Mapping Time – an exhibition by MA Contemporary Art students

Opening 3rd March 2025, 6-9pm
Open from 4th – 6th March 2025, 3-9pm
The Monk’s Bunk Hostel, Lai 22, Tallinn

Artists: Bob Bicknell-Knight, Giulio Cusinato, Anastasiia Krapivina, Tonya Kroplya, Denis Kudrjasov, Olev Kuma, Fausta Norekaitė, Rosa-Maria Nuutinen, Anumai Raska, Nora Schmelter and Aidan Timmer

Organised by: Bob Bicknell-Knight and Fausta Norekaitė

Responding to its unusual location, Mapping Time is a group exhibition featuring new and previous works by local and international artists, all of which are currently studying on the Master of Contemporary Art program at the Estonian Academy of Arts in Tallinn. Hosted in the distinctive setting of The Monk’s Bunk Hostel, located in Tallinn’s Old Town, the exhibition explores themes related to ideas of the home, time, travelling and identity.

Aside from being a place that offers affordable accommodation, hostels are social spaces. The essence of a hostel lies in its ability to unite diverse individuals in one space, making it a perfect base for travellers seeking comfort and connection. The Monk’s Bunk Hostel is a unique place, not only because of its function today, but also because of the distinctive history of the building itself. Tracing its origin back to the Middle Ages, the building has undergone numerous transformations over time. Before becoming the home of the National Scientific Medical Library, in the mid-20th century, it housed the “Pluto” lacquer factory, and later, repurposed itself into a Republican Dispensary for dermatological and venereal diseases. The remaining structures of the building stand as a testament to the many roles it played over time and engages those that visit the hostel with its historic past.

Mapping Time draws inspiration from the transient nature of hostels themselves, but also the history of the building that it resides within. It seeks to explore how these spaces – often temporary, but profoundly impactful – mirror our experiences of change, transition, and an ever changing sense of belonging. The works included in Mapping Time engage with the past, whilst simultaneously contending with the business that currently resides within it, inviting viewers to question what it means to “belong” in a world that is constantly shifting, both physically and emotionally. As visitors, you are invited to explore the space and discover artworks in various locations around the building, both with the help of the map and guidelines on the floors and doors of participating rooms.