The intangible finds expression through physical forms— a growing tree, fetal existence, rooting, and blossoming—bridging the material and immaterial. Featuring recent works by the artists, the exhibition delves into themes of dualism and wholeness through immersive and experiential interpretations.
Anna Kõuhkna: Movement within one’s inner space may feel unfamiliar, yet it serves as a key to discovery- one that can lead all the way to the vastness of the universe. External environments and people act as helpful mirrors, guiding us layer by layer toward a more holistic understanding. While the human mind often associates the unknown with fear, feelings serve as a trustworthy navigation tool, surpassing the cautious voice of reason with their raw truth.
Feeling is not the same as emotion. Whereas emotion arises from memory patterns or fleeting experiences, feeling functions as a compass- pointing toward the unfamiliar. To trust the mind fully would be foolish, as it takes pleasure in fabricating false tales. To accept both feelings and the unknown is the skill of trust. Balance seems to lie in allowing oneself to be touched by the apparent chaos, until it transforms, reshapes, and reveals order. In feeling and sensing, I find dissolution, the benevolent universe, the support of a higher force. Maybe the only feeling that is truly real may be Love.
Grisli Soppe-Kahar: In child development, it is often said that parents encounter different versions of their children at various stages of growth- versions that exist only in memory. The same holds true for all relationships, including the one we have with ourselves. We continuously transform, leaving behind past versions that linger only as echoes in our minds.
This is the nature of life’s uncertainty- we can never be certain of what lies ahead, who we will become, or how our relationships with the world, our perceptions, and our former selves will evolve. Yet, even in the midst of change, it is possible to remain rooted in feeling, standing steady against the unknown.
Anna Kõuhkna (b. 1994) is a visual artist whose work explores the relationship between nature and the human experience, translating these connections into symbolic visual language. She earned her master’s degree in art education from the Estonian Academy of Arts and Tallinn University’s joint program in 2022, after completing a BA at the Baltic Film, Media, and Art School in 2017. She also studied at Tartu Art College from 2014 to 2015.
Her recent exhibitions include a joint show with Malle Leis, Puutepunkt. Punkt. (2024, Art&Tonic Gallery), solo exhibitions at Kärdla Cultural Center (Me juured alles võrsumas, 2024) and Jakobi Gallery (Kallis valgus, kallis vari, 2023), as well as the group exhibition Viies element (2023, Vaal Gallery) alongside Sandra Sirp, Anu Muiste, and Helen Sirp. Anna Kõuhkna has been a member of the Estonian Painters’ Union since 2019.
Grisli Soppe-Kahar (b. 1990) is a Tallinn-based artist whose expressive paintings explore emotional states and personal experiences, transforming life events into vivid visual narratives. She earned both her BA (2014) and MA (2016) in painting from the Estonian Academy of Arts’ Department of Fine Arts.
Her first solo exhibition, Everything that Exists, was held at Draakon Gallery in 2015. She was twice a finalist in the Young Painter Prize exhibition (2015, 2017) in Lithuania. In 2024, she held a solo exhibition, Emailm, at Hobusepea Gallery and became a member of the Estonian Painters’ Union.
Grisli Soppe-Kahar’s work is deeply influenced by her personal experiences and emotional states, centering on the depiction of human emotion and the interpretation of significant life events. She brings these themes to life through a bold and expressive painting style.
