collecting contemporary art: does it exist?

12:00–13:00

Lunch

13:00–14:00

Meeting point: Kumu educational centre

Margit Keller (University of Tartu): Sustainability transitions: complexity and hope

14:30–15:30

Meeting point: Kadriorg Art museum, lobby

Tour at the exhibition “The Art of Adapting” with Triin Metsla and Madli Ehasalu

15:30–16:30

Concluding panel: How to build and sustain dialogues between fields?

Mari-Leen Kiipli (artist), Marju Niinemaa (National Heritage Board), Kaisa-Piia Pedajas (Art Museum of Estonia), Laura Põld (Estonian Academy of Arts)

Moderators: Linda Kaljundi, Karin Vicente

17:00

Presentation of the Model for sustainable exhibition at Kumu (in Estonian)

The panel discussion “Reflections on the Act of Improvement in the Context of Sustainability” within the Transform4Europe week will be conducted by Marta Konovalov, Maris Taul and Anna-Maria Saar.

The open discussion focuses on how remediation can promote sustainability and circularity.

In the discussion round, the audience is invited to discuss their role in the relationship with textiles and clothing — are we consumers, owners and wearers or are we in a nurturing relationship?

The discussion round will take place in EKA room B511, on June 15 from 15:00 to 17:00.

The Estonian Academy of Arts organizes the Transform4Europe (T4EU) European Universities’ study week “Design & Sustainability” in June 13–17. Students and support staff from ten European universities are invited to the week full of the best lectures and workshops, and students’ works also presented at the TASE ’23 Grad Show exhibition and at the ERKI Fashion Show.

The theme of the study week is “design and sustainability”. Sustainability is one of EKA’s core values – in its development, it is based on the environmental friendliness of the art academy, which is the sustainable way of thinking. Design and the design process are an important part of the solution to the ecological crisis.  

As part of the week, creative research will be introduced, students can participate in a creative research writing workshop and workshops on clothing repair, documenting cultural heritage, etc. 

EKA students are also invited to take part in the T4EU week, which has three options:

1. The main program (June 13-17) includes mandatory general subjects and workshops and seminars with a limited number of participants. (Program link HERE)

2. Weekly seminar “Care, community and colonialism in the art museum” (June 12-15).

In addition, core program courses may also be taken if the schedule allows. (Introduction to the seminar is HERE)

3. Weekly workshop “Cultural heritage documentation solutions workshop” (June 12-16).

In addition, core program courses may also be taken if the schedule allows. (Introduction to the workshop is HERE)

Before the course, it is possible to watch pre-recorded video interviews with experts (20-30 minute interviews, 7 interviews in total) on different aspects of sustainability.

Those who complete the course receive 3 credit points, which can be transferred to a free subject.

NB! The courses are in English. 

The student can register HERE until June 4th or until the semester continues.

Detailed information about the study week in English can be found on the EKA website: 

T4EU Week in EKA “Design & Sustainability”

Are you interested in keeping up-to-date with the latest discussions and topics of Estonian urbanism?

Our group of students studying Urban Studies, Architecture, and Urban Planning warmly invites you to join us on this journey of collectively curated exhibition.

SAVE THE DATE! 16 OF MAY at 15:00 in front of the main entrance of EKA. The final grading of Urban Studies Urban Models course is tutored by Kristi Grišakov & Keiti Kljavin.

The sun is rising from Eastern Estonia, as the title suggests, the hope for better and more just futures is on the horizon. The displayed experiments and projects aim to reflect the development prospects of the county, situated on the edge of Estonian land. We explore urban districts and towns of Ahtme, Järve and the Kiviõli where mono-functionality of extractivistic production has challenged to respond to the surplus of housing caused by the outmigration. By exploring various topics related to (in)tangible aspects of habitation in Ida-Virumaa county our projects are based on on-site analysis, local exploring, reinventing and rethinking approaches towards shrinkage, adaptation and re-use.

Some of us try to approach the typologies and forms of architecture in new modalities, and integrate facilities according to the actual needs of current habitats. Others attempt to restart the time in the city or see the new ways of residing for transnational communities. Together with 6 projects we paint a multilayered picture to have a glimpse into the future of Ida-Virumaa, challenging the condition of shrinkage in Eastern Estonia.

Students: 

Aleyna Canpolat, Alp Eren Özap, Axelle Boireau, Diana Drobot, Ishrat Shaheen, Jim Wolff, Kalina Trajanovska, Larisa Illetterati, Maria Laura Bendezu Ulloa, Martin Sepp, Noa Ruijten, Simon Baguette

On May 3rd from 6 pm to 7 pm on the first floor you can participate in the Game Experience created by the students of the Design for Play course.

During this event, you can play games made during the course and get a break from the stressful assessment period.

Everyone from EKA is welcome!