04/10/2024

4/10/2024

This Saturday, on 5 October the main exhibition of the 9th Tallinn Applied Art Triennial The Fine Lines of Constructiveness opens at Kai Art Center. This year, the Triennial focuses on artists from the Baltic and the Nordic countries, exhibiting works around the idea of constructiveness in art and exploring how this could also be helpful in other areas of life.

The curator of the exhibition, Maret Sarapu selected 28 artists via an open call that attracted 470 submissions.

“I wanted to highlight the possibilities art has to address complicated issues, offer solace, hope and new perspectives,” said Maret Sarapu about the theme of the exhibition. “I wanted to explore how to orient yourself towards solutions, both in art and life in general, to experiment and be open to new things.”

The curator was also intrigued by the grounding effect of manual work. “Applied arts and making by hand is something people often turn to in order to find release. Thinking with hands helps to explore ideas and solutions intuitively, which may not emerge when we take a verbal or abstract thinking approach.”

The artists selected for the exhibition share common traits such as playfulness and a courage to experiment, as well as a fresh and caring perspective on material and its life cycle. Sarapu also sees a lot of concern about sustainability and people’s mental balance.

The opening weekend programme includes a curator’s tour by Maret Sarapu (5 October, 12.00) (in Estonian), a day of artist presentations (5 October, 13.30–17.00) (in English) and a workshop by Latvian artist Linda Vilka (& October, 14.00–16.00) (in English).

The main exhibition of the Triennial is accompanied by a multifaceted satellite programme made up of more than 20 events. The opening weekend includes exhibitions at A-gallery, Hop gallery, the library of the Estonian Academy of Arts and Texstudio hall at Baltika kvartal. As part of the satellite programme, on 5 October, artist Rait Rosin and his group of swervers are performing at 12.00–16.00 in Tallinn’s Põhja-Tallinn district, using unique vehicles for transportation and exploring unexpected locations in the city.

Artists participating at the 9th Tallinn Applied Art Triennial: Karin Roy Andersson (Sweden), Riikka Anttonen (Finland), Ieva Baltrėnaitė-Markevičė (Lithuania), Sofia Björkman (Sweden), Per Brandstedt (Sweden), Vincent Dumay (Sweden), Signe Fensholt (Denmark), Hanne Haukom (Norway), Severija Inčirauskaitė-Kriaunevičienė (Lithuania), Liisa Hietanen (Finland), Kati Kerstna (Estonia), Lauri Kilusk (Estonia), Karel Koplimets (Estonia), Arja Kärkkäinen (Finland), Krista Leesi (Eesti), Alves Ludovico (Soome), Jennie McMillen (Rootsi), Anda Munkevica (Latvia), Kadi Pajupuu (Estonia), Anu Penttinen (Finland), Tiina Puhkan (Eesti), Saara Renvall (Soome), Vilde Rudjord (Norra), Taavi Teevet (Estonia), Margit Terasmees (Estonia), Ketli Tiitsar (Estonia), Linda Vilka (Latvia), and Ellisif Hals, Yuvia Maini and Cassius Lambert (Sweden and Norway), presenting a collaborative work.

Exhibition design: Kärt Maran Technical team: Tõnu Narro, Mihkel Lember and Arvi Anderson Graphic design: Laura Pappa

Exhibition The Fine Lines of Constructiveness is open at the Kai Art Center 5.10.2024–16.02.2025. Kai Art Center is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 12–18.

Guided tours: 5.10 at 12.00 and 26.10 (school break special), 9.11, 23.11, 7.12, 11.01, 25.01, 15.02 at 14.00.

Tallinn Applied Art Triennial is an international applied art event, established in 1997 with the aim of supporting and empowering the development of the field of applied art and contemporary craft. The Triennial is supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Tallinn Culture and Sports Department, DHL Express Estonia AS, OnTheGoSystems, Puumerkki, Raitwood and MULL°.

Anu Almik


15/05/2024

15/05/2024

A record number of 470 artists or artist groups applied for the open call of the 9th Tallinn Applied Art Triennial. Among the applicants, 28 artists were selected whose works will be exhibited at the exhibition The Fine Lines of Constructiveness, opening in October this year at Kai Art Center. Applications for the triennial’s satellite programme are open until the end of May.

According to Maret Sarapu, the curator of the exhibition, the open call gave a great overview of what is current on the art scenes in the Nordic and the Baltic art fields. “Fascinating experiments with material, slow technologies, finding new use to forgotten or marginal materials definitely stood out,” said Sarapu. The highest number of submitted applications presented installations, there was also a considerable number of works of textile and fibre arts.

In total, 28 artists or groups were selected for the main exhibition of the triennial with works addressing the notion of constructiveness in a way that spoke to the curator the most. Selected artists include (in alphabetical order): Karin Roy Andersson (Sweden), Riikka Anttonen (Finland), Ieva Baltrėnaitė-Markevičė (Lithuania), Sofia Björkman (Sweden), Per Brandstedt (Sweden), Vincent Dumay (Sweden), Signe Fensholt (Denmark), Hanne Haukom (Norway), Liisa Hietanen (Finland), Severija Inčirauskaitė-Kriaunevičienė (Lithuania), Kati Kerstna (Estonia), Lauri Kilusk (Estonia), Karel Koplimets (Estonia), Arja Kärkkäinen (Finland), Krista Leesi (Estonia), Alves Ludovico (Finland), Jennie McMillen (Sweden), Anda Munkevica (Latvia), Kadi Pajupuu (Estonia), Anu Penttinen (Finland), Tiina Puhkan (Estonia), Saara Renvall (Finland), Vilde Rudjord (Norway), Taavi Teevet (Estonia), Margit Terasmees (Estonia), Ketli Tiitsar (Estonia), Linda Vilka (Latvia) and Ellisif Hals, Yuvia Maini and Cassius Lambert (Sweden and Norway) presenting a collaborative work.

For this edition of the triennial, application was open to artists from the Baltic and the Nordic countries. Among these, Finland was the most active with 118 applications, followed by 102 from Estonia, 81 from Sweden, 64 from Norway, 40 from Latvia and 39 from Lithuania. More modest interest was shown from Denmark and Iceland and in numerous cases, groups were made up of artists from several countries.

The main exhibition of the triennial, entitled The Fine Lines of Constructiveness takes place at Kai Art Center from 5 October 2024 until 16 February 2025.

As in previous years, the triennial is accompanied by a satellite programme consisting of exhibitions, performances, installations and other events that link to the theme of this year’s triennial and highlight applied art and contemporary craft in a broader sense.

Please submit information regarding potential events for the satellite programme no later than 31 May 2024 by filling out this form (LINK).

Tallinn Applied Art Triennial is an international applied art event, established in 1997 with the aim of supporting and empowering the development of the field of applied art and contemporary craft.

Anu Almik


22/01/2024

22/01/2024

Tallinn Applied Art Triennial announces an open call for its 2024 main exhibition The Fine Lines of Constructiveness. The triennial is also seeking applications for its satellite programme.

The open call for the main exhibition of the 9th Tallinn Applied Art Triennial welcomes applications from artists from the Baltic and the Nordic countries. For the main exhibition, artists will be selected via open call as well as via invitation by the curator.

The 2024 triennial is curated by Maret Sarapu, focusing on constructiveness, rebuilding and moving towards solutions. “For me, constructiveness is above all a willingness to experiment, to look for unexpected collaborations, to innovate and make something new,” says the curator. “Constructiveness can emerge when means are scarce, energy low or when it is understood that we need to be gentle with one another.” It can also appear in natural clear-mindedness. Constructiveness does not mean merely “pointing to the sore points in society” and then stopping there. Thus, we are seeking works that showcase individual or collective methods to move towards solutions.”

The call is open to both individuals and groups from a variety of fields of applied art and contemporary craft. Tallinn Applied Art Triennial seeks works either in physical or digital form. More information about the open call and the thematic focus of the triennial is available HERE. Submissions are open until 15 March 2024 via Typeform HERE.
The main exhibition of the triennial, titled The Fine Lines of Constructiveness opens at Kai Art Center on 4 October 2024 and remains open until 16 February 2025.

As in previous years, the triennial is accompanied by a satellite programme consisting of exhibitions, performances, installations and other events that link to the theme of this year’s triennial and highlight applied art and contemporary craft in a broader sense.

Please submit information regarding potential events for the satellite programme no later than 15 May 2024 to info@trtr.ee. We kindly ask that you include the date, location and a short description of the event in the e-mail. Based on submissions, the triennial compiles the satellite programme by autumn 2024. The triennial introduces the satellite programme in its communications, however, (co)funding for projects is not available.

Tallinn Applied Art Triennial is an international applied art event, established in 1997 with the aim of supporting and empowering the development of the field of applied art and contemporary craft.

Anu Almik


20/04/2021

The 8th Tallinn Applied Art Triennial opening at the end of May has selected events for its satellite programme. Among more than 20 exhibitions, the selection includes jewellery and glass art, site specific installations and events involving various fields of art. In the spirit of the times, the programme also features many window exhibitions and a flexible approach to programming.

“I am thrilled that despite uncertain circumstances, we are able to present a substantial satellite programme and artists have found clever ways to showcase their works,” said Merle Kasonen, the chairwoman of the Triennial Society. “Interpreting the world through your art is part of being an artist and it is equally important to share your creations with an audience. I believe and hope that art audiences, too, are hungry for culture.”

The theme of the 2021 triennial is “translucency” and many satellite exhibitions have been inspired by that. For example, the installation “In-Tangible” by Federica Cogliandro and Tauris Reose will be set up in the Noblessner area at the end of May, and Master’s students from jewellery, blacksmithing, glass and ceramics departments of the Estonian Academy of Art will present their work at the group exhibition “Phantasmagoria” at Sitsi Factory in Tallinn.

Solo shows include projects by jewellery artists Darja Popolitova (Hobusepea gallery), Kristiina Laurits (Hop gallery), Jaan Pärn (Meistrite Hoov gallery), and Marta Boan (at the Estonian Applied Art and Design Museum’s gallery space). An exciting and dignified combination of installations, objects and jewellery by Kadri Mälk, Julia Maria Künnap and Kai Koppel will be presented at the Laboratooriumi street chapel. Jewellery artists Triin Kukk and Merlin Meremaa showcase their work in a garage on Luha Street. A-gallery shows fresh work from 18 local and international artists in their windows as well as in the Vault.

Rait Prääts and Gleb Divov bring together glass art and augmented reality at Okapi gallery. Kai Kaljo shows her fused glass objects and jewellery at the applied art and design gallery Kunstiaken. In parallel with the triennial Estonian Applied Art and Design Museum welcomes visitors to two glass art shows by Tiina Sarapu and Ivo Lill.

The satellite programme also includes Riste Laasberg’s tapestry exhibition at St. Jacob’s Church in Viimsi, window exhibitions of Katariina Guild’s studios, and an exhibition by ceramics and glass art students of the Estonian Academy of Arts at Salme Cultural Centre.

The main exhibition of the 8th Tallinna Applied Art Triennial “Translucency” opens on 29 May at Kai Art Center and remains open to visitors until 15 August. The main exhibition of the Triennial is curated by Danish glass artist and art historian Stine Bidstrup, who selected works from 22 international artists to interpret the theme. While the main exhibition includes international artists, the satellite programme highlights local art and gives an overview of Estonian contemporary craft.

The events of the satellite programme take place in May and during summer months, a more detailed schedule will be announced as soon as the governmental Covid restrictions allow for that.

Anu Almik


05/01/2021

Tallinn Applied Art Triennial extends the deadline for application to satellite programme until next week. The Triennial welcomes project submissions that relate to its theme, translucency or introduce the field of applied art in other ways until Thursday, 14 January. We kindly ask that you include the date, location and a short description of the event and send it to info@trtr.ee.

The main exhibition of the 8th Tallinn Applied Art Triennial “Translucency” opens at Kai Art Center on 28 May 2021 and will remain open to visitors until 15 August 2021. The satellite programme welcomes exhibitions, performances, installations and other events taking place in Tallinn between May and August this year. The Triennial introduces the satellite programme in its communications, however, (co)funding for projects is not available.

The main exhibition of the Triennial is curated by Danish glass artist and art historian Stine Bidstrup, who selected works from 24 international artists to interpret the theme. The exhibition includes various fields of applied art and focuses on the critical potential of translucency in contemporary craft. The Triennial’s main exhibition features the following artists from Estonia: Linda
Aasaru, Eeva Käsper, Sandra Kosorotova, Julia Maria Künnap, Eve Margus-Villems, Helena Tuudelepp and Hanna-Maria Vanaküla.

The satellite programme of the previous Tallinn Applied Art Triennial in 2017 featured 26 exhibitions, performances, open studios and installation in various locations in Tallinn. The main exhibition of the Triennial was visited by around 5000 people during its three-month opening period and including its satellite programme, the total number of visitors to the Triennial was estimated at 30 000.

Tallinn Applied Art Triennial is an international art event established in 1997, organised by NGO Tallinn Applied Art Triennial Society. The Triennial contributes to the development of fields of applied art and contemporary craft.

Anu Almik


12/11/2020

The 8th Tallinn Applied Art Triennial, taking place next year invites artists to participate in its satellite programme. The Triennial welcomes projects that relate to its theme or introduce the field of applied art in a broader sense. Submissions are open until 7 January 2021.

Merle Kasonen, the Chairwoman of the Triennial says that the satellite programme welcomes exhibitions, performances, installations and other events taking place in Tallinn between May and August 2021. “The satellite programme of the Triennial allows focusing more attention on the field of applied art as a whole,” explains Merle Kasonen. “This provides the audience with a panoramic view of the field of contemporary craft – what themes artists working in various media are exploring and what the most exciting new directions are. The coherent programme gives the audience a better overview, while the events amplify one another and allow for a diverse experience.”

The main exhibition of the 8th Tallinn Applied Art Triennial titled “Translucency” opens at Kai Art Center on 28 May 2021 and welcomes visitors until 15 August 2021. The duration of the satellite programme is May–August 2021.

The main exhibition of the Triennial is curated by Danish glass artist and art historian Stine Bidstrup, who selected works from 24 international artists to interpret the theme. The exhibition includes various fields of applied art and focuses on the critical potential of translucency in contemporary craft. The Triennial’s main exhibition features the following artists from Estonia: Linda Aasaru, Eeva Käsper, Sandra Kosorotova, Julia Maria Künnap, Eve Margus-Villems, Helena Tuudelepp and Hanna-Maria Vanaküla.

The satellite programme of the previous Tallinn Applied Art Triennial in 2017 featured 26 exhibitions, performances, open studios and installation in various locations in Tallinn. The main exhibition of the Triennial was visited by around 5000 people during its three-month opening period and including its satellite programme, the total number of visitors to the Triennial was estimated at 30 000.

Please submit project proposals for the satellite programme of the Tallinn Applied Art Triennial before 7 January 2021 to info@trtr.ee. We kindly ask that you include the date, location and a short description of the event. Based on submissions, the Triennial compiles the satellite programme in early 2021. The Triennial introduces the satellite programme in its communications, however, (co)funding for projects is not available.

Tallinn Applied Art Triennial is an international art event established in 1997, organised by NGO Tallinn Applied Art Triennial Society. The Triennial contributes to the development of fields of applied art and contemporary craft.

Anu Almik


14/07/2017

The 7th Tallinn Applied Art Triennial is coming to end, the main exhibition at the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design is open until 23 July. The last exhibition of the satellite programme, “The perfect landscape. Earth, wood, fire, water”, by ceramic artist Karin Kalman is open until the beginning of August.

Karin Kalman. The perfect landscape. Photo: Tiit Rammul

The exhibition, displaying wood firing, opens on Monday, 17 July at HOP Gallery (Hobusepea 2). The artist will exhibit a collage of works burnt in different firing kilns. The emphasis is on the interplay of unglazed surfaces, the work of fire, the use of different clays together and, for contrast’ sake, interposing these with white delicate porcelain pieces. The second part of the exhibition is made up of a series of wheel-thrown porcelain cups, fired over several years in different wood or gas kilns, displaying the widely divergent results one can get while using the same glazes.

The exhibition “The perfect landscape. Earth, wood, fire, water” will be open until 1 August.

The main exhibition of the triennial “Ajavahe. Time Difference” is open to visitors until 23 July, Wed–Sun, 11–18. This Saturday, 15 July at 12.00 everyone is welcome to take part in the last guided tour, led by inventor and textile artist Kadi Pajupuu. The tour is in Estonian and about an hour long. Entry with museum ticket, which also grants access to the new permanent exhibition on the second floor of the museum.

 

Anu Almik


17/05/2017

In May the satellite programme of 7th Tallinn Applied Art Triennial features five new exhibitions.

Photo: Andrey Kulpin

Sofia Hallik: Born-Digitals vol.2
12.05-02.06.2017, Draakon gallery (Pikk 18)
Mon-Fri 11-18, Sat 11-17

Sofia Hallik is a jewellery artist who is interested in the way суberspace and digital technology influence jewellery.

“Born-Digitals vol.2” was initially planned as a sequel of the first exhibition “Born-Digitals”, that was on show earlier this year. However, works from the first exhibition went missing, and thus the author decided to portray the essence of the lost works via their digital phantoms, namely through videos, photos, comments, screenshots that still remain in the cyberspace. Even though we may never see the pieces in their physical form, their digital imprint allows us to virtualize the material form of the jewellery.

Photo: Ken Oja

Sandra Kossorotova: Precarious State of Mind
15.-30.05.2017, Hop gallery (Hobusepea 2)
Thu-Tue 11-18

Sandra Kossorotova is a designer and artist who’s artistic practice focuses on the relationship between socio-political powers and the human bodies.

In her solo show Precarious State of Mind the artist explores mental health as socio-political and ideological issues, rather than personal and biological problems. The show features new digitally printed textiles by Sandra Kossorotova. The fabrics were produced during her graduate placement at the Centre for Advanced Textiles at the Glasgow School of Arts.

Estonian Academy of Arts’ glass art department students: Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. Vol 2
16.-20.05.2017, Estonian Academy of Arts’ foyer gallery (Estonia pst 7)
Mon-Sun 10-20

The second year students of the Estonian Academy of Arts’ Glass Art Department present their works, approaching the essence of the human soul in various ways – they look into desires and obsessions, reflecting back at us again and again.

Participating artists: Elvira Beljajeva, Marie Järva, Eva-Maria Mirzojeva and Gerti-Carmen Tein.

Photo: Mariliis Kapp

Estonian Academy of Arts’ ceramics department students: TIME Keepers
19.-31.05.2017, Jahuladu (Rotermanni 8)
Mon-Sun 10-20

What is time? Does time exist? Does it really flow? How differently do we perceive time? Is physical time objective? Time has great social importance and value. Do we perceive it as a limited resource? The second year ceramics students of Estonian Academy of Arts interpret the meaning of time.

Participating artists: Cathy Saarm, Merilin Tartes, Mariliis Kapp, Mart Vaarpuu, Joosep Pihl.

Photo: Liina Lelov

Estonian Academy of Arts’ jewellery and blacksmithing students: Observa(c)tion
19.05-04.06.2017, Russian Theatre (Vabaduse väljak 5)
Tue-Sun 14-18

The second year students of the Estonian Academy of Arts’ Jewellery and Blacksmithing Department present a multi sensory inquiry into people’s behaviour patterns and daily rituals. Is this a hidden or public observation, are we observing ourselves or others – these questions will be answered at the exhibition. The works are made of materials like iron, glass, silk, ashes, brass, precious wood, porcelain, precious stones.

Participating artists: Anastassia Nikitina, Claudia Lepik, Liisbeth Kirss, Liina Lelov, Kätlin Kokk, Veronika Ovsyannikova, Sigrid Kuusk, Ljubov Kedrina, Marilin Laas (glass artist), Kaia Ansip, Liisbet Linntamm.

Anu Almik