2023 Maret Sarapu FREE AND HELD

On Tuesday, 7 February at 18.00 Maret Sarapu opens her solo exhibition Free and Held at Draakoni gallery. The exhibition is open until 4 March.

Maret Sarapu’s seventh solo exhibition looks at the question of how to be free and held.

Through five artworks, the artist maps quotidian rituals and symbols, activities and stories that help to ensure our mental sharpness, emotional well-being and a sense of safety in everyday life. That is, focal points that help us make sense of life, prevent crises and find strength in the everyday.

The conceptual centre of the exhibition is simultaneously poetic and practical – on the one side, it allows the viewer to make their own everyday life more poetic and start consciously and playfully mapping out activities, events and ideas that provide support and strength. On the other side, this kind of poetisation has a thoroughly practical effect – conceptualisation and structuring of our routines grounds us and plays a significant role in achieving emotional well-being and maintaining our joie de vivre.

At the exhibition, the artist displays installations and objects: wall panels with nature motifs, mosaic trophies, glass “breaths” and sand boxes reminiscent of Japanese gardens on walls and around the exhibition space. Alongside these objects, the exhibition includes a set of postcards, inviting the viewer to discover their own everyday and internal landscapes through exercises of creative writing.

As part of Free and Held, three thematic creative writing workshops led by Berit Kaschan will take place at Draakoni gallery. The workshops will be held on three consecutive Tuesdays – on 14, 21 and 28 February from 18.00 to 20.00. Pre-registration is required. Please register to the workshop no later than 12 February: kaisamaasik [at] gmail [dot] com. Participation fee: 10€. Size of the group: 10 participants. The workshop will be conducted in Estonian.

Curators: Kaisa Maasik and Berit Kaschan
Graphic design: Pamela Sume

Thank you: Karel Koplimets, Maarin Ektermann and Prologue School, Sven Sapelson, Tiina Sarapu, Kairi Orgusaar, Kaie Vakepea

Maret Sarapu (1978) is an artist based in Tallinn. She has graduated from the Department of Glass Art at the Estonian Academy of Arts (BA 2002, MA 2005) and taken part in numerous courses and art residencies both in Estonia and abroad. In her work, Sarapu is mostly inspired by everyday life and often uses nature motifs and repetition. Recently, her experiments with form and concept have led her towards methods like automatic and stream of consciousness writing. Often, the aim is to achieve mental well-being and find harmony between intelligence and emotions. Her alternating process (thinking, writing, working in the studio) and collaboration with material lead to results that give both the artist and the viewer a possibility to make conclusions and generalizations.

The exhibition is supported by the Estonian Ministry of Culture, the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and Liviko AS.

Additional information:
Draakon Gallery
Tel:  +372 56 451 591
+372 52 85 324
+372 6 276 777
E-mail: galerii [at] eaa [dot] ee
Pikk 18, 10133 Tallinn
http://www.eaa.ee/draakon
Mon–Fri 11.00–18.00
Sat 11.00–17.00

2022 Piret Uibotalu ALLEY OF BROKEN HEARTS

2022 Empiiria

Appreciated Glass Artist 2020-2021 / Nominees’ exhibition
Kati Kerstna, Merle Kannus, Rait Prääts
2.11.–19.11.2022
OKAPI Gallery

The Estonian Glass Artists’ Union has awarded the honorary title “Appreciated Glass Artist” for the tenth time. The award is given over two years, focusing on explaining the laureate’s work and professional activities in recent years. Looking back on the difficult corona years of 2020 and 2021, the Estonian Glass Artists’ Union chose Merle Kannus, Kati Kerstna, and Rait Prääts as nominees for the honorary title.

The award will be presented at the Okapi gallery on November 2 at 6 pm, where the joint exhibition ¨empiria¨ of the three nominees will be opened on this occasion. Maarja Mäemets put together an exhibition of the works of authors active in the international art life, explaining her momentum: “Kati Kerstna, Merle Kannus, and Rait Prääts are united by their characteristic empirical observation of man and the systems he creates, which is transferred various ways into the artists’ work. Through sharp personal observations, layered narratives take shape in glass. Among others, satire, conflict, and realisation are recurring keywords in all three nominees’ works ¨.

¨Appreciated Glass Artist 2020-2021¨ is selected by a jury composed of Elo Liiv (sculptor, installation artist, pedagogue), Anneli Porri (art theorist, art critic, pedagogue), Karin Vicente (art theorist, program manager-curator of the Adamson-Eric Museum), Tiina Sarapu (glass artist) and Puhkan (ceramist, professor at the Estonian Academy of Arts).

The year 2022 has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Glass. This material with a long history plays an irreplaceable role in many fields (technology, economy, environment, culture, medicine, etc.). The Estonian Glass Artists’ Union events are dedicated to the International Year of Glass.

We thank our sponsors:
Klaasissepa OÜ
Aindhooven OÜ
Anora Estonia AS

Photo: Mati Hiis

2022 MELTING BORDERS: Baltic Glass Artists in the Spotlight at the European Glass Festival

The European Glass Festival presents:
MELTING BORDERS: Baltic Glass Artists in the Spotlight at the European Glass Festival

This year’s European Glass Festival in Wroclaw, now reaching its 8th milestone, turns its eyes toward the Baltic shores. Showcasing both accomplished and emerging artists from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, we hope to shed light on recent developments in the Baltic glass scene. 

Näituse idee aluseks on sulamine kui mitmetimõistetav metafoor: see võib tähistada nii klaasi füüsilist sulamist kui mõtteliste piiride hägustumist; aine üleminekut ühest olekust teise, aga ka piire ületavat koostööd, koosolemist ja õlatunnet, mida praegusel hetkel eriti vajame.

The exhibition takes as its starting point the concept of melting: this could signify both the transition of matter from one state to another, but also cross-border cooperation, togetherness and mutual support, which we all need in the present moment.

The main exhibition takes place at the Session Room of the Wroclaw Central Train Station, opening October 17, and at  Legnica Art Gallery, October 18. Various other solo and group projects will also open from Oct 17 to Oct 20 in Wroclaw and elsewhere (see programme below). The exhibitions will stay open until November 27.

Participating artists:
Estonia – Sofi Aršas, Aleksandra Ehrensvärd, Piret Ellamaa, Erki Kannus, Merle Kannus, Kati Kerstna, Eve Koha, Eeva Käsper, Kairi Orgusaar, Rait Prääts, Tiina Sarapu, Eili Soon
Latvia – Inguna Audere, Ieva Birģele, Baiba Dzenīte, Inita Ēmane, Dainis Gudovskis, Bārbala Gulbe, Marta Ģibiete, Anda Munkevica, Artis Nīmanis, Ramona Pēkšēna, Anna Varnase, Ernests Vītiņš
Lithuania – Rasa Grybaitė, Valmantas Gutauskas, Domas Ignatavičius, Remigijus Kriukas, Rūta Lipaitė, Eglė Pilkauskaitė, Irina Peleckienė, Julija Pociūtė, Artūras Rimkevičius, Indrė Stulgaitė, Dalia Truskaitė, Valda Verikaitė

Curators:
: Anita Bialic, Marta Ģibiete, Bārbala Gulbe, Merle Kannus, Kati Kerstna, Julija Pociūtė, Dalia Truskaitė.

PROGRAMME

Main exhibition of European Glass Festival:
“MELTING BORDERS” / 10.17.2022 – 11.27.2022 / Wrocław Central Train Station – Session Room
“MELTING BORDERS” / 10.18.2022 – 11.27.2022 / Art Gallery in Legnica

Established artists exhibitions:
„VALUES 1&2” / Kati Kerstna / 10.17.2022 – 11.20.2022 / The Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wroclaw
„FLOWER POWER MAKES YOU…” / Marta Ģibiete / 10.17.2022 – 11.27.2022 / Krupa Gallery
„TO” / Dalia Truskaitė / 10.17.2022 – 11.27.2022 / Krupa Gallery
„THE BLACK HORSES” /Anda Munkevica, /10.17.2022 – 01.15.2023/ Glass Heritage Centre Krosno

Debut solo exhibitions of young artists:
„VENUS DREAM” / Baiba Dzenīte / 10.17.2022 – 11.27.2022 / Vivid Gallery
„MORPH” / Aleksandra Ehrensvärd / 10.17.2022 – 11.27.2022 / BB Gallery Wrocław
„DISRUPTIVE COLORATION” / Eglė Pilkauskaitė / 10.17.2022 – 11.27.2022 / Arttrakt Gallery

Other exhibitions:
“Lithuanian stained glass in architecture. Konstantinas Šatūnas and Algirdas Dovydėnas” / 10.17.2022 – 11.27.2022 / The Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wroclaw

Seminar featuring the participation of artists taking part EGF 2022 exhibitions:
“Baltic Glass in Modern Art” / 10.19.2022. / The Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wroclaw

Info:
https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanGlassFestival/
https://www.facebook.com/BalticGlassArt/
http://www.europeanglassfestival.com

SPONSORS AND PARTNERS:
Baltic Culture Fund
Estonian Glass Artistsä Union – www.klaasikunst.ee
Galeria BB – www.galeriabb.com
Fundacja “Fly with Art” – www.flywithart.com
Akademia Sztuk Pięknych im. Eugeniusza Gepperta we Wrocławiu – www.asp.wroc.pl
Związek Polskich Artystów Plastyków – Okręg Wrocławski – www.zpap.wroclaw.pl
Polskie Koleje Państwowe S.A. – www.pkp.pl
Galeria Sztuki w Legnicy – www.galeria.legnica.eu
Galeria Arttrakt – www.arttrakt.pl
Fundacja Krupa Gallery – krupagallery.pl
Galeria TYC ART – www.tycartglass.com
Vivid Gallery – www.vividgallery.pl
Centrum Dziedzictwa Szkła – miastoszkla.pl

2022 Birgit Pählapuu THE RIOT OF FLIES

The symbolism of fly is rather ominous, but despite this or precisely because of this, it is also a muse for many writers: as a symbol of feud and bloodlust or nuisance and disgust, as a sympathetic interlocutor or as an all-seeing eye on the wall. In the case of Pählapuu, the fly represents a riot against everything and everyone, but also a call for mutual understanding.

The flies come out if it’s warm enough. Do we like it? No! We start rebelling against them, we start fighting them because we don’t like them. They buzz! They land on our food! They defecate everywhere! They are parasites! They must be destroyed! But do you always have to rebel against everything? How would you feel if you had to live every day knowing that someone could just beat you with a whip? The series, dealing with the theme of provocation and rebellion, uses the image of a fly that has woken up from sleep, and raises the question, could we perhaps coexist peacefully instead of destroying someone?

Although Pählapuu is primarily a glass artist, her work is closely intertwined with photography and installation. The installative “Riot of the Flies” also consists of winged creatures in flameworking and neon techniques, which are placed on a photo background, white acrylic or metal frame. Located on various surfaces in the gallery, they undoubtedly create a brooding and harassing feeling: the flies have risen up against humanity’s spitefulness, so the rebellion has become two-way. At the same time, their milky or transparent color symbolizes peace, although the white color can always change. In this way, the viewer is left free to see other interpretations and meanings that are not strictly framed. In any case, the author urges us to look beyond our own nose, consider others and get out of our personal comfort zone.

The works of the series “Riot of the Flies” have previously been presented, among others, at a group exhibition in Georgia and at the ArtVilnius art fair, but the theme of rebellion has inspired Pählapuu before as well: in the series “My Silent Protest” she expressed the inner and nonviolent resistance of human nature in a combination of neon glass and photomontage, the power of thought, which can be more powerful than a protest march on the streets.

Birgit Pählapuu (1981) holds both a master’s degree (2016) and a bachelor’s degree (2010) from the Estonian Academy of Arts in glass art. In addition, she studied at the Prague Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design (2008) and obtained a bachelor’s degree (2002) in international business management from the Estonian Business School. She has participated in master classes of flameworking and courses in videography, etching and glass fusing in Estonia, Finland and Italy. Pählapuu has participated in domestic and foreign exhibitions since 2008 and has organized exhibitions since 2017. In 2007 she was awarded a creative scholarship named after Maks Roosma and since 2010 she has been a member of the Estonian Association of Glass Artists. In addition to her personal career as an artist, Pählapuu is one of the founders and leaders of Okapi Gallery, thus contributing to the promotion and development of the work of her colleagues.

2022 Kai Kiudsoo-Värv MOMENTS at A-Gallery

Ivar Kaasik / Kai Kiudsoo-Värv / Yao Tan / Jacqueline Yajing Yao
A-Gallery WINDOWS
31.08.22-29.10.22

On Wednesday, August 31 four exhibitions will be opened on A-Gallery WINDOWS: Estonian artists Ivar Kaasik and Kai Kiudsoo-Värv, French artist Yao Tan and Chinese artist Jacqueline Yaing Yao.
The exhibitions will stay open until October 29.

Ivar Kaasik
LIFE AND DEATH. THE END AND THE BEGINNING
The exhibition is a meditation on the themes of death. The artist used recyclable materials to create this jewellery, thus giving new life and meaning to existing matter. Some of the materials regenerate themselves naturally in the wild by recreating themselves over and over again. Until humans draw a line and end its life. Only to begin again and again.

Jacqueline Yajing Yao
SPACE

This exhibition reflects how everyone has their own world – a space where they become themselves. It is both spiritual and precious. While some may open their world to share themselves, others are more protective. Yao’s works take inspiration from this space of separation. A place where relaxation and breath can lead to a deeper connection with self. Space is a conceptual word. It’s an open concept that is interpreted in a variety of meanings. Here, the artist would like to leave this wide space to everyone; to experience the relaxation, the breath… anything that can be connected and imagined.

Kai Kiudsoo-Värv
MOMENT
The exhibition focuses on the colors of images in the artist’s memory found while going through her phone. The purple glow of a willowherb on the edge of a venom-green meadow, a mustard-yellow horizon above a turquoise sea, a pea-green minibus driving past a bright yellow house, snow-white and scarlet dishes on an indigo table… Which moments of life do you recall? The colours, smells and flavours that embody the emotions you have experienced. Some of these colour schemes from memories were transformed into jewellery with the help of goldsmith Indrek Ikkonen, while others were made by the author herself.

Yao Tan
XY
The collection speaks about the subtle ambiguity between females and male. “”Infra-mince”” of which Marcel Duchamp spoke counted which is barely perceptible, barely identifiable, this notion represents a tiny and singularizing difference. The inspiration came from bodily sources, such as vulnerability, mutations, dualities, and formal metamorphosis. Her jewels are like chimeras, tactile and sensitive objects, and always questioning the relationship to our carnal desires. In this series, she looks for ways to interpret issues related to eroticism in a sensitive and poetic, but also ironic and sometimes violent way.

More about the exhibitions and the artists can be found on our website: https://agalerii.ee/en/en-kaasik-yao-varv-tan/