Kumu Hits. Contemporary Art from the Collection of the Art Museum of Estonia
Location: 5th floor, Gallery of Contemporary Art
The exhibition Kumu Hits. Contemporary Art from the Collection of the Art Museum of Estonia is based solely on works that belong to the museum. On 17 February 2016, the Kumu Art Museum celebrated its 10th anniversary. This event provided a good reason to focus on one of the main roles of the museum – the collection and preservation of art – and to highlight the related processes.
The exhibition serves many purposes, and attempts to fulfil several tasks in cooperation with the viewer. Firstly, by mapping the contemporary art acquisitions made by the Art Museum of Estonia, the exhibition assumes the role of a guide, leading the viewer to processes and movements in the world of art that are often ambiguous. The musuem purchases art works for its collection four times a year with a grant from the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and when this exhibition opened, the sub-collection of contemporary art included 423 works. The acquisitions made by the museum reflect the dynamics of developments in art: the explosive increase in the use of new media and quiet periods of low tide, changes in trends, big hopes and vivid first appearances. By displaying works that have reached the “terminal station” of the art scene – the museum – the exhibition presents an overview of developments on the local art scene in the last few decades.
Secondly, the viewer may look at the exhibition as an alternative exposition of Estonian contemporary art, and contemplate the choices the curators have made.
Thirdly, with the help of the word “hit”, the exhibition serves as a mediator between art and the audience; the display includes contemporary classics, as well as a selection of less known works, and viewers are encouraged to become involved in making a selection of their own.
Participating artists:
Kadi Estland, Dénes Farkas, Kristiina Hansen & Johannes Säre, Minna Hint & Liisi Eelmaa, Kristin Kalamees, Tellervo Kalleinen, Flo Kasearu, Jass Kaselaan, Eve Kiiler, Karel Koplimets, Kaarel Kurismaa, Marco Laimre, Arne Maasik, Annette Merrild, Marge Monko, Eléonore de Montesquiou, Tanja Muravskaja, Kristina Norman, Katja Novitskova, Kaido Ole, Puhas Rõõm, Laura Pählapuu, Alina Rudnitskaja, Tõnis Saadoja, Tarmo Salin, Ene-Liis Semper, Liina Siib, Jaan Toomik, Mart Viljus and Tõnis Vint.
The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue.
Curators: Kati Ilves, Eha Komissarov and Annika Räim
Exhibition designers: Raul Kalvo and Helen Oja
Graphic designer: Indrek Sirkel
Supporters:
Borg, Eesti Kultuurkapital
