Category: Departments

On 30 June at 5 pm the group exhibition “Through fog and stones”, with works by Katarina Kruus, Liina Leo, Eugenio Marini and Ingrid Helena Pajo, will open in the monumental gallery of the Tartu Art House.

In the exhibition, the artists will regather to weave their creative journeys into one living and breathing organism. As a follow-up to the exhibition projects “Roaming” (ARS Kunstilinnak, 2022) and “DOKKING Station” (Vent Space, 2021), this joint project is reaching into blurred intervals, into the mist.

Fog, a cloud of suspended water droplets, reduces the transparency of the air. Fog as an image of obscurity can be seen as a confusing factor, as a phenomenon that obscures one’s view. At the same time, there is also potential hidden in the fog: an opportunity to hide and let thoughts find shape, like in a cosmic cloud in which stars are born.

“Through fog and stones” opens these intermediate areas and hiding places, in which one can be away or can become. These places may also be states, movements in which everything stands still. The blink of an eye between exhalation and inhalation. Moments when the old skin is falling off, but new skin has not yet begun to grow. Staying in an in-between state can be both stimulating and stagnating, glowing like light and as solid as stone.

Ingrid Helena Pajo (b. 1996) explores original textile technologies through gathering and weaving. What she finds form an integral part of this journey of discovery, highlighting the importance of the journey and the process. She is fascinated by the potential of material arts to make sense of the experience of human life. In 2021, Pajo graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts with a specialisation in textiles (MA) and was awarded the title of young textile artist of the year by the Estonian Textile Artists´ Association that same year.

Eugenio Marini (b. 1995) is an artist from Rome who graduated in fine arts from the Liceo Artistico Ripetta, studied sculpture at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma and worked with several artists in Italy and abroad. He resides alternately in Estonia, Italy and Greece, and works in sculpture and installation, using mostly found objects and materials.

Liina Leo (b. 1993) combines several media of contemporary art in her work, primarily dealing with the exploration of hostile space and today’s alienating environment. She is a graduate of Central Saint Martins in Contemporary Photography, London. She has previously participated in and organised several exhibitions in Estonia and abroad, for example at the Unit1 gallery in London, and the EKA gallery and VENT space in Tallinn, and has participated in the Bauhaus Fest in Weimar, Germany and the YTAT triennial in Lodz, Poland.

Katarina Kruus (b. 1995) is a multidisciplinary artist-designer who studies, observes and mediates the transformation of materials from one state to another. She focusses on biomaterials and natural pigments, while thinking about desirable future landscapes. She graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts with a specialisation in textiles (BA) and is currently obtaining a master’s degree there. In addition, she has studied at the Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art.

Graphic design: Johanna Ruukholm

The exhibition is supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.

The exhibition will be open until 30 July.

On June 15th at 6pm we invite you to EKA Graphic Art students exhibition “Wälljapanek” opening at Aparaaditehas Balcony Gallery.

“Dear compatriots! Let us travel back 150 years in time. One might think that it no longer concerns us in any way, but how we tell history TODAY and what we tell about it affects us more than we might think. This is not a museum, but an exhibition. The display of the works of eight artists introduces those lands of the Estonian national awakening that have not been nurtured since then. The awakened flowers of the meadow can confidently raise their heads towards the sun and sing themselves visible through their creativity!”

Participating artists: Johanna Rannu, Kärt Heinvere, Eleri Muhkel, Nils J. Rammo, Lily Tilk, Nana Schilf, Pavel Dodatko, Helena Pass.

The exhibition will be on display at Aparaaditehas Balcony Gallery (rõdugalerii) from 15.06.23-09.

07.23 and open from Wed-Sun from 12pm – 6pm.
Visiting the gallery is free of charge.

The Balcony Gallery (rõdugalerii) is located above the Aparaat restaurant. The gallery can be accessed from door no. 7 both through the Fahrenheit 451 book room and directly from the second floor.

On Friday, the 16th of June, at 17:30, MARTYN ROBERTS, the founder of Fashion Scout, will be giving a lecture at EKA (room A 501). The lecture is part of the Transform4Europe Week program.

Over the past 17 years, Martyn has developed Fashion Scout into one of the world’s most recognised and acclaimed independent platforms for international fashion designers, and the largest independent platform at London Fashion week under Martyn’s direction, Fashion Scout has also delivered showcasing events and Business Accelerator Programmes in UK, France, Estonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Turkey, Armenia, Kenya, Sri Lanka and China.

The masterclass, titled BRAND POSITIONING AND IDENTITY, BUILDING VALUE AND BRAND COMMUNICATIONS, will explore how emerging fashion and accessories brands can build their brand identity, creating value for their clients and communicating this in crowded media scene. Martyn will delve into how emerging brands have successfully developed their brand positioning, how to identify target markets and how to price their designs. This is a subject he has delivered and discussed at leading universities and fashion weeks around the world.

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.

Human-centred design alone is no longer enough. To deal with the wicked problems of the 21st century and beyond, we need to explore new ways of building empathy and igniting creativity. 

Join us for our graduation project showcase and witness the outcomes of twelve designers’ half-a-year journeys as they explored various challenges and addressed sustainable development goals by pushing the limits of what interaction design can be.

SHOWCASE

At Yanu Robot Bar, Rotermanni 14

Open daily 7–10 June

Opening party 7. June at 19:00

Join the talented students behind the work and their mentors, play around with the prototypes and enjoy drinks, music and a night full of inspiration!

PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

At EKA Main Auditorium, Põhja pst 7

Thursday, 8 June

Interactions within Ourselves

9:10 Alma Yareny Duriez Urías: Fiction of our dreams as a tool for collective imaginarium

10:00 Katrin Kirsikka Janelle Koskela: Wear my anger

10:50 Pietro Ercolino Vizzadelli Barcucci: A monkey in a spaceship

Interactions with People and Services

12:30 Natsumi Nonaka: Discursive Design for Critically Embodying Gendered Experiences in Japan’s New Graduate Recruitment Practices

13:20 Quinn Darby Feller: Mending Relationships: Repairing garments through playfulness and collaboration

14:10 Helen Staak: Supporting cardiology patients to be active participants in their communication and treatment process at the II Cardiology Department in North Estonia Medical Centre

Friday, 9 June

Interactions with Products

9:10 Görkem Bozkurt: Trinteract—an Open-source 3D Input Device for Navigating Digital Spaces

10:00 Thomas Hartnell: HempCentric—From Hemp Fields to Green Builds

10:50 Jakob Päll: Ordinary drives in extraordinary ways—How to enhance the experience of a daily commute drive with a smart scenario for a Volvo car?

Interactions with Systems

12:30 Külliki Kesa: Estonian Packaging Design Guide—Creating Meaningful Interventions with the Help of Systemic Design

13:20 Paulina Juárez Badillo Chávez: The paradox of online identity verification

14:10 Sigmund Abou Chrouch: Uncovering biases in design research through Experiential Narratives

Come, join us in Yanu Robot Bar for the showcase, and in EKA for two days of inspiring presentations and discussions and learn about the latest trends in interaction design. 

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On 12 June at 15.00, the peer review of the exhibitions “Dreaming of Babylon” and “A Practice for Surrender” by Tõnis Jürgens, PhD student in Art and Design, will take place at the EKA, room A202.

Peer review event is in Estonian.

The event will be preceded by a screening of the video work “A Practice for Surrender” (2022, 12’49”) at 14.30, also in room A202. The film is in English.

The exhibitions are part of Tõnis Jürgens’ creative doctoral thesis. The thesis is about the digital measurement of sleep and the inevitable emergence of meaning in noise and patterns.

Supervisor of the thesis is Prof. Rolf Hughes (KU Leuven, Belgium).
The reviewers are Dr. Eva Näripea and Andrus Laansalu.

The exhibition “Dreaming of Babylon” was open at the Tartu Art Museum from 18.03.–14.05.2023, “The Exercise in Serenity” was open in the Vent Space project room from 20.–30.09.2022.

Defence presentations of Master’s theses in Contemporary Art and Animation curricula
June 5–6, starting 10.00 at the TASE ‘23 exhibition at Tallinn Art Hall, Vabaduse väljak 8

5. juuni / June 5

10.00 – 10.45, VI floor
Heli Haav – master’s thesis: artistic component “Lilith” and written component ”Looking into the invisible: Attempts to find unspoken connections between the health of the Earth and the well-being of humankind”, supervisor Anu Vahtra (MA). Reviewer Elnara Taidre (PhD).

10.45 – 11.30, V floor
Jonathan Stavleu – master’s thesis entitled ”Museum of the 20th Century Archeology”, supervisor Anu Vahtra (MA). Reviewer Camille Laurelli (PhD).

11.30 – 12.15, IV floor
Samuel Lehikoinen – master’s thesis: artistic component “Unemployment Simulator 2018” and written component ”Everyday is Sunday”, supervisor John Grzinich (MA). Reviewer Taavi Varm (MA).

Lunch 12.15 – 13.15

13.15 – 14.00, III floor
M. Mojtaba H. Davijani – master’s thesis: artistic component “The Little Goldfish” and written component ”Shoot for Freedom”, supervisors John Grzinich (MA) and Kersti Uibo (MA). Reviewer David Ross (MA).

14.00 – 14.45, II floor, elevator
Stina Isabel Gavrilin – master’s thesis: artistic component “Break out. Give in.” and written component ”Seele Brennt”, supervisors John Grzinich (MA) and David Ross (MA). Reviewer Camille Laurelli (PhD).

15.45 – 16.30 ZOOM in EKA
Keawalee Warutkomain (Animation MA) – master’s thesis “Being-in-Between: A Journey to Contemplate the Notion of ‘Life/Death’ via an Improvisational Animation Approach”, supervisor Michael Croft (MA). Reviewer Mari-Liis Rebane (MA).

Assessment committee: Kristi Kongi, Sten Ojavee, Kristina Õllek, Agnė Jokšė, Rebecca Duclos.

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6. juuni / June 6

10.00 – 10.45, Kunstihoone
Triin Türnpuu – magistritöö koondpealkirjaga „Kunst on sinu ümber. Pea meeles – võid katsuda, mitte vaadata!”, juhendajad Ingrid Allik (MA) ja Else Lagerspetz (MA). Retsensent Tamara Luuk (MA).

10.45 – 11.30, Kunstihoone
Marleen Suvi – magistritöö koondpealkirjaga „18:25”, juhendajad Merike Estna (MA) ja Eik Hermann (MA). Retsensent Kaarin Kivirähk (MA).

11.30 – 12.15, Kunstihoone
Lisann Lillevere – magistritöö loominguline osa „Sulav tõde” ja kirjalik osa „Ma ei tea, mis on reaalsus, aga ma tean, mis mulle meeldib”, juhendajad Marge Monko (MA) ja Helen Sirp (MA). Retsensent Elnara Taidre (PhD).

12.15 – 13.00, I korrus
Anselm Oja – magistritöö koondpealkirjaga „Tuunitud eneseotsingud pimedatel sisetänavatel”, juhendajad Reimo Võsa-Tangsoo (MA) ja Anu Vahtra (MA). Retsensent Elo Liiv (MA).

Paus 13.00 – 14.00

14.00 – 14.45, III korrus
Kristiina Aarna – magistritöö loominguline osa „518 päeva” ja kirjalik osa „Nähtamatu hääl ja hool naiskunstnike loomingus”, juhendaja Marge Monko (MA). Retsensent Brit Pavelson (MA).

14.45 – 15.30, III korrus
Heleliis Hõim – magistritöö koondpealkirjaga „Täitumatus (Unfulfilled)”, juhendaja Reimo Võsa-Tangsoo (MA). Retsensent Holger Loodus (MA).

15.30 – 16.15, VI korrus
Annika Hint – magistritöö loominguline osa “Recreate.betterlife.jpg” ja kirjalik osa “Trying to grasp a rainbow is the surest way to make it vanish”, juhendaja Taavi Talve (MA). Retsensent Hanno Soans (MA).

16.15 – 17.00, VI korrus
Liis-Marleen Verilaskja – magistritöö loominguline osa „Jumaliku surm: Apokalüptiline unenägu” ja kirjalik osa „Jõudmine unenäost usuni ja kunsti”, juhendajad Eve Kask (MA) ja Andrus Laansalu (MA). Retsensent Lilli-Krõõt Repnau (MA).

Hindamiskomisjon: Kristi Kongi, Sten Ojavee, Kristina Õllek, Sandra Kosorotova, Tõnis Saadoja. 

The conference “Artistic Originality in the Age of AI” will take place at the Estonian Academy of Arts on June 15, from 9.30am till 4.30pm.

The conference discusses historical and contemporary issues of originality and artistic innovation in the age of artificial intelligence. The main topic is to explore originality and novelty in art in a situation where creators are surrounded by a visually oversaturated environment; where creators have technology at their disposal that allows them to easily copy, modify and distribute their art; where professional (art-educated) creators have to compete with visually untrained creators; where digital technology participates not only as an aid and instrument of creation, but with the example of artificial intelligence programs tend to question the author’s visual ability. 

Since digital technology has been involved in artistic creation and visual design for the past twenty or more years and has penetrated various creative fields, it is interesting to explore the influence of technology in art innovation in both traditional and new art forms: visual arts, design, architecture, ceramics, media art, art research.

Conference will be held in English and live streamed in EKA TV – tv.artun.ee. For registration please fill this FORM.

The event is part of the Transform4Europe Week program.

PROGRAMME

09.30 – 10.00 Welcome and Opening Remarks: Kirke Kangro, Dean of Fine Arts, Professor

10:00 – 10.45  Keynote presentation by Pau Waelder “Art in the Latent Space. Machine Learning as a Tool, a Co-Author and an Other”

10.45 – 11.00 Paco Ulman “Accidental Projections”

11.00 – 11.15  Zeynep Aksoez  “Artificial Narratives”

11.15 – 11.30 Hasso Krull   “Creative Ritual and Ritual Creativity”

11.30 – 11.45  Taavi Piibemann “Don’t be afraid, HAL.”

11:45 – 12:45  conversation, moderated by prof. Kirke Kangro

12:45 – 13:45 lunch

13.45 – 14.00 Andres Karjus “The human-technology continuum in text and image”

14.00 – 14.15  Oliver Laas “Norms in AI Systems”

14.15 – 14.30  Taavi Suisalu “AI in the mirror”

14.30 – 14.45  Varvara Guljajeva “AI-aided Ceramic Sculptures: Bridging Deep Learning with Materiality”

14.45 – 15.30 Keynote presentation by Lev Manovich “Artificial Aesthetics? Looking at AI Media Through the Lens of Art History”

15.30 – 16.30  – conversation, moderated by dr Raivo Kelomees

SPEAKERS

Pau Waelder “Art in the Latent Space. Machine Learning as a Tool, a Co-Author and an Other”

Senior Curator at Niio. Writer and researcher specialized in art and digital media. PhD in Information and Knowledge Society from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC). Adjunct lecturer at the UOC, as well as in postgraduate courses. Editor and advisor at DAM Digital Art Museum. His work explores the different aspects of the interaction between art, technology and society, as well as the relationship between digital art and the art market. He is the author of the book on contemporary and digital art collecting You Can Be A Wealthy/ Cash-Strapped Art Collector In The Digital Age (Printer Fault Press, 2020).

Abstract

Since the dawn of algorithmic art, computers have entered the creative process as an active agent, engaging in a somewhat dialogical relationship with the artist. Machine learning programs have enabled computers to produce more sophisticated outputs, to the point of surpassing artists’ expectations. The precise instructions inscribed in a few lines of code have become prompts in natural language, with the final outcome emerging from an inscrutable latent space. As a field of uncharted possibilities, the latent space expands artists’ creativity and enables the perception of the program as an Other, an entity that is felt as alien while also deeply embedded in the artist’s self. This talk will address the latent space in connection with the notion of an Other and its implications in artistic creativity and originality.

Paco Ulman “Accidental Projections”

Since 2001 has worked as an architect in various offices (Ars Projekt, AB Kosmos, Arhitektuuriagentuur, Alianss Arhitektid). In 2013 he co-founded Mudel Architects studio. 2018-2020 worked at Tallinn Urban Planning Department and since 2021 works as an architect at the Tallinn Strategic Management Office.

Selection of projects in which he participated as co-author: Hotel Lydia in Tartu (2016), Hotel Lydia (2014), Pärnu Mud Baths hotel Hedon spa, Niine tn 11 office building extension project in Tallinn (2012).

In his artistic practice he is mainly focused on spatial issues and its representations using various different mediums. He has made exhibition and installation works, designed graphics, directed short films and animations, graphic novels, etc. Selection of solo exhibitions:„Heitmaa“ 2018a, „Tallinnas“ 2009a ja „Mememe“ 2014a. Since 2011 he has supervised various studios at Estonian Art Academy. From 2021 he is a PhD student in Architecture and Art at EKA Architecture and Urban Planning department.

Zeynep Aksöz “Artificial Narratives”

Zeynep Aksöz is an architect and a creative coder. She is one of two partners of Vienna-based design and research collective Open Fields. Currently she is a Research Associate and a lecturer at University of AppliedArtsVienna, an Assistant Professor at TU Vienna in Department for Structural Design, Faculty in IAACBarcelona.Through her ongoing research, teaching, and practice Zeynep explores generative design and the implementation of AI based processes into design, architecture, and urbanism. Her focus lies in developing emergent design approaches through the collaboration of human and artificial intelligence.

Zeynep is the recipient ofResearch Prize for Architecture from the National Chamber of Architects, Austria and a former Marie Curie fellow. Together with Mark Balzar, BernhardSommer,and Galo Moncayo she is the recipient of FWF PEEK funding for their Project Vibrant Fields.In collaboration with Nicolaj Kirisits she received INTRA funding for the project titled Morphology of Sound. Her creative and scientific work has been published in books such as Fabricate, Design Transactions, in conference proceedings including Design Modeling Symposium, Acadia as well as in the architecture magazineManege. Zeynep has exhibited her work at the Vienna Design Week, Bratislava Design Week, inKADKCopenhagen, Salona di Mobile in Milan, London Design Festival, Daniels School of Architecture in Toronto, andArchitecture Biennale die Venezia. Zeynep received her Doctoral degree from the University of Applied Arts Vienna at the Institute of Architecture under the supervision of Klaus Bollinger. She was a Marie Curie Fellow and an early-stage researcher in the international training network Innochain. She holds a MArch degree from the Architectural Association of London’s Emergent Technologies and Design Program and an MSc degree from TU Wien.

Hasso Krull “Creative Ritual and Ritual Creativity”

Hasso Krull (b. 1964) is an Estonian poet who has published sixteen books of poetry and nine collections of essays that include literary criticism as well as writings concerning art, cinema and society. During 1990-2017 he was teaching cultural theory at the Estonian Institute of Humanities (special courses on creation myths, oral tradition, continental philosophy and psychoanalysis). In 2001 Krull founded a poetry translation review Ninniku with Kalju Kruusa (www.eki.ee/ninniku/), in 2003 there followed a book series Ninniku Raamatukogu. Lately Krull has been concerned with ecological issues and the ongoing devastation of the Estonian forests.

Taavi Piibemann “Don’t be afraid, HAL.”

Taavi Piibemann started his stint as a carpenter,  taught art at the Estonian Academy of Arts and Pallas in Tartu. Choose to do that after three years of copywriting, what back then seemed like a logical application of his study of photography at Tartu Art College and English language and literature at Tartu University. Beyond that there’s idyllic rural childhood in Viinistu, a small seaside village at the Gulf of Finland.

Andres Karjus “The human-technology continuum in text and image”

Andres Karjus is a research fellow in cultural data analytics at Tallinn University, and also operates in the private sector as an instructor on digital skills and AI. He has a background in the humanities (PhD in linguistics) and computer science (MSc in AI), and regularly engages with both in his teaching and research practice.

Oliver Laas “Norms in AI Systems”

Oliver Laas is a philosopher whose work focuses on philosophy of technology, philosophy of language, logic and metaphysics. He has written about artificial intelligence, arguments from analogy, definitions, truthlikeness in history, video games, and virtual reality.

Taavi Suisalu “AI in the mirror”

Taavi Suisalu is an artist who blends traditional and contemporary sensibilities and activates peripheral spaces for imaginative encounters. He has recorded volcanoes and malfunctioning satellites, composed for lawnmowers, intertwined living and digital ecosystems, explored datafictions and how developments in technologies shape our environments and influence behavior, perception and thinking of social beings. Suisalu has studied sociology and computer science in University of Tartu, contemporary art practices in Geneva University of Art and Design and earned his MA degree from Estonian Academy of Arts. He has participated in residency programmes in Nida Art Colony, WRO Art Center and International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) amongst others.

Varvara Guljajeva “AI-aided Ceramic Sculptures: Bridging Deep Learning with Materiality”

Dr Varvara Guljajeva is an Assistant Professor in Computational Media and Arts at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou). Previously, she held positions at the Estonian Academy of Arts and Elisava Design School in Barcelona. Her PhD thesis “From Interaction to Post-Participation: The Disappearing Role of the Active Participant” was selected as the highest-ranking abstracts by Leonardo Labs in 2020. As an artist, she works together with Mar Canet forming an artist duo Varvara & Mar. Often the duo’s work is inspired by the information age. Their works were shown at MAD, Barbican, Ars Electronica, ZKM, etc. www.var-mar.info

Lev Manovich “Artificial Aesthetics? Looking at AI Media Through the Lens of Art History”

Lev Manovich is a visual artist, writer, and one of the world’s most influential digital culture theorists. He was included in the lists of “25 People Shaping the Future of Design” (Complex, 2013) and “50 Most Interesting People Building the Future” (Verge, 2014). Manovich is a Presidential Professor at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, and a Director of the Cultural Analytics Lab. He has published 180 articles and 15 books that include AI Aesthetics, Cultural Analytics, Instagram and Contemporary Image, and The Language of New Media described as “the most suggestive and broad-ranging media history since Marshall McLuhan.” His digital art projects were shown in eight personal and 120 international groups exhibitions in Centre Pompidou, ICA London, ZKM, KIASMA, and other leading venues.

EKA painting alumnus Alexei Gordin opens exhibition “Dreams Come True in this Gallery” in Vaal Gallery. 

“Recently, I was scanning the traces of my online existence and dug up my very first posted artwork, a 2006 pencil drawing called ‘A Place Under the Sun’. It has been 16 years since it happened, 10 of which I’ve been part of the professional art world, but the question about the right place under the Sun is still relevant. So where is the artist’s place?

To answer this question, one can speculate on various topics, but one thing is clear to me – the artist’s place is in the gallery. This can be taken as a devastating fact, because the principles and aims of art are beyond the four walls. In reality, however, it is between the walls of the gallery where professional art begins and ends, because only there can it be professionally rated. To quote O. Doherty: ‘From this moment on, there is a seepage of energy from art to its surroundings. With time the ratio between the literalization of art and mythification of the gallery inversely increases’.”

The exhibition “Dreams Come True in this Gallery” is a parody of a situation where someone is trying to find a way out of the art that is currently drowned in the gallery space. The title comes from the aesthetics of advertising industry, where market players sell promises to their customers that their dreams will come true, but the more the consumer invests energy in fulfilling their dreams, the more distant those dreams remain. Gordin’s approach to the question of the artist’s place under the Sun is autobiographical rather than conceptual. In philosophical terms, the artist’s place becomes ephemeral, dissolving into temporary concepts, residencies and biennials.

Alexei Gordin (b 1989) is mainly known as a painter, however, he also works with photography, video and performance. Using black humour, Gordin draws attention to the absurdity of the (art) world and alienation, highlighting issues like inequality and the difficulties of marginalised groups. Gordin’s work is influenced by caricatures and it combines texts and pictures, referring to comics and meme culture.

The exhibition will remain open until 1st of July, Tue–Fri 12–6 pm, Sat 12–4 pm.