Exhibition on window

Back Posted on August 26, 2020February 2, 2022 by A-galerii

ARRAK x PÄRTELPOEG x PAAL x VOOSALU

5 KNIVES
Tõnu Arrak

For some time it was a challenge for me, now it has become my profession. I simply wanted to make these objects. It is the thing I do best, it still has not become boring, it still challenges me. These knives have been made in the past year.

Tõnu Arrak (1964) is a knifemaker and a metal artist. Between 1985–1990 Arrak studied metal arts at the Estonian Academy of Arts. Before settling into his current practice of professional knifemaking, Arrak was a jewellery artist, blacksmith and a bladesmith. Knives made by Arrak – bearing the name Tuuts – are highly valued by many distinguished chefs in Estonia and abroad.

The knives of Tõnu Arrak have received multiple awards in France, Belgium, Germany and Finland. His solo exhibition “Striped Iron” was a collaboration with Estonian History Museum (2004). His latest exhibition “40 knives. Tõnu Arrak and Friends” took place at the National Library of Estonia (2014).

WHEN TIME STOPS / the world rushes on
Mari Pärtelpoeg

When the flow of my time stops: I see grass growing high, seeds ripening, a river finding the way between stones, clouds slowly changing shape.

Knitting silver wire is an old and slow technique of Indian and Tibetan origin, demanding patience – though thoroughly enjoyable. The details added to chain are either casted or pressed.

Mari Pärtelpoeg (1956) studied at the Estonian State Art Institute specializing in metal art (1974–1979). She has exhibited since 1978. In addition to participating at applied art exhibitions and quadriennials in Germany, Denmark and Sweden, her works have been shown at the Contemporary Swedish Silver Gallery in Stockholm (1992) and at the Scandinavian and Baltics applied arts exhibition “FROM DREAMS TO REALITY” in Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, Copenhagen, Göteborg and Helsinki (1993/94). She has participated at the Tallinn Applied Art Triennial multiple times. She is one of the founders of ON-grupp but also works as an independent artist. Pärtelpoeg’s works are in the collections of the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design. Mari Pärtelpoeg has shown her works at a duo exhibition at Tallinn Art Salon together with Anu Paal (1986) and at solo exhibitions at A-gallery. Her latest exhibition “Garten”, collaboration with Katrin Veegen, was exhibited at Trofejas, Berlin (2017).

LONGINGS
Anu Paal

On display are brooches inspired by the motives of traditional sõlg and prees chest adornments. The brooches are made of wood and bark, conveying the idea of deep interconnectedness of indigenous heritage and the natural environment.

Anu Paal (1951) graduated from the department of jewellery and metalwork at ERKI (State Art Institute of the Estonian SSR) in 1979. She has participated in exhibitions in Estonia and abroad since 1978. In addition to applied art exhibitions in Estonia and the Baltics, Paal has participated at numerous exhibitions in Scandinavia, Germany, UK and Moscow since the end of the 1980s. Among others, she has had solo and collaborative exhibitions at Tallinn Art Salon (1986), the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design (1990, 1995, 2002), Kristjan Raud Museum (1995), Tallinn Art Hall (1996, 2011, 2016), Adamson-Eric Museum (2001) and at A-gallery (2016). Her works are in the collections of the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design. Paal was the recipient of the Kristjan Raud Art Award in 1991.

SOMEWHERE ELSE
Ülle Voosalu

That which is here is somewhere else.
A thought occurs, rushing past at great speed, and is realized somewhere else.
You only need to begin with an action and it will start reiterating itself, going its own way.
The end result is unpredictable or too simple to predict. It is decided somewhere else.
A game that cannot be captured here and now.
A game that is played somewhere else.

Ülle Voosalu (1954) graduated from ERKI as a jewellery artist. Since 1980, she has been had solo and joint exhibitions in Estonia,former Czechoslovakia, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia and Gemany. Voosalu is a member of the Estonian Artists’ Association. She worked as an artist in Tartu Ars and as a lecturer in Pallas University of Applied Sciences. Currently she is working as a freelance jewellery artist.

ARTIST TALK: TÕNU ARRAK (est)

Back Posted on July 29, 2020February 2, 2022 by A-galerii

ARNOLD x LEPIK x NIINEMÄGI x KOSENKRANIUS on the windows of A-Gallery

EXTENDED PLAY
Georg Arnold

On the show is an EP (Extended Play). Each disc has one track, which are interpretations of ornament based on the Archimedean spiral. The motive comes from the vinyl records. Tools used were a plasma cutter and a lathe, the material is steel. Made in the autumn of 2019 in the workshop of Estonian Academy of Arts while being an artist in residence.

Georg Arnold (1994) received his BA of Blacksmithing from the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2019 and continued there as an artist in residence. Took part in a “Metal Art Program” in Sweden at HDK-Valand Steneby in the spring of 2020. From experimenting with technologies he is now choosing to work more with gas and plasma cutting. Some of his works are in the collection of Estonian Academy of Arts. This is his first exhibition after graduation. Out of the context the artist is inspired by the wine, music and collecting.

ABOUT FACE
Claudia Lepik

I spent a month in 2019 in residence in New York city. Bright lights, fascinating locales and long walks offered respite and inspiration. Invigorated by my surroundings I found new passion for work and in particular for material. So came together a new body of work of face and nose jewelry composed around layered structures and colours. The three pieces on display are a fragment from my show “About Face” which took place the same year at the New York Jewelry Week.

Claudia Lepik is a jewellery artist. She obtained her jewellery BA degree at the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2018 and was the recipient of the EAA Young Applied Artist Prize the same year. After graduating, Claudia has participated in multiple group exhibitions in Estonia and Greece. Her first solo exhibition took place last Autumn during NYC Jewelry Week.

HALFTONE
Maarja Niinemägi

Each piece of jewellery brings together meanings, and as wearers of jewellery, we belong to the world of various unique ideas, where color also plays a special role. By using color in the material, saturated or accented, the jewellery becomes an abstract combination of color and form. Titanium as a material provides many possibilities for this. The jewellery is very light and the reflection of colors from the metal surface is clear and transparent. Laser cut forms are completed by handmade finish, so each piece of jewellery can be a little different. The exhibition features airy, three-dimensional earrings. The technologies used are laser cutting, spot welding, anodizing.

Maarja Niinemägi has participated in exhibitions in Estonia, Europe, China, America and Australia. Maarja Niinemägi graduated Estonian Academy of Arts, specializing on jewellery art (BA 2004, MA 2008). She has been an exchange student at the Trier University of Applied Sciences in Idar-Oberstein in Germany, developing skills in gemstone engraving and design. Her works have been purchased for the collection of the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, the Alice and Louis Koch Collection in the Swiss National Museum, private collections (Kadri Mälk EST, Susan Cummins USA, Lars Phalmann FIN). She belongs to the Estonian Artists ‘Union and to the Estonian Designers’ Union. Maarja Niinemägi currently lives in Tartu and works in the jewelry art studio Cirrus.

… AND THE NINE-HEADED WYVERN
Katrin Kosenkranius

A fairy tale says… to find it, you need to wear out three pairs of iron shoes and eat three loaves of stone bread, and then there is only the nine-headed Wyvern left, whose masks fall when you surrender to it… only after that the answer arrives…

Katrin Kosenkranius has studied art at the Academia Non Grata and jewellery art at the Estonian Academy of Arts. She has also spiced up her taste in jewellery with internships in Italy and Sweden. Katrin has participated in exhibitions to greater and lesser extent both here and there. In 2012 she was honoured with Roman Tavast Scholarship.

ARTIST TALK: GEORG ARNOLD (est)
ARTIST TALK: MAARJA NIINEMÄGI (est)

Back Posted on July 2, 2020February 2, 2022 by A-galerii

KIBE x NIEDRE x KUBJA

EYE OF THE TEMPEST
Kristiina Kibe

Captured moments of inescapable power. Things that we have not experienced can be sensed as terrifying, more powerful or beautiful. It is said that fear has big eyes. When our eyes are filled with fear, do we see that which does not exist or rather, are we seeing with a heightened sense of precision?

Kristiina Kibe (1970) is an Estonian metal artist and a biologist. She teaches metal chemistry and patination technology at the Estonian Academy of Arts. Kibe received her BA at University of Tartu in 1994, studying biology. In the years 2002-2005 she learned jewelry and metal art at the master classes of Estonian Academy of Arts (Kadri Mälk, Rein Mets, Piret Hirv, Bettina Speckner). In 2009 she received an MA in Jewelry and Metal Arts at the Estonian Academy of Arts. She has participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions since.

SURVIVAL OF MERCY
Jan Niedre

To survive at the mercy of another.
To have mercy on all living.
To live without mercy and have mercy in living.
Mercy touches the living and only in life can we be merciful.
And David said to Gad, I am in a
great strait: let us fall now
into the hand of the LORD; for
his mercies are great: and let me
not fall
into the hand of man.

(2Sm 24:14)

Sven Tali (1970), working under the artist persona Jan Niedre, is an Estonian jewelry artist and a photographer. He received his BA in Jewelry and Metal Arts from the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2003 and continued his studies at ESAD MATOSINHOS (College of Art and Design, Porto). Tali has participated in group and solo exhibitions with jewelry and conceptual objects since 2003. Between 2006 and 2012, he served as the chairman of the Estonian Association of Metal Artists.

BE COOL
Kai Kubja

Jewellery made of silver.

Created according to mood and in the moment. Some moments have been longer than others.

All jewellery has been created listening to good music in nice weather and with absolutely no restrictions. Let the wearer of the jewellery recognise the magic, the artist does not intervene by making up stories. The sole inspiration for the author is the emotion in the moment – black-and-white today, colourful and sweet tomorrow.

Everything is mixed up and different, but with one common denominator – the artist.

Kai Kubja has a degree in art pedagogy, she studied at the jewellery department at Estonian Academy of Arts, and has worked and taught in Cologne, Germany. Kai’s specialities are enamelling and wearable miniature painting. Pearls and antique jewellery are her great passions. She creates her jewellery in her home studio in Aegviidu, where every day is like Friday…

ARTIST TALK: KAI KUBJA (est)

Back Posted on June 8, 2020February 2, 2022 by A-galerii

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)

Back Posted on May 11, 2020February 2, 2022 by A-galerii

KEDELAUK x OPPAR x PORROSON x TRUUS

SÜSIMUS
Annika Kedelauk

“Süsimus” is a fictional word, which is the symbiosis of Estonian words “inside” (sisemus), “in me” (minus), “boredom” (tüdimus) and “pitch black” (süsimust). These are walks along rocks, inside rocks and between rocks. I’m like water, which explores, but more fierce and impatient. Sometimes I force myself straight through, sometimes I come back, sometimes I’ll approach from another angle. You cannot go around. As a result, rocks sometimes throw splinters, tensions develop and release, both in me and in the rocks. What I leave behind is air and light or bolts.

Annika Kedelauk received her BA of Jewellery and Blacksmithing from Estonian Academy of Arts in 2010 and has been on exchange in Barcelonas’ Escola Massana Centre d’Art i Disseny in 2009. In 2015 she followed a course in stone polishing led by Alexander Friedrich in Idar-Oberstein, Germany, sparking the inspiration for the current exhibition. Annika Kedelauk is a member of the Estonian Artists Association since 2012 and is part of the artist group OTSE!. Her works are in the collections of Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, the Estonian Academy of Arts and in the collection of international contemporary jewellery art at Legnica Art Gallery in Poland.

STEPS IN TIME
Anneli Oppar

Time passes by… sometimes we get lost in our thoughts. Steps help to measure the personal perception of time. I have used digital technology as steps.

In my work I am thinking whether digital processes can be experienced. Also, are they similar to the way we are experiencing time? Natural patterns with their characteristic nonlinear movements are supporting the process of describing the human perception of time. Nonlinear time is perceived for instance when we are wandering in our thoughts. I compare such perceptions about time to digital processes.

The subject of the current research started from the wish to describe the time spent in the countryside in summer. A circular drop as a memory from summer is treated as an abstract image.

Anneli Oppar (b. 1980) is a jewellery artist who lives and works in Tallinn. She earned her Bachelor’s (2013) and Master’s (2019) degree in Jewellery from the Estonian Academy of Arts and received the Young Jewellery Artist Award of the Estonian Cultural Endowment from Roman Tavast OÜ. Her field of research is related to digital processes, as she uses digitality as a tool to describe something personal, that is difficult to measure – perception of time. Creating her works she uses 3D printing technology and experiments with various materials. Anneli Oppar has participated in exhibitions in Estonia and abroad since 2012.

WAKE UP
Tarvo Porroson

Necropsy of the power source of the vehicle (IŽ 412IE) that provided a near-death experience on the morning of the author’s birthday.

Tarvo Porroson (b. 1989) graduated from Vana-Vigala Technical and Service School with a degree in blacksmithing (2009), after which he started studying at the Estonian Academy of Arts in the Department of Jewellery and Blacksmithing. Porroson values reuse in personal creation. He has mostly worked as a freelancer both in Estonia and abroad, creating jewellery, forgings, sculptures, design furniture and mechanisms. Porroson won 2nd place in the design competition “Men’s Thing” organized by the Estonian Designers’ Union (2013) and participated in the III joint exhibition on recycling “Give New Life” in Pärnu Museum of New Art (2015)

IRON CURE
Fred Truus

Fred Truus is a metal artist, who finds inspiration in the flow of molten steel.

His recent showcase window exhibition ‘Iron Cure’ in A-Gallery reflects the fear in the current world and hectic search for solutions. The society has been overtaken by a constant buzz, concealing a tense infection, seeking for an iron cure.

Fred’s sculptures are created in flame and fire and shaped with the hammer. His works are made from new and recycled steel. Through bricolage he gives new life to dead and abandoned materials. Fred has successfully participated in national public art competitions, his works have been exhibited in Italy, USA, UK, Sweden, Germany and Estonia. He is a Fulbright scholar who gained his blacksmith arts BA degree at Estonian Academy of Arts and his MA at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

ARTIST TALK: ANNELI OPPAR (est)
ARTIST TALK: TARVO PORROSON (est)
ARTIST TALK: FRED TRUUS (est)

Back Posted on March 12, 2020February 2, 2022 by A-galerii

VINN x OJASTE x VEEGEN x LAURITS

SPELL OF LIMESTONE
Raili Vinn

Raili Vinn is mostly known in Estonian art history for using and highlighting limestone as decorative material. Together with geologist and limestone researcher Helle Perens, she has created series of limestone jewellery since 1992, emphasising the diversity of local limestone. Raili Vinn has exceptional knowledge of stone – she has great sensitivity towards stones used in jewellery and she makes her choices with enthusiasm and profound dedication to the material. Perhaps this is the reason why she can shape limestone into jewellery with such mastery – Vinn skilfully makes use of the colour, patterns and fossils in limestone, sourced from various locations and geological strata.

SPELL OF LIMESTONE is Raili Vinn’s sixth exhibition dedicated to limestone.

Raili Vinn (1943) is an Estonian jewellery artist. After graduating from secondary school Vinn studied goldsmithing at ARS Juveel, so it was only natural that she continued her studies at the Metal Art Department at the State Art Institute of the Estonian SSR, which she graduated from in 1969. The following years Vinn spent creating window displays and decorations for Soviet retail and later worked as a graphic designer for Ajakirjanduslevi. She remained active as an artist and was known both in Estonia and elsewhere for her fine and distinguished gold and silver jewellery with a crisp and concrete feel, softened by skilfully chosen precious and semi-precious stones. It was around that time Vinn had her solo exhibitions (1977 and 1987), participated in applied art exhibition of the Estonian SSR, Baltic Applied Art Triennials and international jewellery exhibitions in Jablonec, Czechoslovakia (1984 and 1987). In the last decade of 20th century Vinn was the head artist of Ars Juveel for a short period of time. After Estonia regained independence, Vinn began a new, still ongoing era in her work – with her focus on limestone, she also combines sea shells found on the beach, corals, stones from the sea and other found materials with gold, silver and precious stones. During the past three decades her work has been exhibited both at solo exhibitions in Estonia as well as in Kiel, Berlin, Copenhagen, Krakow and elsewhere. In 1994 she received the Ede Kurrel Prize and her works belong to the collections of Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design. In 2020 Raili Vinn’s jewellery are exhibited at The Anatomy of Estonian Art Jewellery 1953-2019 at Tartu Art Museum.

HANDFUL OF PRAYERS
Hans-Otto Ojaste

HANDFUL OF PRAYERS juxtaposes the movements involved in snacking on sunflower seeds and handling prayer beads. Using fingers to handle prayer beads is used to help with saying prayers and mantras in various religions. Over thousands of years people have developed physical algorithms to code their mind. Fingering beads is synchronised with repeating prayers or mantras. Placing this motif into street culture, one can find a parallel with snacking on sunflower seeds. Just like beads, the seeds are handled with fingers. The movements of removing the seed from its husk and eating it are repetitive. Saying a prayer is replaced by chewing.

Hans-Otto Ojaste graduated from the Department of Jewellery and Blacksmithing at the Estonian Academy of Arts (BA 2012) and belongs to the artist duo Urmas-Ott. He has exhibited in group exhibitions both in Estonia and abroad.

The exhibition of Hans-Otto Ojaste can be viewed in a virtual window here.

REFLECTIONS
Katrin Veegen

Dirty sweets. That amazing place through your eyes. Again. The same crap every spring…

The exhibition REFLECTIONS brings together a small selection of recent works by Veegen. The roots of the stories stored in these pieces of jewellery go all the way to the experiential moments created and amplified by nature around us. Some moments are just one-time reflections, some moments are flickers that reproduce themselves. From year to year.

Katrin Veegen is a graduate of the Estonian Academy of Arts (2002) and has spent some time during her studies at the University of Central England (UCE). She has participated at numerous jewelry exhibitions in Estonia, Europe and the US. Katrin Veegen has been awarded the Ede Kurrel Prize, and her exhibition LAURELS was selected as the A-Gallery´s Best Exhibition of the Year in 2007. In 2017, Veegen established her own brand, under which she creates small-scale jewelry series and unique artisan jewellery from her studio at Hobusepea street.

PARTY
Kristiina Laurits

“Like food, jewellery has the ability to create the illusion of a full stomach. To be convinced, all you need to do is smell and taste. Pure, symbolic materials, like bread, have always been alluring. Their constantly changing qualities and abilities to change their angles of reflection have always been captivating. My jewellery juggles great narratives like faith, hope and love without shame. And, also suffering is part of this party”. – Kristiina Laurits

Kristiina Laurits studied in Estonian Academy of Arts, department of jewellery and blacksmithing (BA 1997, MA 2003). At the year 2000 she visited the jewellery department of the Escola Massana school in Barcelona. She has participated in more than 80 jewellery exhibitions in Europe, China, USA. Her works are in public collections in Estonia and US. Since 1999 she is a member of Estonian jewellery group Castle in the Air. In 2017 Laurits published the artist book THE HAPPY FEW. Jewellery and Objects. Currently, she works as a freelance artist in Tallinn.

ARTIST TALK: RAILI VINN (est)
ARTIST TALK: KATRIN VEEGEN (est)
ARTIST TALK: KRISTIINA LAURITS (est)

Back Posted on February 21, 2020February 2, 2022 by A-galerii

LOVERS

They know themselves, move in parallel, bubble into pink slime and keep on going.

LOVERS are Vaida Suits, Mart Kekišev + Kairin Koovit, Liina Lelov + Valdek Laur, Adolfas Šaulys + Mari Relo-Šaulys

FROM TIME TO TIME
Vaida Suits

Vaida Suits (b. 1931) is an Estonian metal artist, whose dynamic work is characterised by a labour-intensive process, Art Nouveau forms and extremely fine skills in traditional techniques. Still, her signature style is always clearly defined and even laconic. Suits was the only woman working at the ARS Art Products Factory in steel engraving and later as a designer, creating both unique series as well as extensive commissions for institutions in Estonia and elsewhere in Soviet Union. Working as a jewellery designer at the Tallinn Fashion House her work was well received also in fashion shows in London, an extraordinary achievement for a designer from the Soviet Union. Praised for her impeccable work ethic and an original style, Suits has taken part in exhibitions from the Balkans to Norway and from Italy to Mongolia. Her works are in the collections of the Museum of Decorative, Applied and Folk Art in Moscow and the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design.

As a tribute to Vaida Suits’ creative life of more than half a century, A-Gallery is displaying in its two windows rings, bracelets, necklaces and objects created from the 1960s onwards. There are examples of filigree, embossment, and engraving, as well as compositions of various materials.

TOGETHER
Mart Kekišev, Kairin Koovit

The material is composed of two elements, joined together and moving in unison, exploring boundaries between two people and possibilities for togetherness. The works are made of Damascus steel and in the mokume-gane technique.

Mart Kekišev studied at the Department of Jewellery and Blacksmithing at the Estonian Academy of Arts. For the last ten years he has worked as a freelance metal artist. For the past five years Kekišev has worked as a blacksmithing teacher in a vocational school. Last autumn he began his Master’s studies at the Department of Jewellery and Blacksmithing at the Estonian Academy of Arts.

Kairin Koovit studied at the Department of Jewellery and Blacksmithing at the Estonian Academy of Arts. She has participated in exhibitions both in Estonia and internationally. Koovit has been an intern at Peter de Wit’s and Margareth Sandström’s studio. In 2011 she received the Roman Tavast Young Jewellery Artist Stipend and since 2012 works as artist and designer at Roman Tavast.

#ROOSAMULL @ROOSAILA

We like #roosaila #roosalöga #pinkslime.

Pink bubble oozes both pink spittle and pink slime – everything that is kind-hearted, tolerant and happy. Pink spittle has always existed, but only found its material form in May last year, when it became necessary to remind people that there is nothing wrong with living in a pink bubble. And so, the meaning of this derogatory term was flipped and converted into something positive and joyful. By now pink spittle has found its way to Sweden, Tunisia and the US, been part of countless protests, conferences, events, and been pinned onto the chests of many prominent suspicious elements.

The window exhibition at A-Gallery concludes the material journey of pink spittle. These are the last of spittles and slimes that ooze into the real world from the pink bubble. It is only appropriate that the symbol’s final presentation takes place in the only art jewellery gallery in Estonia. Very soon, everything goes back to normal again.

Pink spittle is created by jewellery artist Liina Lelov and Valdek Laur, a student at Department of Jewellery and Blacksmithing at the Estonian Academy of Arts.

LIFE 100
Mari Relo-Šaulys, Adolfas Šaulys

“Our good friends noted a few days ago that, our ages combined, we are now 100 years old. A+M=100

The exhibition highlights two significant traits of our joint work. One is exemplified by the socially critical exhibition “Viva la Vida!” (2005), part of our home pharmacies series, and the other by “Kaks õuna” (Two Apples, 2020), commenting on the show “ELU 100″ (LIFE 100), and continuing the tradition of gilding everyday objects”.

“The artists’ first larger joint exhibition „Viva la Vida!“ (2005, A-Gallery, currently Hop) focused on the high number of pharmacies in the city. The artists asked if it is better or even safer to live in a city, where galleries, theatres, cinemas and small businesses are replaced by pharmacies. Does the hope of immortality and taking right pills to alleviate lesser or worse ills makes us happier?” – Ketli Tiitsar

Mari Relo Šaulys and Adolfas Šaulys are Estonian jewellery artists, whose remarkable joint work has been well received both in Estonia and internationally. They have had 15 joint exhibitions and have together received the Ede Kurrel Prize from the Association of Metal Artists of Estonia in 2005, the Annual Award of the Estonian Cultural Endowment in 2010, and A-Gallery’s Vault Room Exhibition Prize in 2015. In 2002 they won the competition “Amber in Interiors” organised by the gallery of the Palanga Amber Museum.

Back Posted on January 15, 2020July 7, 2022 by A-galerii

Balašov x Vellerind x Kotselainen

BALAŠOV x VELLERIND x KOTSELAINEN creates an insight into the transmission of the spirit of metal art between generations on the example of three families. Mother and daughter Tea and Kertu Vellerind, father and son Andrei and Igor Balašov and brother and sister Katarina and Kalle Kotselainen will participate in the exhibition.

“You can’t pass on your knowledge more heartily or passionately than by growing together, playing at the grassroots level. There is something sincere, joyful and reverent in this unconscious transmission of the metal spirit, which infects the following generations with knowledge and creativity,” says A-Gallery gallerist and jewellery artist Marita Lumi about the exhibition.

RELIQUARY
Andrei Balašov

“The mini sculptures in the exhibition are made with a principle inspired by the Middle Ages. A reliquary is a thing, a box or an unfolding storage in which very sacred and valuable things are stored. Reliquaries can be found, for example, in Catholic and Orthodox churches.
The exhibition presents four silver figures, three of which are reliquaries. The figure of a woman is LILY, or woman as a temptress, the second is WAITING FOR THE SUN with a red stone, and the third is SAINT SEBASTIAN pierced with arrows.”

Andrei Balašov (b. 1965) graduated from Tallinn Art University and improved his education at the Lahti Design Institute. His works have been shown, among others, at the Tallinn Applied Art Triennale, in galleries SOFA (Chicago), Sienna Gallery (Lenox, USA), Galerie Beeld Aambeeld (Enschede, Netherlands), Gallery Chic Choc (Berlin), Gallery Stockgard (Siuntio, Finland) and Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design.

BORDER POSTS
Igor Balašov

“Our understanding of the structure of the world is sometimes beautiful illusion. The metaphor of the cornerstone as an unshakable boundary loses its meaning.

The year was 1990. These works are like a relationship between two countries. Like border posts.

One of the posts has the symbols of one country and graphic details are used, for example, Orthodox symbols and the time of the council. On the other, the Estonian coat of arms and crown – symbols of the republic. “

Igor Balašov (b. 1940 in Russia) is a meritorious Estonian sculptor and member of Estonian Artists’ Association, studied at Estonian Applied Art Institute in 1959-1965. Perhaps his most famous artwork is TELESILM (TV-eye), which decorates the building of Estonian Television. Balašov has also created monumental sculptures elsewhere – his works are in Osaka, Japan, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine and the Netherlands. He has participated in prestigious art fairs and exhibitions all over the world, and his works belong to the collections of prestigious foundations and museums (Estonian Art Museum, Tretyakov Gallery, Pushkin Museum, etc.).

BALANCE
Tea Vellerind

“The idea of my works is balance. Since I once wanted to become an architect, I am still interested in the balance of spatial volumes, simplicity and conciseness.
Everyone has their golden ratio, and I’m looking for mine.”

Tea Vellerind (b. 1939 in Rakvere) graduated from Estonian Applied Art Institute with a specialization in metal construction. From 1966, she worked as an artist at the Ars-Juveel factory. Tea has participated in numerous individual and group exhibitions both at home and abroad, among others at the Art Salon (today’s Art Building Gallery), Tallinn City Museum, Tampere Art Building Gallery, A-Gallery and Riga Old Town Gallery. She is a member of the Estonian Artists’ Association and a founding member of the jewellery company OÜ Kuldgraal. In 2017, Tea was the laureate of the Ede Kurrel annual award of the Estonian Metal Artists’ Association.

BLOCKHEAD
Kertu Vellerind

“My works always have specific titles, because the message in the jewellery is important to me. I enjoy the game with the Estonian language. I interpret this exhibition as a haiku:

vinguv tuul kõle / whining wind desolate
sasides aju mõtted peas /ruffle brain thoughts in head
mängin keelega / I play with tongue.“

Kertu Vellerind (b. 1967) studied at Estonian Academy of Arts in Metal Department (BA and MA) , at the Lahti Design Institute in Finland and the Drawing Academy of Hanau on the Main in Germany. Kertu has participated in exhibitions both in Estonia and abroad. Since 2016, together with Urve Küttner, she has been a laureate of the Ede Kurrel annual award. In the same year, she was awarded the 3rd place at the Biennale of International Enamel Art in Vilnius, Lithuania. In 2017, Kertu was a nominee of the jewellery competition “Eesti Ehe 2017 – EV 100” organized by the Estonian Gold and Watchmakers’ Union and the laureate of the best annual exhibition 2017 of the A-Gallery.

A LITTLE LUXURY II
Katarina Kotselainen, Kalle Kotselainen

“We were born into a family where we have always been good at doing things with our hands. Family-wise, I am surrounded by the jewellery mafia, as I jokingly sayto myself, because my boyfriend, father, brother and sister-in-law also make jewellery. I grew up in different cities in Finland, and although traveling is in my blood, I am driven primarily by sentimentality to make jewellery. For me, jewellery is something very personal and associated with memories of people, places and feelings. If my works also evoke positive feelings in the viewer, then I am happy that I have been able to make someone’s day a little bit better.”- Katarina

Katarina Kotselainen (b. 1982 in Tartu) studied at Estonian Academy of Arts (2006 EKA BA, 2010 EKA MA) and improved her education repeatedly in Germany and Norway. Since 2002, Katarina has participated in exhibitions in different parts of the world.

Kalle Kotselainen (b. 1981 in Tartu): “I like the appreciation of the material in damask. By forging different metals together, a unique pattern is born every time. Damascus steel goes well with other metals.” Kalle Kotselainen has been designing and making precious metal jewellery for over ten years. He graduated from Vana-Vigala Technical and Service School blacksmith specialty in 2019.