Jevgeni Zolotko: The Secret of Adam
Jevgeni Zolotko’s large solo exhibition in the Kumu Art Museum displays some of the earlier chapters of his creative legacy and creates new ones. The Secret of Adam is an exhibition that consists of various works, and constitutes his most massive work thus far, synthesising recurrent subjects and images in his oeuvre. Zolotko, who entered the art scene in the late 2000s, is one of the most idiosyncratic contemporary artists in Estonia. Instead of dealing with the topical and political, the context of his art is Western cultural history in the broadest sense, embracing antiquity, the Bible, belles-lettres, philosophy and folklore. His works deal with human existence: life, death, loneliness, silence and decay, as well as hope.
Gallery
Curator Triin Tulgiste-Toss (1987–2024) about the exhibition:
While it is often possible to point out shifts in artists’ choices of subject matter or emphasis over time, Zolotko’s art can be compared to a tower: every new work of art grows out of the previous one, specifying and elaborating on what has been said. The Secret of Adam combines previously used elements and those that have been developed further with completely new ones, returning to the central issue in Zolotko’s art: the question of the relationship between things and language.
It seems like the artist is finally providing us with a clear answer. Words are as old as the first human being and inseparable from his nature, serving in addition to the physical body as a way of communicating with the world and understanding it. The realisation that we need both the physical and language to cope in society becomes evident.
According to Zolotko, his works are not autobiographical, and his main interest in art is to deal with universal topics. Considering the emotional effects of his works and their perceptiveness, one gets the sense, however, that only a person whose works emanate from personal experience and acknowledgement, not theoretical ideas, can say something like that.
The purpose of Zolotko’s works has never been to generate intellectual reflection but to induce recognition. You may approach them like a detective trying to find the clues hidden in the installations, but by doing so you will miss something intrinsic. Zolotko’s works are meant to be inside of, like being in nature, and it seems that the sole purpose of the artist is to make sure that the viewer does not feel alone during these moments.
Artworks on display
Gallery
Biography
Jevgeni Zolotko (b. 1983) graduated from the Department of Sculpture of the Tartu Art College in 2008 (BA). In 2010, he graduated from the Department of Sculpture of the Estonian Academy of Arts (MA). He has taught at various higher educational institutions in Estonia and has worked as the gallerist-project manager at the gallery of the Tartu Art College. In 2011, Zolotko won the first ever Köler Prize of the Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia. A year later, he received the Anton Starkopf Sculpture Award, and in 2020 the annual award of the Visual and Applied Arts Endowment of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia. Jevgeni Zolotko was one of the recipients of the national artist’s salary in 2021–2023.
Exhibition team
Curator: Triin Tulgiste-Toss
Graphic design: Tuuli Aule
Technical manager: Siim Hiis
Coordinator: Anastassia Langinen
Educational programme: Anu Lüsi
Exhibition team: Richard Adang, Andres Amos, Tanel Asmer, Kaarel Eelma, Pärtel Eelma, Eero Epner, Maari Hinsberg, Inga Jaagus, Darja Jefimova, Kiwa, Ketlin Käpp, Uku Langebraun, Kristiina Lott, Maria Lota Lumiste, Tõnis Medri, Aleksander Meresaar, Reigo Nahksepp, Hans-Otto Ojaste, Kaisa-Piia Pedajas, Villu Plink, Renita Raudsepp, Brigita Reinert, Mati Schönberg, Laura Tahk, Allan Talu, Terje Tammearu, Uve Untera, Ann Mirjam Vaikla, Madli Valk and Raivo Väliste
Special thanks:
Dénes Farkas, Janar Fomatškin, Carolin Freiberg, Raigo Kannike, Illar Kase, Rea Lest-Liik, Eeva Ruth Niitvägi, Tanel Rander, Toivo and Kuido Simmermann, Evelyn Zolotko, Norveld Talson, Peeter Talvistu, Martin Terna, Gabriela Urm, Villem Varik and peaasi.ee
