18 July 2011

Multistability

Street art
All over Tallinn

Here are some of my latest discoveries of work by the productive Estonian duo Multistab. It is always a pleasure to find their monsters and creatures. As rules against public art is rather strict in Tallinn, most of the art in the streets are small stencils or tags. But these guys are adorning the city and the suburbs with their large freehand pieces. Have also a look at their nice blog here, where Signor Sick and Karma write about their pieces and how it was like painting them.

Post from last year's discoveries here

Multistab

Multistab

Multistab

Multistab

Multistab

Multistab

13 July 2011

Outside-In

Street art / urban art
Skur 2, Stavanger, Norway
1.7.-7.8.11
Banksy (UK), Bäst (US), Ed Templeton (US), José Parla (US), Dan Witz (US), Blu (IT), Escif (ESP), Blek Le Rat (FR), Logan Hicks (US), Dolk (NO), Swoon (US), Barry McGee (US), David Choe (US), Shepard Fairey (US), Charles Krafft (US), Jeremy Geddes (AUS), Borf (US), JR (FR), Herakut (DE), Skewville (US), Eine (UK), Chris Stain (US), Mark Gonzales (US), Kaws (US), Mark Jenkins (US), Invader (FR), Os Gemeos (BR), Stephen Powers (US), Martha Cooper (US), Date Farmers (US), Retna (US), Dotmasters (UK), M-City (PL), Vhils (PO), Tinho (BR), Nick Walker (UK) etc.

Bringing it all inside this time, Reed projects presents an exhibition of street artists' work on canvases. Closely connected to the Nuart festival, this is something that brings joy during the rather dull summertime in Stavanger. And at the same time it is a teaser of this year's Nuart. It is great to see so many established artists in one venue. What gets most attention is the large wall of Banksy pieces, the largest collection in Norway. But I am also thrilled by the two walls of works by Dolk, some so fresh the paint is almost still wet. This is an exhibition where many of the works are for sale. And the movie about the Nuart festival, "Eloquent Vandals" is presented on a screen.

Enjoy some of the highlights. This is not all, to see it you have to go by yourselves.

Exhibition view
Exhibition view

Banksy
The Banksy wall

JR
The JR wall

José Parla
José Parla

Dotmasters
Dotmasters

Skewville
Skewville

Swoon
Swoon

Logan Hicks
Logan Hicks

Escif
Escif

Fresh canvases from Dolk
Fresh canvases from Dolk

Shepard Fairey
Shepard Fairey

Blu
Blu

Exhibition link
Exhibition catalogue

Gateways

Art and network culture
13.5.-25.9.11
KUMU

It is always worth the time going to the national art museum KUMU at the far end of Kadriorg park in Tallinn. You might spend a whole day exploring the temporary exhibition at the first floor, or the classical and modern art display at the second to fourth floor. But the real thrill is usually on the upper floor, the contemporary section.

At the moment all the fifth floor is dedicated to the exhibition Gateways - art and network culture. The artists are exploring the possibilities of the available technologies, and inventing new technologies. They are inviting us to interact with the artwork, maybe more than we are comfortable with. Some works give us a new way of looking at the world, and some works give us a new way of looking at art. Some works are entertaining, some puzzling, and some even frightening.

Jenny Marketou: Red Eyed Sky Walkers - Silver Series I
Jenny Marketou: Red Eyed Sky Walkers - Silver Series I
- silver helium balloons in the foyer at KUMU

Timo Toots: MEMOПOΛ II
Timo Toots: MEMOПOΛ II
- if you enter your id code into this machine, it searches the web for all information that is available about you. It is quite frightening and surprising how much there is to find.

Julius Popp: Bit Fall
Julius Popp: Bit Fall
- random words from internet searches are written in sequences of falling water. It is like magic: water spouts out from the ceiling, spelling a word, just to disappear immediately after when it hits the floor.

boredomresearch (Vicky Isley & Paul Smith): Real Snail Mail
boredomresearch (Vicky Isley & Paul Smith): Real Snail Mail
- snails are the carriers of emails. You can send an email at a computer nearby. As a snail passes an electronical spot, it picks up the email, and deliver it the next time it passes a spot. It may take an hour, a day, a week.

Christina Kubisch: Wave Catcher
Christina Kubisch: Wave Catcher
- exploring the city in an new way, discovering the electromagnetic fields. Wearing these headphones you discover the sounds of the tram, ATMs, billboards and revolving doors.

Karel Koplimets & Ivar Veermäe: Don't Be Evil Extended
Karel Koplimets & Ivar Veermäe: Don't Be Evil Extended
- the city is mapped with tons of photos, like in googlemaps. But all commercial signs have been erased. You can virtually walk around and create your own advertisements.

Ingo Günther: World Processor
Ingo Günther: World Processor
- mapping the world in a brand new way. Before the globus showed the national borders or the topographical borders of the world. These globes show the networks, the global brands, the international connections, that now define the world and its borders.

You Must Relax (Riin Rõõs & Eve Arpo): Astrid Mobile Phone
You Must Relax (Riin Rõõs & Eve Arpo): Astrid Mobile Phone
- this giant phone is a fully functioning mobile phone. Only it is not that mobile anymore according to its size. And all the museum will hear it when you talk to somebody.

12 July 2011

Abstract

Annual exhibition of Estonian Artists' Union
2.7.-14.8.11

According to the tradition, the Estonian Artists' Union also present their annual exhibition this summer. This year's curator is Leonhard Lapin, professor at the Art Academy. As abstract art was forbidden or disfavoured during Soviet rule, abstract art has another value and history than in West-European countries. This exhibition gives an insight to the grand old men and women of Estonian abstract art, but also with some of the younger, ascending artists.

Exhibition overview
Exhibition overview

Kunstihoone offer large spaces for exhibition, and I get rather overwhelmed by the mass of abstract colourful paintings. The large number of works are somehow overflowing, and makes it difficult to inhale the energy from just one work. I understand that the motive of such an exhibition is to show off as much art and as many artists as possible, but for me it is just too much. But I was still able to point out some of my favourites, in many cases works that were a bit different than the majority. Here is my personal selection of the works:

Aili Vahtrapuu & Viivian Jõemets: Sound Installation
Aili Vahtrapuu & Viivian Jõemets: Sound Installation
- talking about songs with meaningless words

Anne Parmasto: Red Ones
Anne Parmasto: Red Ones

Ilmar Kruusamäe: Estonian Radishes
Ilmar Kruusamäe: Estonian Radishes

Tiiu Kirsipuu: Factura Natura
Tiiu Kirsipuu: Factura Natura

Valeri Vinogradov: Graphology 2011
Valeri Vinogradov: Graphology 2011

Tiina Tammetalu: Exodus I-III (Part of a series)
Tiina Tammetalu: Exodus I-III (Part of a series)

Katrin Pere: Pain Treatment II. Stroke Me
Katrin Pere: Pain Treatment II. Stroke Me
- needles in formation on a fabric

Siim Tanel Annus: Interrelated I

Erki Kasemets: Lights
Erki Kasemets: Lights
- made of many cigarette packages

11 July 2011

Untold Stories

exhibition
8.5.-26.6.11
Kunstihoone, Tallinn

This exhibition brings up the topic of being different, especially being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transsexual. Still a quite controversial topic in Estonia, this large exhibition has got a positive reception. Most of the works are videos; documentaries, field studies and interviews.

I found the works by Liisi Eelmaa & Minna Hint, and the works by Minna Hint the most interesting. These counterpieces show the opposide points of view. On one hand is interviews with different Estonians that have been visible in the public with their views against different lifestyles. On the other hand is Mare Tralla's touching diary of her difficulties discovering and pronouncing that she is a lesbian. To loosen up a bit, Flemming Rolighet's word plays with brand names completes the exhibition.

Liisi Eelmaa & Minna Hint: Heard story
Liisi Eelmaa & Minna Hint: Heard story

Liisi Eelmaa & Minna Hint: Heard storyLiisi Eelmaa & Minna Hint: Heard storyLiisi Eelmaa & Minna Hint: Heard story

Flemming Rolighet: Often Straight + Tobehomo
Flemming Rolighet: Often Straight + Tobehomo

Mare Tralla: Written into space
Mare Tralla: Written into space

Mare Tralla: DiaryMare Tralla: Diary

Perceptual Zones

Marje Len Murusalu
Paintings, video
20.6.-9.7.11.
Draakoni Galerii, Tallinn

Marje Len murusalu turned the world upside down and looked at the contrasts of the view on world issues in this nice exhibition in Draakoni Galerii. I like her fabulating and creative way to approach the world, especially how she shows the contrasts between the coverage of natural disasters in Island and India.

Marje Len Murusalu: Blue Conglomerate
Blue Conglomerate

Marje Len Murusalu: Pandemonium
Pandemonium

Marje Len Murusalu: Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland / Kaliyaganj, India
Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland / Kaliyaganj, India

Lost & Found

Laura Põld
30.6.-17.7.11
Paintings
Linnagalerii, Tallinn

I had large expectations for this solo exhibition by Laura Põld. This young artist just graduated from her master studies at Tartu University, but is already quite established as an artist. Her painting/video work was part of the Estonian Artists' Union annual exhibition last year.

I was hoping to see new video works, but was a bit disappointed to discover that the exhibition was all about abstract painting. It is about surfaces and patterns. It seems her ceramic background has influenced on this work, the surfaces resemble pottery, or maybe old painted house walls. I was hardly able to get any energy from these paintings. But I am curious about what she will do next, I believe she is an artist to look out for in the future.

Laura Põld: Lost & Found

Laura Põld: Lost & Found

Laura Põld: Lost & Found

06 July 2011

A day after

Jaan Elken
8.6.-27.6.11
Hobusepea galerii, Tallinn

A nice insight into the well established artist's work, his unique rough, hairy and dirty paintings.

Jaan Elken: A day after

Jaan Elken: A day after