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TIME

TIME, a celebration of the 85. birthday of the filigree-master Aino Kapsta, is an overview of her works created over the recent years.

“My exhibition is a cross-section of the ideas I have arrived at when working in my beloved filigree technique which has fascinated me for decades now. I have often found myself starting from the centre, then moving towards the edges – a process I have discovered to closely resemble making of mandalas. Into each element and detail I have laid good thoughts. Making this exhibition was a kind of therapy for me: I was deeply at peace and experienced the lightness of overwhelming joy.

The show includes three autonomous sets of works: brooches, pendants and neck pieces.

The brooches carry the initial vision of the show, the luminescence of clouds, while the pendants and neck pieces pushed the concept forward. Mostly, I chose to use semi-precious stones. Quartz with its brightness fits my vision perfectly, the powerful essence of garnets and the warmth of topaz is supported by gold spheres. I wish for the inner peace and harmony to radiate to the viewers through my work.”

Aino Kapsta was born in Saaremaa in 1935. She graduated from Kuressaare Secondary School and continued her studies at the State Art Institute. Although Kapsta’s first choice was sculpture, in 1961 she graduated from the Metal Department and in 1966 became a member of the Estonian Artists’ Association. It is probably thanks to her sculpture studies that she created several panels, fountains, decorative metal grids, clocks, and sculptures in Narva, Tartu, Moscow, Jurmala and Saaremaa, many of them in collaboration with Mai Mägi.

Even though Kapsta has always enjoyed experimenting with materials and techniques, due to circumstances brass, red copper, bronze, melchior, and new silver remained her favourite materials for a long time. A wide selection of these items belongs to the collection of Estonian Applied Art and Design Museum.

Freedom to use precious metals allowed for experimenting with new techniques. For example, melting numerous small details into various compositions, and of course, filigree technique, which is creatively extremely satisfying due to its complexity and abundant detail, while being simultaneously fragile and delicate, yet powerful and resilient.

ARTIST TALK

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SUMMATAVET x TUBERG x RANNIK x TALI+SISKA

A SERPENT KING
Kärt Summatavet

The King of Serpents is a wise companion and powerful energy within the freely flowing body. In Estonian fairy tales and folklore this great and glorious mystical serpent will come to help people when they need to be saved and give them advice. Sometimes he also helps people to get medicine or heals them when they have been attacked by poisonous snakes. In many cultures around the World the King of Serpents are holy mythological powers who do not harm and protect people. Within the body of man, this is a circulation of energies as the serpent around the central axis or the Tree of Life, Sephiroth, the serpent of wisdom, Kundalini, timelessness and immortality.

Kärt Summatavet (PhD) is Professor of Liberal Arts at the University of Tartu. She graduated in Tallinn as a metal artist (1982-1987) and exhibits since 1986. She made her doctoral dissertation in Finland in the Department of Design at the Aalto University in Helsinki (1998-2005). She is an artist, researcher, project manager, expert in creative industries, designer-entrepreneur and innovator.

COMIC “COMPOST”
Kertu Tuberg

“after a meal
the juicier part is consumed
only remains
bones and crumbs
a matter of taste”

Kertu Tuberg is a freelance jewellery artist based in Tartu. She has higher education from the Estonian Academy of Arts. Tuberg has participated in exhibitions since 2001.

WORK NIGHT
Kaire Rannik

These are pieces that are born at night, blind, sad and lonely. It’s good to bring them to light to see if they like it or to find someone they might like them. Whether there is a story hidden in them or not is up to the viewers to decide.

Kaire Rannik is a jewellery artist who graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts, whose works were already recognized in the early years with the Young Artist Award at the Tallinn Applied Arts Triennial in 1997. As the member of the artist group F.F.F.F. in 2002 with the annual award of the Estonian Cultural Endowment. The jewellery artist, who is active in the Estonian design landscape daily, loves the hidden beauty in simplicity and draws inspiration from domestic nature and basic geometric elements. Every Kaire Ranniku jewellery also has a timeless connection with the grandfather who worked in the Old Town of Tallinn as a goldsmith, which is reflected in the wonderfully clean finish of his charming jewellery and high-level goldsmithing.

R_R HI-TECH
Risto Tali and Rait Siska

The central motive of the bracelet is a unique locking system that appears after a laser-cut titanium sheet has been formed to 3-Dimensional shape. In this function, it creates an effective and elegant visual pattern that technically holds the bracelet together, though it seems like it should not do so. This exhibition is introducing the process as well as the unique piece of jewelry created by the authors, who tend to think in metal. Inspirations are partly coming from the medieval the knights, and treads, Old town of Tallinn where both authors live and work, and keep the blacksmith non-profit association called “Porta Longi Montis MTÜ” at “seppade torn”(blacksmiths tower).

Rait Siska and Risto Tali are fruitful tandem of artists, who have participated in numerous art contest, winning and producing many pieces of art from 2003-2020. As well their art has been exhibited in so many occasions, if to list it all, we would need lots of paper and time. Most known are probably the works “Butterfly Gates” at Tartu University Narva College, situated in Narva. The biggest ongoing project is working with Bocuse d`Or Estonia. This cooperation has lasted so far for 10 years. It includes the design and production of an individual set of ceremonial dishes for each competition candidate of Estonia. This co-work was also been exhibited this year on the 24.th February Estonian Independence day reception at Viljandi, held by The Office of the President of the Republic of Estonia. The latest work that has been in public attention was the design of 15€ silver coin, dedicated to Jüri Jaakson, issued by Estonian Bank.

ARTIST TALK: KÄRT SUMMATAVET (est)