The laureates of the Young Artist, Young Designer and Young Applied Artist Award 2023 have been announced!

On May 31, 2023, the Young Artist, Young Designer, and Young Applied Artist awards were distributed as part of the opening of the TASE ’23 Grad Show of the Estonian Academy of Arts. The awards were presented by Heidy Purga, the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Estonia, Mart Kalm, Rector of the Estonian Academy of Arts, Pire Sova, the organizer of the TASE ’23 Grad Show, deans of the Faculty of Design and the Faculty of Fine Arts of EKA, and members of the jury. The laureate of the master’s level of the Young Artist Award is contemporary art student Samuel Lehikoinen such as depression, unemployment, loneliness, whose work reflects complex and topical themes through humorous lightness. The author wittily and self-ironically uses both national and gender stereotypes. A convincing spatial solution and an engaging computer game touch deeply on the various nuances of human existence in modern times. Contemporary art student Liis Vares receives a special mention for her well-understood use of space and application of choreographic strategy in installation art, and contemporary art student Annika Hint for her unconscious impulses and childhood memories cast in concrete. The laureates of the Young Artist Award at the bachelor level are graphics student Mats Johan Soosaar, who is recognized for his self-analytical and total installation on painful topics, and painting student Tea Lemberpuu, who receives the award for the skillful combination of conceptual thinking and painting tools. Graphics student Pavel Dodatko receives a special mention for his madman punk fantasy in an extended music video format. And so did graphics student Johanna Rannu for opening up the poetics experienced in the everyday life of the Väike-Õismäe borrough, and installation and sculpture student Lauri Lest for a clean and simple installation solution. The members of the commission were art historian Anders Härm and artists Kirke Kangro, Krista Mölder, Anna Mari Liivrand and Pire Sova. The Young Artist Award is accompanied by exhibition time in the Hobusepea or Draakon Gallery. The winner of the master’s level of the Young Applied Artist Award was Taavi Teevet, a student majoring in jewelry and blacksmithing, with his work “At the Crossroads Between the Rows (Ridadevahelisel teelahkmel)” (instructors Eve Margus and Piret Hirv), which focuses on structure and system searches. Mapping the possible perception of the universe and the choices made at the crossroads of worlds. It is a journey into the depths of human consciousness, trying to articulate something that cannot be put into words, because words that can summarize what is experienced in nerve impulses have not yet been invented. In the case of Taavi Teevet’s work, the jury highlighted “a strong whole that does not tolerate opposition, which combines the personal and the universal.” The work is finished, but not clunky. Teevet is intuitively convincing both in detail and technologically, and is masterful in his protestant-dramatic production.” Jewelry and blacksmithing student Liisbeth Kirss’ work “My girlfriends are my friends” (instructors Piret Hirv and Eve Margus) and ceramics student Haeun Kim’s work “Taid 2.0 Cooperation with artificial intelligence” (instructor Juss Heinsalu) were also marked. Fashion design student Lisette Sivard was chosen as the winner of the Young Applied Artist Award with her work “Sad Mascots for Broken People” (instructors Rolands Pēterkops, Piret Puppart, Anu Samarüütel-Long). The work pays attention to our everyday shared space, the norms of belonging and lines of power that prevail there. Who is allowed to belong, who sets the norms of belonging and who has access to power? The conflict-influenced work of public space also reflects the limitations of fashion as a medium in responding to widespread inequality and seeks the democratic potential of common space, seeing it as a place where the un-performed is performed. The jury pointed out that the work touches on a current and important topic with liberating humor. Unloved beings in the urban space bring the problem personally to the general and create the absurdity necessary for the orderly environment to help notice. “Synopsis” by jewelery and blacksmith student Margus Elizarov (instructors Eve Margus, Nils Hint, Piret Hirv, Urmas Lüüs) and ceramics student Kadri Räis’ work “Let me lead you to the place” (instructor Laura Põld) were noted among the bachelor’s works. Jury of the Young Artist Award the composition included applied artists and lecturers Maria Valdma-Härm, Ketli Tiitsar, Tanel Veenre and Johanna Ulfsak. The winner of the Master’s level of the Young Designer Award was graphic design student Carlo Canún with the work “Infected Lexicon of Language”, which explores and experiments with language as a means by which we control our thoughts and therefore reality. The work is an online archive and installation that gathers words and terms to propose a new vocabulary. “The Infected Lexicon” is based on Canún’s own experience in a heteronormative, binary and religious world. These words, which walk around on t-shirts like moving posters, are based on his own dreams, memories and fantasies. The jury found that Canún contributes to the spread and understanding of the language, thought of marginalized groups with his thesis project. It is a fluently argued, comprehensive, pleasantly structured and interdisciplinary project with a topical social dimension. The jury encourages Canún to continue working with the project and to develop a personal exhibition from it. Students Violetta Riidas, Dina Aller, Oliver Long and Anna Viik were also not marked. Product design student Erik Heik Veelmaa’s work “The role of small towns 2.0 design in securing the future of Estonian small towns and transport development directions for 2050” (supervisor Janno Nõu) was awarded as the winner of the bachelor level of the Young Designer Award. The jury found that the Veelmaa project is ambitious, socially important and stands out for its systematic implementation and innovative approach. This example of service design could find resonance both locally and internationally. Graphic design student Magnus Harjak and product design student Kaspar Timm were also not marked. The jury for the young designer award included curator Sandra Nuut and Kristjan Mändmaa, Pent Talvet, Hans Henrik Schwarz, Geroli Peedu, Margus Tamm and Maarika Karm. The Young Applied Artist Master’s level award is accompanied by an exhibition in the HOP Gallery.