21 December 2011

Urban destruction

Stavanger / Sandnes
Architecture / streetart&graffiti

These are sad times for urban art in both Sandnes and Stavanger. In both towns architectural landmarks are torn down to give way to urban renewal. Together with the buildings important artwork are lost as well.


The Tou Tower destroyed

The high tower at Tou Scene has been a landmark, a beacon for the spot. The "Tou" logo on the tower has been visible from far, from the town bridge, and from the ferry across the fjord to Tau, where the original Tou brewery was situated. It became a symbol of the former brewery, now creative culture venue of Tou Scene. The first ones to use the tower as a canvas were the local urban artist duo Pøbel & Østrem, who on the seafront side painted a great streetart/graffiti piece that lasted for about one year. After them came the Nuart festival with famous Italian artists Blu and Erica il Cane. They covered three of the sides with their collaboration work, commenting on Stavanger's richness due to oil, and the oil production's side effects. It is quite ironic that the painting was removed due to exactly that prosperity.

The destruction did not come as a surprise, it has been in the municipal plans for a long time already. As part of the seafront renewal the tower was torn down to give way to an apartment building. This will break Tou Scene's direct connection to the sea, in the worst case turning the seafront into a private area. In the best case this area will offer seaside promenades and parks all related to the Tou Scene area and accessible for everybody.

Somehow it seems like poverty is the conservator of history and heritage, while prosperity and wealth wipes out everything old and out-of-fashion. Towns like Stavanger have gained their uniqueness due to a poor population that had no other choice than to continue living in their old houses. While the wealth bring in higher living standards, but not necessarily higher aestethical knowledge.

Destruction vs development

In Sandnes there is also destruction going on. A parking house, build by the aestethical standards of its time, not much liked anymore, is now demolished. This is a part of the rather infamous, unstructured, bad planned bus station/train station/parking lot called Ruten. I could write a lot about the planning, politics and architecture of the square, but I prefer to focus on the art.

The parking house has been the scene for a brave experiment, it has provided legal walls for the graffiti writers of Sandnes. Since May 2010 different pieces have come and gone. Some have lasted for a long time, some have been painted over immediately. It has always been a pleasure to monitor the changes on the walls. As I understand the local boys have appreciated having a place where they are allowed improve their creative skills in art. This opportunity is now gone. It will be interesting if the municipality of Sandnes understands that the guys need a new legal wall now. There are plenty of possibilities. There is plenty of boring concrete that would look better covered with colourful paint and skillfull letters.

Link to the Tou tower by Pøbel&Østrem here
Link to the Tou tower by Blu&Erica il Cane here
Links to graffiti at Ruten here

19 December 2011

Pia Myrvold

Galleri Amare, Stavanger
2.-24.12.11
paintings, watercolor and digital

Pia Myrfold shows some familiar and some new artwork in this pre-Christmas exhibiton at Galleri Amare. Here are colourful paintings and watercolours, but I prefer the digital works. The animated shapes are my favourites, they animations are like a crossover between sculpture and engineering 3D instructions. And the surprise is her autoportrait, where her portrait is inside her creations. Are she directing the shapes, or are they commanding her? Is she the creator or is she created?

Pia Myrvold at Amare

Pia Myrvold at Amare

Pia Myrvold at Amare

Pia Myrvold at Amare

18 December 2011

Sophie Calle: Take Care of Yourself

Take Care of Yourself
Sophie Calle
30.11.11-8.1.12
Tallinn Art Hall/Kunstihoone
Relational art/photography

It all started with Sophie Calle recieving an email from her boyfriend, where he ended their relationship. The email ended with the words "Take care of yourself." The exhibition was made for the French pavillion at the Venice Biennale in 2007.

Sophie Calle: Take Care of Yourself
Photos of the participants


Sophie Calle: Take Care of Yourself
Exhibition view


She distributed the text to 107 different women, who all interpreted the letter according to their own profession. Thus the letter is psychoanalyzed, turned into code language, used as target for shooting, turned into a childrens' book and a romantic story, danced, sung, textanalyzed by a schoolgirl, used as background for a medical prescription, and analyzed according to syntax, use of words and so on, all in 107 totally different ways. Each interpretation is followed by a photo or a video of the woman.You can spend hours in the gallery reading all the texts and watching the videos.

Sophie Calle: Take Care of Yourself
Syntax approach


The idea is wonderful: Take any text and see how it is percieved by different people according to their background. It is great fun to see how the profession influences on the result. In this way the exhibition could just be a harmless portrait series of a random set of women and their ways of thinking.


But it is not harmess, due to the text in question, its origin and its contents. This is an important text, sent from someone important for the artist, and the content is dynamite. By distributing the email, Sophie Calle is not only sharing her troubles with the other women, she is making it public, visible for all the exhibition visitors. She is forcing her private matters onto the public. This act is at the same time both understandable and problematic. Sharing your grief with friends is a natural way of coping with problems. But sharing it with everyone could easily be regarded as self-centered and egoistic. This smells of revenge, even if Calle claims this is not the case. One of the women comments: she is mobilising hordes of women on an attack of the guy, while she should rather have dealt with it herself.

Sophie Calle: Take Care of Yourself 
"The choir you have formed around this letter is the choir of death"

Sophie Calle: Take Care of Yourself
Structural approach


Calle also set focus on the feminine approach to a text: "What did he really mean, why did he choose these exact words, maybe there is some hidden meaning?" Showing how many ways any text can be percieved, this can be seen as a critique of this wish to interpret everything. Maybe the letter is nothing more than a guy ending a relationship, decorating the content with random words and sentences. Maybe he did not mean anything about the ending "Take care of yourself", maybe it was just an empty phrase.

Sophie Calle: Take Care of Yourself
A childrens' story

This is not the first time Calle deals with the intimate private sphere, and balance of the border of what is ethical acceptable. Here lies the power and controversy of her art. She is taking advantage of her ex-boyfriend, using him in art (probably) without his consent. Are we accepting this? Are we accepting that he is not given any possibility to defend himself? Or is he represented well enough by the letter? Or maybe, by writing such a letter, does he deserve to be turned into a scapegoat? Our feelings are involved, our ethical judgement is triggered, we become part of the artwork.

Sophie Calle: Take Care of Yourself
The medical approach


Somehow I also think: how fortunate that Sophie Calle recieved this email. A love letter would not have hade the same potential, would it? Is this what triggers the artist, a challenge? Is suffering needed to make great art? And, honestly, is the letter real? If it is not, would that change something?

Sophie Calle: Take Care of Yourself
Videos of the participants


The most direct approach is made by the only non-human participant, a parrot. According to the concept it must be female, but I am seriously wondering whether it might be male. (Who can tell anyway.) It does not care at all about what is written on the paper, it just eats it and gets over it.

*

Exhibition page here

15 December 2011

Anne Helene Gjelstad: Big Heart, Strong Hands

Big Heart, Strong Hands
Anne Helene Gjelstad
16.11.-15.12.11
the Estonian Parliament, Tallinn
photos - portraits of women from Kihnu and Manija

The portraits of Kihnu and Manija women photographed by Norwegian artist Anne Helene Gjelstad was first on display in Kihnu museum. (Link here) Now the exhibition has moved into the corridors of power, the Estonian Parliament. Before entering the parliament hall, the powerful politicians have to pass these strong women.

This is a decent and symbolic setting. The politicians must never forget who they are working for, who are their voters. Walking by these photos they are constantly reminded on who are their equal citizens. In this way the hard working island women are represented in the Parliament.

The portraits are full of grace, respect and beauty, showing the struggle and the joy of the daily life on the small islands Kihnu and Manija. As the men mostly work at sea, the women rule at home on the farm, and are also the carriers of the strong and unique traditions. The hard work needs strong hands, but it also takes a big heart to appreciate and share the moments of happiness.

Anne Helene Gjelstad: Big Hearts, Strong Hands

Anne Helene Gjelstad: Big Hearts, Strong Hands

Beyond

Beyond
International Curator Exhibition of Tallinn Month of Photography
07.10.2011 - 08.01.2012
Kumu, Tallinn
Photography

An exhibition focusing on the possibilities and limits of photography. All works have in common their creative approach to the photography, twisting the borders of what is possible.

Denes Farkas: Substructures
Denes Farkas: Substructures
Marlo Pascual: Untitled
Marlo Pascual: Untitled
Marlo Pascual: Untitled
Marlo Pascual: Untitled
Helena Almeida: Study for Inner Improvement
Helena Almeida: Study for Inner Improvement
Caroline Heider: Oh, a phenomenon!
Caroline Heider: Oh, a phenomenon!
Exhibition page here

13 December 2011

EAL 90 "Traces"

"Traces"
Estonian Architects Union 90 year anniversary exhibition
7.09 - 04.12.11
The Museum of Estonian Architecture, Tallinn
Exhibition design and architectural history

An interesting exhibition showing the history of 90 years of the Estonian Architects' Union in The Museum of Estonian Architecture. The wonderful design is made by Kai Süda, Risto Parve, Diana Taalfeld and Mait Väljas. A great labyrinth made all by cardboard. 

IMG_3740

Estonian Architects Union 90 year anniversary exhibition "Traces"

Estonian Architects Union 90 year anniversary exhibition "Traces"

Ene-Liis Semper

Kumu - The Estonian Art Museum
Tallinn, Estonia
14.10.-31.12.11
videos, installations

Welcome to the largest exhibition of Ene-Liis Semper's work so far. As the probably most profiled Estonian contemporary artist, Semper works with both video, installation and performance, and use herself and her family in her works.

The exhibition shows several new works, both video and installations. Her earlier works are hidden in a gigantic labyrinth built into the 5th floor of Kumu. Some works are beautiful, some disturbing, and some rather shocking. At one moment you see children running around playing, the next you see a person pushed along in a hospital bed. One moment there is a beautiful video of arranging furniture on top of each other, the next moment the sound of pianos crashing into each other grabs your attention.

Semper deserves such a retrospective and onward-looking exhibition. It is a great opportunity to be aquainted with her very wide specter of works. Here are glimpses of some of the works.

Let's first enter the labyrinth of the past:

Ene-Liis Semper: Sun
Sun
Two children play running around in a room. The sunlight through the window is obscured for a short moment as the children pass in front of it. As the sunray reappear, the screen turns almost all white for a moment, before the camera adjusts to the light. At the same time a short signal sounds. The game leaves a mark, even the sun can be overwon for a moment.

Ene-Liis Semper: Into New Home
Into New Home
A person in a hospital bed is rolled through the landscape. The background is changing, but the bed seems to not getting anywhere. The person in the bed seems forlorn and sad, holding tight a small rat in her hands. The only sign of other people is a graveyard the bed passes by on the way, but it is not stopping there. Is the patient going from one place to another, or is she on an eternal journey? Is she moving from home to her new home, the hospital, or is she moving from the hospital back home?

Ene-Liis Semper: Red Line
Red Line
A red line is dividing a landscape in two. As a red line usually symbolises a connection, here it is a partition, where something that obviously fits together is parted. Suddenly a person is swinging across the scene, a human pendulum hanging from her legs. She flies with grace, her dress flowing around her. Is she happy, is this a game? Or is she forced to swing like this, like a grotesque metronome?

And then on to the present works:

Ene-Liis Semper: Untitled
Untitled
A porn movie parody, fake exitement, real joy. This is obviously a guy jerking off in front of a girl, but then again it is not. It is all fake, nothing is real. The actors are dressed in costumes that could either be some weird fetish dress, or some teletubbyish animation costumes. The "male body part" is made of rubber. As the guy gets more intense, the girl's joy increases, until it is all rounded up by the girl being covered in whipped cream. As porn itself is fake, this fake porn is double fake. A quite disturbing, but very funny piece.

Ene-Liis Semper: Untitled
Untitled
From time to time there is a strong noise in the exhibition hall. This installation is the source of that. Suddenly this small cottage leans over to one side, then there is a sound of something rolling, that ends in a great crash. Three pianos are standing free inside the box, mounted on rails. And the all smash into each other from side to side as the box tilts. Each time they crash they are further destroyed, some parts were on the floor already.

Ene-Liis Semper: Untitled
Untitled
It is rather disturbing to see such fine pieces of furniture detoriating. The pianos that can be the source of the most wonderful music, now only make a horrible noise. By every crash, the chance of ever hearing soothing tones from these pianos gets smaller.

Ene-Liis Semper: My Home
My Home
A beautiful movie about how the artist collect furniture to decorate her home. As she says in the move: "This is the best idea I ever had." At first there are only some few chairs. But then the furniture piles up, until the room is filled from floor to roof. The three pianos of the former mentioned installation are here as well, all in perfect shape, even with candlelightholders intact. This movie stirs thoughts on how we keep on collecting stuff until it is too much, but it also points to how much aestetics there is in a piece of furniture. And how many and which furniture does it take to make a home?

Exhibition page here


Metropolis – City Life in the Urban Age

Noorderlicht Photofestival presents:
Metropolis – City Life in the Urban Age, a group exhibition
28.10-11.12.2011
The Museum of Estonian Architecture, Tallinn
Photography

A great photo exhibition of urban landscapes and settings from all around the world.
Christoph Gielen: Ciphers
Christoph Gielen: Ciphers

Yang Yongliang: Heavenly City
Yang Yongliang: Heavenly City

Peter Bialobrzeski: The Raw and the Cooked
Peter Bialobrzeski: The Raw and the Cooked

Edith Roux: Les Depossedes (Kashgar)
Edith Roux: Les Depossedes (Kashgar)

Katrin Koenning: Thirteen: Twenty Lacunae
Katrin Koenning: Thirteen: Twenty Lacunae

Michael Wolf: Tokyo Impression
Michael Wolf: Tokyo Impression

Brad Farwell: Rapture (Pantheon)
Brad Farwell: Rapture (Pantheon)

12 December 2011

Minna Havukainen: Parturition

Parturition
Minna Havukainen
29.10 - 04.12.11
Linnagalerii/City Gallery, Tallinn

Havukainen has for several years been following women during pregnancy and right after birth. The result is a photo series of women portrayed with a vulnerable honesty. The women seems exhausted and fragile but proud. This offer an insight into the moment that will probably be remembered as the highlight of their lives.
Minna Havukainen: Parturition

Minna Havukainen: Parturition

Minna Havukainen: Parturition

11 December 2011

Streetart in Tallinn Dec'11

I found these new pieces in Tallinn during November/December 2011:

The Century is yours
The Century is yours

EKA logo
The logo of EKA - the Estonian Academy of Arts

Thankz to the net I am tired of zex
Thankz to the net I am tired of zex

Is this a right way for you?
Is this a right way for you?

Batman wannabe
Batman wannabe

Bandage man
Bandage man

Bandage man
Bandage man

Multistab
Multistab

And I shot some parts of Multistab pieces, have to get back another time to photograph it all:
Hidden Multistab piece  Hidden Multistab piece 
I also found this new concept, some kind of geometrical wizard hat:
Geometrical figure  Geometrical figure

This is a figure I have seen around other places in the city as well:
zigzagheads

And this friendly familiar fellow in the end:
Shrek by the train