Exhibitions

You are most welcome to visit the CITYA International Urban Art Triennial in Tallinn and through the web between 17.09. – 16.11.2021.

CITYA is a first-time art event that will take place every three years as a platform for city-to-city art sharing and as a new form of collaboration. The first CITYA will be themed “City as Medium”.

The event is organised in partnership with Hong Kong Baptist University (initiator), the Estonian Academy of Arts, the Beijing Academy of Fine Arts, the University of California Berkeley, the Belle Arti di Roma Academy and the University of Macau. CITYA is curated by Jenny Balisle (San Francisco), Janet Fong (Hong Kong), Kang Li (Beijing), Laura Scaringella (Rome), co-curators Reds Cheung, Kati Ots, Madis Luik and Liina Siib (Tallinn). Contributing to the CITYA Tallinn platform are Madli Kaljuste, Ulvi Haagensen, Liina Siib, Hans-Gunter Lock, Johannes Luik and Laura De Jaeger.

The CITYA programme will include digital events as well as physical events in all participating cities. To participate in the whole programme and for an overview of the event, visit citya.space (Program opens on Friday 17.09.)

Kati Ots, co-curator of the Tallinn programme of the art event, comments on this year’s first CITYA:

“This year’s Tallinn programme can be seen as an exhibition or a hideaway, a set of interventions or gestures of urban space art. In one way or another, both the preparatory process and the finished works have acted as an act of care or nurturing. The point of departure was the creation of refreshing points of contact and meeting places for both artists and city dwellers, in the context of the situation created by the coronavirus. The artists’ dialogue partners were the local residents of Tallinn, in the form of Lasnamäe residents and the architects of the Designers’ House, but also the plant networks between anonymous paving stones on traffic islands and the seemingly passive garden railings that act as rhythm-breakers or interruptions. In the initial phase, the artists’ ideas spread throughout the city, spilling out from the city centre as a hub to Lasnamäe, Maardu and Saunen. We treated the branching out as a process that could, among other things, visualise decentralisation and emphasise the change of focus that the pandemic conditions brought. In the process of mapping, the levels of ideas born at a distance and the tangible city have met and collided, testing the limits of our flexibility. Just as the artists and organisers who had been abroad at the beginning of the project returned to Estonia during the course of the work, the outputs of the ideas were strangely concentrated back in the central Tallinn area, despite our efforts. The tissues and sprouts that grew and grew as a result of the overall result are now lurking in the urban space of Tallinn.”

CITYA is supported by the European Regional Development Fund and the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.

The CITYA Tallinn team includes and the event is co-curated by: Madis Luik, Liina Siib, Kati Ots, Reds Cheung.

Web address: citya.space

õhuLoss’ group show at the 1st Lisbon Contemporary Jewellery Biennial SOUR FRIO / COLD SWEAT, Galeria Brotéria, Portugal

õhuLoss (Castle in the Air) is a group of six Estonian jewellery artists – Piret Hirv, Kristiina Laurits, Eve Margus-Villems, Kadri Mälk, Villu Plink and Tanel Veenre. Formed in 1999, õhuLoss is one of the internationally most recognized groups of Estonian jewellery. Artists have been exhibiting together for more than 20 years their works in Estonia, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Portugal, Italy, Israel, Hungary, France, Latvia and China.

Art critics have described the art of õhuLoss group as a slightly confusing phenomenon, hovering and playing in spacetime. The materials used are often unconventional. They make use of many organic materials in the creating of objects which are on the border between applied and visual arts. The value of the works consists in their persuasiveness, which wakes in the spectator’s alertness. The new jewellery of the õhuLoss group probes itself, the world and life.

õhuLoss in Brotéria Art Centre is part of the Contemporary Jewellery Biennial in Lisbon ‘Cold Sweat’.

Exhibition of jewellery and blacksmithing students at the Biennial of Contemporary Jewellery in Lisbon includes EKA students Erle Nemvalts, Taavi Teevet, Terje Meisterson, Isimini Pachi, Tauris Reose, Mirjam Aun and Kristiina Tang on 17.–20. September 2021 at Ar.Co – Centro de Arte e Comunicação Visual, at the first Lisbon Contemporary Jewelery Biennale SUOR FRIO / COLD SWEAT

The challenge was presented to 8 European schools with different approaches to contemporary jewellery, with the aim of creating dialogues between young participants. The exhibition, as well as the biennial more generally, invites to reflect on three contemporary keywords – body, fear and protection, the latter of which refers to the characteristic historical aspect of jewellery as a means of protection for the wearer.

Participating schools are: Ar.Co – Centro de Arte e Comunicação Visual, Burg Giebichenstein– Hochschule für Kunst und Design Halle (DE), Central of Saint Martins – University of the Arts (UK), École Nationale Supérieur d’Árts de Limoge (F), Eesti Kunstiakadeemia (EE), Lucerne School of Art and Design (CH), PXL-MAD School of Arts Media Arts Design (B) and Saint Lucas School of Arts Antwerpen (B).

September 16–November 20, 2021 – exhibitions, colloquium, master classes

Joosep Kivimäe’s solo exhibition “I Love You” will be open in the Showcase Gallery of EKA’s department of photography from September 15, 2021. The exhibition is  a part of the satellite programme of Tallinn Photomonth 2021.

The Showcase Gallery is located on the facade wall of the Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia (EKKM), Rumbi Str 3 / Põhja pst. 35, Tallinn).

In his artistic practice, Joosep Kivimäe contemplates mainly the structures and hot spots of contemporary consumer society. He is also intrigued by the vague borders between public and private infosphere in the context of the present era of information.

The artist comments on his present exhibition as follows:
“The ephemeral beauty of cut flowers is preceded by a long and exhaustive period of growth and fertilizing after which the flowers are transported to various locations within thousands of kilometers. COVID has provided a good chance to look at the underlying structures of our society. Instead of trying to return to “normal” life, one should redefine the concept of normality. The present day should be used as a fertile ground for replanting ideas and visions for the future as well as for rooting out obsolete negative habits and beliefs.”

Joosep Kivimäe (b. 1994) is a photographer who lives and works in Tallinn. Kivimäe is currently obtaining his BA degree in the department of photography at the Estonian Academy of Arts. In 2020, Joosep Kivimäe participated in the Noorderlicht International Photo Festival in the Netherlands with his artwork “Umbrella of Illusion”. The same year he
participated in the extensive art project “Isolation Dialogues” (visual dialogue with photographer Rait Tuulas) held by the Estonian Museum of Photography. Kivimäe’s artwork
has been exhibited in several exhibitions, including “Lõuna” (“South”) on the display window of the former Võru Shopping Mall (2020); jubilee exhibition of the Estonian cultural weekly
newspaper SIRP “Hulgad”; held in the tunnel of Tallinn Baltic Railway Station (2020), and exhibition “Still Life”; held in the EKA Billboard Gallery (2021).

The Showcase Gallery can be viewed 24/7 and has wheelchair access.

More information:
Maris Karjatse
Co-ordinator of the Showcase Gallery
Department of Photography at the Estonian Academy of Arts
maris.karjatse@artun.ee

The Tartu Art Museum is pleased to present the solo exhibition “Verbarium” by Krista Leesi. Visitors will be greeted by a world of patterns inspired mainly by Tartu but also by Paris and Tallinn. As the title suggests, the author uses nuanced wordplay to offer new interpretations to the Leaning Building of Barclay de Tolly, where the museum is located, the two-storey sheds, or “kallerei”, that are so characteristic of the city, the graffiti covered traffic signs of Tartu and Paris and other elements from urban environments.

Krista Leesi (b 1966) is an Estonian textile artist and designer and associate professor at the Estonian Academy of Arts’ Textile department, whose oeuvre is characterised by a clever conceptual union of language and visuals. Leesi’s interventions offer new and pointed meanings to familiar objects, images and environments. She finds an original way to join together the historical methods and practices of textile art, different materials and contemporary ideas. Her works lead the viewer to discover hidden meanings, to create connections between various narratives and to indulge in playful contemplations.

The technically adept execution and striking design language of Leesi’s oeuvre offer aesthetic experiences and practical aspects in parallel with gripping content. This is a magnificent example of the way the boundaries between design and contemporary art have become vague.  Leesi’s works are made unique by the fact that both art and design are equally important: they are highlighted successfully and with intensity.

Krista Leesi’s exhibition joins together two directions that are important to the Tartu Art Museum: exhibiting significant contemporary authors and presenting notable examples of design and applied arts to the public in southern Estonia. It is made even more noteworthy by Leesi’s skill and interest in approaching the exhibition with location-specific ideas, by joining Tartu to the wider context of her oeuvre and thereby adding it to her “world map”.

Curator: Joanna Hoffmann
Graphic design: Heino Prunsvelt
Coordinator: Kristlyn Liier
Educational and audience programmes: Kristel Sibul

Exhibition team: Richard Adang, Tanel Asmer, Indrek Grigor, Joanna Hoffmann, Margus Joonsalu, Jaanika Kuznetsova, Katrin Lõoke, Taavi Piibemann, Anti Saar, Peeter Talvistu, Kristo Tamm and Urmo Teekivi

Supported by: the Cultural Endowment of Estonia

NART is pleased to present Portrait of an Emotion – an exhibition of new works by Lydia Hannah, Diana Tamane, Yevgeny Zolotko and curated by Laura Toots.

Opening 18.09, 4 PM

The exhibition is inspired by the sensitivity of the three participating artists, and their skillful treatment and combination of different materials and motifs. What unites these artists is the impactfulness of their works, showing how emptiness or absence can turn into presence, into something solid and strong. Repetitions characterise their works, whether thematic or formal, emphasising the repetitive nature of human efforts. 

According to Rumi, a 13th century Persian poet and scholar, being human is comparable to an inn, where new guests come every morning in the form of emotions. They are always changing and, most importantly, always passing. All guests, including those who are spiteful, must be greeted and invited in, because when they leave, they make room for the next ones.

All three artists bring diverse portraits to the exhibition – from real life and fictive, introspective meditations, as well as wider social inquiries, amalgamations of historical and contemporary material, planar and spatial in form, but first and foremost these can be considered self-portraying visions – Yevgeny-Zolotko-like, Diana-Tamane-like and Lydia-Hannah-like ways of experiencing the world.

Lydia Hannah is both a visual artist and a musician. Her practice explores the spaces between sound and image. She creates immersive landscapes through video, live and recorded soundscapes and music. Her work mirrors the brittle duality of human existence, caught between the imaginary distance and the shapeless closeness of the real world.

Diana Tamane focuses primarily on photography, but also uses video, sound and writing in her work. Tamane works with autobiographical material – the artist looks at the relationship between herself and her family, everyday moments, memories, dreams and how these change in time. She relates her family history to broader historical and social changes, cultural identities and generational differences.

Yevgeny Zolotko’s work centres on the relationship between the verbal and the material. In his site-specific installations, Zolotko highlights the universal traits of human nature, intergenerational sensitivities passed on through culture and religion and the suppressed subconscious. 

Laura Toots is an art worker interested in different collective working practices and experiences. She has organised projects large and small – from publications to art biennials – aiming to bring together different professionals for a wider exchange of ideas. Since 2017, Toots has been a curator and project manager at the Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia (EKKM).

Opening 18.09.2021:

2 PM – The opening of the exhibition “Portrait of an Emotion” is preceded by a tour by former resident artist Maria Kapajeva. A group of young people ‘Art Revolutionaries / Narva st.ART’ together with artist Maria Kapajeva will lead a tour around murals they have collaboratively produced based on a few Kreenholm designs from the Narva Museum collection. The tour will be in 3 languages (Estonian, English, Russian). The meeting point is in front of NART. 

3 PM – Curator’s tour with Laura Toots, in Estonian and Russian

4 PM – Opening of the exhibition

Food is provided by White Good Food Truck

The evening continues with a live performance by Analogue Quattro – musicians from Sillamäe.

Exhibition period 19.09 – 14.11.2021 

Hours:  Tues, Thurs – Sun 11-18

Free entry

Portrait of an Emotion is co-organised with Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia (EKKM) as part of  the programme for the sixth Tallinn Photomonth Contemporary Art Biennial.

Support for the exhibition is provided by: Estonian Ministry of Culture, Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Union of Photography Artists FOKU, The General Delegation of the Government of Flanders, The Integration Foundation, and Narva Gate.

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Amongst the many well-known international photo artists at Art Fair Foto Tallinn, organized by the EKA photography department born Estonian Photographic Artists’ Association and the Estonian Contemporary Art Development Center, EKA Young Artist Prize winner Sten Eltermaa, EKA photography alumni Sigrid Viir, Paul Kuimet, Kristina Õllek, Krista Mölder and Cloe Jancis are exhibiting.

Art fair Foto Tallinn 2021 takes place from September 2nd to 5th at Kai Art Center. The fair is  dedicated to introducing a wide range of contemporary photography, and its 10th edition will feature the latest works by 37 Estonian and international participants. The fair welcomes artists and galleries from 12 different countries across the world. 

As the opening event of the 6th Tallinn Photomonth Biennial, Foto Tallinn offers exhibiting artists, galleries and project spaces an opportunity to introduce their works to a diverse audience and grow their network of professional contacts.

Foto Tallinn’s diverse programme includes book launches, artist talks, panel discussions, webinars, and curated tours of the fair. The program can be found here. The list of artists, gallerists and project spaces taking part in the fair can be found here.

Foto Tallinn is open Thursday to Saturday from 11am to 8pm and Sunday from 11am to 6pm. The fair tickets are available on-site or can be bought in advance here.

Foto Tallinn 2021 is curated by Isabella van Marle: “At Foto Tallinn 2021 we will present work by galleries and many emerging artists with different backgrounds, and practices. Participating artists are adopting multidisciplinary approaches, experimenting with the materiality of the medium and work amongst others with computer vision photogrammetry, installation and sound.”

Visiting Foto Tallinn is a great way to discover contemporary photography and meet artists and gallerists who will be present during the fair days. The fair also offers an opportunity to learn more about collecting (photographic) art. The Foto Tallinn team will be available to advise visitors in their selection.

Foto Tallinn 2021 is organized by the Estonian Union of Photography Artists and the Estonian Contemporary Art Development Center.

 A selection of press images can be found here.

* We kindly ask all visitors of Foto Tallinn 2021 over the age of 18 to present a COVID-19 certificate (proof of vaccination, proof of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 180 days, or proof of a recent negative test) and your ID to participate in the event. There is no rapid testing on-site. Please note that if you do not present a COVID-19 certificate, you will not be allowed to participate in the event and your ticket will not be reimbursed.

Young Artist MA award
07.09.–23.09.2021
opening: 07.09, 5 PM

At the exhibition Hopscotch Aksel Haagensen and Triin Kerge will present elements from their respective childhoods. Both artists approach a broader analysis of memory through their own personal memories.

As a young child in Australia, Aksel drew a lot of birds. There were many birds in Australia and they were all so interesting and colourful and different. Recently, Aksel asked his mother which bird had been his favourite and his mother said there was no such thing, “… you liked them all!” He wasn’t simply fascinated by the common popular birds, instead drawing every bird he could, constantly. Haagensen is interested in the subtle otherness of being an Australian-Estonian.

As a young child, Triin visited her great aunt at Voka, Ida-Viru County. Her great aunt lived in an apartment building and from the window all one could see were prefabricated buildings, sandpits and climbing frames. From Voka, Triin remembers picking chamomile, a machine for walnut-shaped waffles and a dating show on television, which made everyone laugh. Recently Triin visited Voka and while walking towards the shop, she remembered that it was from that very shop that to her great delight a roly poly toy was bought for her. At the exhibiton Kerge looks at the nature and materiality of memories.

The exhibition is supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.

Thanks to  Marika Alver, Saskia Lillepuu, Katarina Meister, Irmeli Terras, Marcin Teterycz, Tallinn University of Technology, Valge Kuup