Events

A conference from the series “Studies in Contemporary Culture”, dedicated to Andrus Kivirähk’s novel from 2000 with the Estonian title “Rehepapp ehk November” and its multiple adaptations in various media, will be taking place on November 25th at Tallinn’s Writers’ Building (Harju 1). The conference is organized by the Research Group of Contemporary Estonian Culture in collaboration with the Estonian Writers’ Union.

Liis Vares and Taavet Jansen’s new mixed reality production, Held in Human II: Rose in Your Brain, premieres on November 14 at the University of Tartu Library and will be open until November 28. This VR experience draws inspiration from materials collected from the public during the installation Held in Human at the EKA Gallery in the fall of 2023.

“Something is changing, I can no longer make sense of what here means, as I increasingly feel that while I am here, I am also always a little bit there. There, where my thoughts are, there where my imagination roams — and not only mine, but someone else’s as well, simultaneously. It is real. I am always inside a body, in this form that makes me visible and touchable; yet I am also always in a space, where no one can see me. It is a space of thought, an invisible space, but also an ever-present network, a movement. I am present, held in human.”

Held in Human II: Rose in Your Brain is a mixed reality performance, a collective thought space where linguistic thinking meets the instinctive physique. It is a physical reading experience, a choreography of thoughts that you can experience within your own body using mixed reality glasses. Plug in — let your body and thoughts carry you.

Authors: Liis Vares and Taavet Jansen

Mixed reality solution: Norbert Pape

Sound design: Mihkel Tomberg

Graphic design: Jaan Evart

Room design: Mari Möldre

Photographer: Alissa Šnaider

Producer: Anu Almik, elekrton.art

Premiere: 14.11.2024 at University of Tartu Library

Next performances: 15.-28.11.2024. UT Library is open Mon-Fr 9-21 ja Sat-Sun 12-18

Festivals: 26.-27.10 showing PAD festival Wiesbaden Germany

Supporters: Estonian Ministry of Culture, Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Tallinn city, Dortmund Academy of Theater and Digitality, Estonian Academy of Arts through the ACuTe project, Erasmus program, VARES Valga Architecture Residency, University of Tartu

The production was developed as part of the ACuTe project, in which EKA is one of the partners.

The Open Lecture series of the EKA Faculty of Architecture will take place in the autumn of 2024 under the general title S*cial – Values in the built realm.

The lecturers will focus on the ongoing shift in planning practice, where considerations other than pure economic viability increasingly play a role in decision-making.

On November 28 Petra Marko will hold the lecture “Meanwhile City – The power of temporary interventions in long-term change”.

Petra Marko is an architect and placemaking expert dedicated to creating people-centric cities and public spaces. She serves as Chief executive of the Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava, driving strategic architecture, urban planning and participatory placemaking initiatives to enhance quality of life. She’s known for leading Marko&Placemakers, an urban design practice in London and campaigning to unlock London’s small sites. An advocate for greener cities and active travel, Petra has co-authored VeloCity and Meanwhile City – a best practice and how-to guide for temporary interventions.

Mattias Malk, curator of the autumn lecture series, PhD student and visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture, describes the main theme of the lecture series as follows:

Inclusion, the valorisation of social space and the changing role of architects, especially in the public sector, are gaining ground in Europe’s spatial development, but things are still moving slowly in Estonia. So far, our economic growth has been based on environmental degradation and, despite rigid market-driven planning, we are among the weakest in the EU in resource use. However, the foundations of a smarter spatial policy, which is more profitable than profit, are still undefined and untested. 

One of the aims of the lecture series is to define and rehabilitate the word ‘social’ in Estonian spatial policy, including the social responsibility mentioned in the new planned public procurement. All the invited lecturers deal with the issues of space and sociality in their daily work and will share their experiences of the changing role of architects through examples. 

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

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. See all the lectures: www.avatudloengud.ee

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

New Media 30

EKA New Media department is celebrating 30th anniversary during the EKA 110 event. Our program includes a series of talks on media art, presentations of alumni work, a student exhibition and an evening for video games.

Birthday week program:

4.11
18:00 New Media 30: Paul Galloway (US) – Video Games at MoMA (Paul Galloway will be joining us from New York city via screen. In English, Main hall A-101)

5.11
18:00 New Media 30: Ava Imogen Grayson (CA/FI) & John Grzinich (US/EE) – Discussing Sound Art (Ava will be joining us from Helsinki via screen. In English, B-305)
19:15 New Media 30: Jaime Lobato (MX/EE) – The right to forget. Artificial intelligences humanly inspired in contemporary art (Jaime will be joining us from Mexico via screen. In English, B-305)

7.11
18:00 New Media 30: Raivo Kelomees – Metamorphoses in Media Art (In Estonian, Main hall A-101)
15:00 – 21:00 New Media 30: Video Art Screening Program (Works by graduates and students of the Department: Mari-Liis Rebane, Katrin Enni, Evi Pärn, Lauri Lest, Tõnis Jürgens, Sten Saarits, Taavi Suisalu, Martin Rästa and others) (B308)

8.11
15:00 – 22:00 New Media 30: Video Art Screening Program (Works by graduates and students of the Department: Mari-Liis Rebane, Katrin Enni, Evi Pärn, Lauri Lest, Tõnis Jürgens, Sten Saarits, Taavi Suisalu, Martin Rästa and others) (B308)
18:00 Opening of the exhibition “Lifetime of a Building” (Kotzebue 10 + Kotzebue street)
19:00 – 23:00 New Media 30: LVLup Video Games Chill Out Lounge (B307)

On Thursday, November 7th at 19:30-21:00 in EKA main hall A101, as part of the EKA 110 Birthday Week, we will showcase a selection of the best animated films created at the Academy over the past decade. 

Several of the filmmakers are now lecturers in the EKA animation department, making this a rare opportunity to see their student films. Come take a look!

Traditional Christmas Fair of Estonian Academy of Arts takes place 08.12.2024 11:00–17:00 at EKA building Kotzebue 1.

All of the EKA students, workers and alumni are very welcome to sell their products.

PRICE LIST FOR THE SELLER:

EKA students/workers 20€
EKA alumni 50€
Table rent 10€

Last day for registration is 05.11.2024

Information about the participation fee will be sent to those who got to the fair no later than 11.11.2024. On the same day, the EKA Student Council will also announce the designers and artists who will be attending the fair in the description of the Facebook event and consistently on our social media platforms.

REGISTER HERE

On Friday, November 8, starting at 8:30 PM, a public auction will be held as part of EKA 110th Birthday Week, featuring works by EKA faculty and alumni.

The auction will include works from the following artists: Anne Pikkov, Anna Škodenko, Britta Benno, Eero Alev, Holger Loodus, Jaan Toomik, Lilli-Krõõt Repnau, Mihkel Ilus, Sille Pihlak, and Urmas Lüüs.

The auction will be conducted by Siim Raie, an EKA alumnus and owner of Artrovert Gallery.

Participation is free for everyone, and no prior registration is required.

The auction pieces will be on display in the open area on the second floor of EKA from November 4 to 7. Photos and information about the works will also be gradually added to the EKA 110 auction’s Facebook event feed.

Written bids can be submitted via email to siim.raie@artun.ee from the time the pieces are published online until 12:00 PM on the day of the auction.

Half of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to the EKA Young Artist, Young Designer, and Young Applied Artist Award funds, managed by the Estonian Academy of Arts Foundation. The other half will go to the artist. The starting price for each piece is €110.

Payments for works purchased at the auction can be made in cash, by bank transfer, or by card. Settlement will take place immediately after the auction ends.

EKA 110th anniversary week program: https://www.artun.ee/eka110

See you there!

We are pleased to invite you to participate in BLACKOUT, an event organised by the Jewellery and Blacksmithing Department of the Estonian Academy of Arts, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the beginning of professional metal art education in Estonia.

Although the name of the university and the department has changed several times over the last hundred years, the fact remains that we have been teaching metalwork at a high level for a hundred years in a row. This is a good enough reason to call together friends from here and abroad to discuss where we have come from and where we are going.

Alongside the exhibition at the Narva Art Residency, a symposium, excursions, and sauna will encourage and initiate the discussions. All these activities are brought under the common title of BLACKOUT.

We do not imply mind-blindness or a serious hangover by this, but rather posing the question of how to arrive somewhere without knowing exactly where you’re going, as the essence of artistic quality lies in capturing the invisible. In discovering something surprising for yourself and others. The fear of being lost vanishes because even without knowing what you seek, you’ll recognize it when you find it.

At the symposium on October 25–26, we will approach the above-mentioned question from three different perspectives: PRACTITIONER, THEORIST, and EDUCATOR. The speakers will explore questions such as:

How do you create a relationship with students that would help them open up and inspire the courage to explore the world? How do I ask the right questions to discover something new and recognize the right things for myself? How do I deal with suspense? How do I maintain the courage to continue searching and working in a situation, where setting too clear goals could be an obstacle?

Speakers: Jorge Manilla (KHIO/NO), Olaf Hodne (KHIO/NO), Erinn M. Erinn (KHIO/NO). Cox (US), Daniel Strandow (HDK Valand/SWE), Siri Tolander (HDK Valand/SWE), Tarja Tuupanen (FI), Jenni Sokura (LAB/FI), Flora Vagi (MOME/HU), Taavi Hallimäe (EKA), Urmas Lüüs (EKA), Sander Haugas (EKA), Taavi Teevet (EKA), Hansel Tai (EE), Liisbeth Kirss (EE), Erle Nemvalts (EE).

Participation in the symposium is free.

The event will be held in English.

Pre-registration is required at the following link: https://forms.gle/6djfdmw41XYnLtXd6

Timetable:

Friday, 25 October

10-12 Narva sightseeing for guests

14-18 presentations

19 Exhibition opening, party

Saturday, 26 October 

11 – 14 presentations

16 Narva sightseeing

Sauna and socialising in the evening

Information about the event will be updated as it becomes available.

Location:
Narva Art Residency (NART)
Joala 18, 20103, Narva

Contact: metall@artun.ee

The Open Lecture series of the EKA Faculty of Architecture will take place in the autumn of 2024 under the general title S*cial – Values in the built realm.

The lecturers will focus on the ongoing shift in planning practice, where considerations other than pure economic viability increasingly play a role in decision-making.

On October 31 Christian Pagh will hold the lecture “Mission Neighbourhood – (Re)forming communities”.

The neighbourhood is a fundamental physical and social horizon for human life. Yet, the intricate mix of relations that makes up a neighbourhood is rarely given the attention it deserves in policy making or urban planning. As Director and Chief Curator of the Oslo Architecture Triennale from 2021-2024, Christian Pagh dedicated his curatorship to exploring neighbourhoods as a horizon for reforming urban and societal development. The lecture – and book – Mission Neighbourhood – (Re)forming Communities, offers insight into how to form more sustainable, diverse and meaningful neighbourhoods, and explores the urgent urban issues of our time – from social infrastructure, nature and biodiversity, to mobility and urban governance – from a neighbourhood perspective. Intent on inspiring action, the lecture includes best practice projects, perspectives and hands-on advice from Pagh’s experience in the intersections between urban planning, design and culture.

Mattias Malk, curator of the autumn lecture series, PhD student and visiting lecturer at the Faculty of Architecture, describes the main theme of the lecture series as follows:

Inclusion, the valorisation of social space and the changing role of architects, especially in the public sector, are gaining ground in Europe’s spatial development, but things are still moving slowly in Estonia. So far, our economic growth has been based on environmental degradation and, despite rigid market-driven planning, we are among the weakest in the EU in resource use. However, the foundations of a smarter spatial policy, which is more useful than profit, are still undefined and untested.

One of the aims of the lecture series is to define and rehabilitate the word ‘social’ in Estonian spatial policy, including the social responsibility mentioned in the new planned public procurement. All the invited lecturers deal with the issues of space and sociality in their daily work and will share their experiences of the changing role of architects through examples.

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.

Schedule of the autumn 2024 lectures:

September 5 at 6 pm Jonas Janke (architects, b+)

September 19 at 6 pm Elina Alatalo (architect, Tampere University)

October 31 at 6 pm Christian Pagh (curator, Oslo Architecture Triennale)

November 28 at 6 pm Petra Marko (architect, Metropolitan Institute of Bratislava)

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

On Saturday, October 19, the Spooky Drag Night organized by the EKA Students Queer Association (ETKÜ) will take place at EKKM, where drag artists from EKA and elsewhere will perform.

The event celebrates the birth of a new student initiative, the goal of which is to bring together the queer community of EKA and stand for a safer learning environment. People who would like to try drag for the first time, but have not yet found the opportunity to do so, are also invited to perform.

Location: EKKM
Time: 19.10 at 20.00
Ticket information: Admission by donation.

More info: https://fb.me/e/1SJ2IwwjT