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NOBA Nordic Baltic contemporary art platform

The personal exhibition of the artist Mari Roosvalt "Sacred" is open in the gallery of Tallinn St. John's Church. According to Roosvalt, he gave the exhibition such a name because he is interested in old culture and sacred buildings. "They have inspired me, I have brought them to the paintings through faith and my attitude and cognition. The paintings do not show churches directly, but there are fragments of them that show how people have valued the religious and sacred building for their Most Powerful Thought, "said Roosvalt. She added that it is important for her to paint with feelings and that the exhibition is based on a sacred feeling. "It's relatively difficult and impossible to talk about, you still have to look at it - then the feeling that has been around for ages opens up. Basically, I have depicted either Gothic or slightly younger sacral buildings. The hallmark of sacredness has been an angel for me. ”

Roosvalt’s favorite is Italy, and she has been there the most. The artist is fascinated by the Catholic land with its strictness and pompous nature. However, the paintings on display are inspired by Spain, which is the second most popular of her paintings. She has visited the Barcelona area and Salamanca – this time with two pictures of the latter. The exhibition is in many ways a retrospective and begins with work from Petra Rock Church, which was completed in 2011. However, the most recent work was completed in 2020.

Mari Roosvalt was born on June 30, 1945 in Tallinn. She is the daughter of graphic artist and painter Evald Okas. Roosvalt received her art education at the State Art Institute of the Estonian SSR, where she graduated in painting in 1969. Roosvalt has worked as an art teacher at the Tallinn Art School and taught at the Tallinn Pedagogical Institute. 1992–2016 Extraordinary Professor of the Estonian Academy of Arts, Head of the JRC, Head of the Open Academy, Head of the Open Arts Curriculum of the Open Academy. Member of the Estonian Association of Watercolourists since 2002, member of the ECWS Association in 2011. 2006–2015 Chairman of the Estonian Painters’ Union. Honorary member of the Estonian Artists’ Union since 2015.

There have been more than 70 solo exhibitions. Participated in many different biennials and numerous joint exhibitions in many countries. Member of the Estonian Artists’ Union since 1979.

Roosvalt received a diploma at the Baltic Watercolor Triennial in Riga in 1997, a third prize at the 2001 International Biennale “Neues aquarell” in Germany, a second degree diploma at the I Minsk International Painting Biennale in 2008 and a Konrad Mägi Prize in 2006.

The exhibition is open until February 28.

Gallery name: St. John's Church, Tallinn

Address: Vabaduse väljak 1, Tallinn

Opening hours: Tue, Thu-Fri 10:00 - 16:00, Wed 10:00 - 18:00

Open: 21.01.2021 - 28.02.2021