Location: 3rd floor, A-wing
The new permanent exhibition tells the story of Estonian art as it evolved through Estonia’s multi-ethnic history, growing into a heritage that blends Estonian, Baltic German and Russian traditions. The focus is on the role of art in society and in shaping the identities of diverse communities.
The themes featured include the connections between Baltic German and Estonian visual culture, the meanings of images in the young Estonian nation state, visions of modern life, the voices of women artists, art in the authoritarian era of the 1930s and during the Second World War, and the emergence of local identity landscapes. It also looks at how the visual construction of identities has been influenced, along with high art, by amateur artists, by design and graphic design and by the development of professional art education.
Project space exhibitions and works by contemporary artists help to open up new perspectives on the history of Estonian art.
Curators: Linda Kaljundi, Kadi Polli
Interior design: Raul Kalvo, Helen Oja
Exhibition design: Raul Kalvo, Tõnis Saadoja
Graphic design: Tuuli Aule
Coordinator: Magdaleena Maasik
Conservators:
Isabel Aaso-Zahradnikova, Jelena Jurjeva, Maris Klaas, Margit Pajupuu, Sirje Säär, Allan Talu, Tõnu Uusküla, Aleš Zahradnik
Exhibition team:
Kaarel Eelma, Darja Jefimova, Ulrika Jõemägi, Juta Kivimäe, Madli Mihkelson, Anastassia Langinen, Sandra Lääne-Vent, Liisi Raidna, Renita Raudsepp, Elnara Taidre, Kristiina Tiideberg, Eda Tuulberg, Mari-Liis Vanem
Translators:
Kaja Kährik, Matthias Jost, Evelina Vedom
Language editors:
Kaja Kährik, Ester Kangur, Richard Adang, Jekaterina Lamus
We thank:
AkzoNobel, Art Museum of Estonia Friends of Art Society, Estonian History Museum, Estonian Literary Museum, Estonian National Museum, Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, National Archives of Estonia, National Library of Estonia, Tallinn City Museum, Tartu Art Museum and Museums of Virumaa