NOBA Nordic Baltic contemporary art platform

The central artwork and conceptual starting point of the exhibition “In Isolation” is Ilya Kabakov’s visual narrative “The Looking-out-the-Window Arkhipov”, which is about a character named Arkhipov who is hospitalised; isolation and loneliness have an increasingly devastating effect on his mental condition.

During this and the previous spring, we unexpectedly found ourselves in a situation that is reminiscent of Arkhipov’s. Isolated inside the four walls of our homes for an unknown length of time, we at first enthusiastically followed the random passers-by and everyday situations from our windows, but as time passed and loneliness intensified, windows became the border between isolation and freedom. Windows not only showed what was visible, but in them were also reflected our dreams and yearnings.

The works by Jüri Arrak, Kai Kaljo, Nikolai Kormašov, Ilmar Malin, Karl Pärsimägi, Ülo Sooster and Andres Tolts that have been selected to accompany Kabakov’s album were made in different times and in different places, depicting isolation as a result of different factors. The motif of a window that unites them reveals a personal experience – the view that opens from everyone’s window – as well as isolation, which transcends eras and contexts.

Curators: Signe Friedenthal, Reigo Kuivjõgi, Eerika Niemi, Jelizaveta Pratkunas, Kerly Ritval, Jelizaveta Sedler and Mae Variksoo

Team: Richard Adang, Nele Ambos, Indrek Grigor, Mare Joonsalu, Margus Joonsalu, Hanna-Liis Kont, Kristlyn Liier, Katrin Lõoke, Kadri Mägi, Julia Polujanenkova, Anti Saar, Kristel Sibul, Peeter Talvistu and Ago Teedema

Graphic design: Laura Pappa

Works from the Tartu Art Museum, the Art Museum of Estonia and the artist Kai Kaljo

Supporters: Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Academy of Arts, Krisostomus, Hektor Light and Peaasi.ee

Gallery name: Tartu Art Museum

Address: Raekoja plats 18 , Tartu

Opening hours: Wed, Fri-Sun 11:00 - 18:00, Thu 11:00 - 20:00

Open: 15.05.2021 - 26.06.2021