Although Pählapuu is primarily a glass artist, her work is closely intertwined with photography and installation. The installative serires “Riot of the Flies” also consists of winged creatures completed in flameworking and neon techniques, placed on a photo background, white acrylic or metal frame. Located on various surfaces in the gallery, these undoubtedly create an overwhelming and harassing feeling: the flies have risen up against humanity’s spitefulness, so the rebellion has become mutual. At the same time, their milky or transparent color symbolizes peace, although the white color can always change. In this way, the viewer is free to see other interpretations and meanings that are not strictly framed. In any case, the author urges us to look beyond our own nose, consider others and get out of our personal comfort zone.
The works of the series “Riot of the Flies” have previously been exhibited at a group exhibition in Georgia and at the ArtVilnius art fair, but the theme of rebellion has inspired Pählapuu before as well: in the series “My Silent Protest” she expressed the inner and nonviolent resistance of human nature in a combination of neon glass and photomontage, the power of thought that can be more potency than a protest march on the streets.
Birgit Pählapuu (b. 1981) holds a MA degree (2016) and a BA degree (2016) in glass art, acquired at the Estonian Academy of Arts. In addition, she studied at the Prague Academy of Arts, Architecture, and Design (2008) and obtained a Bachelor’s degree (2002) in international business management from the Estonian Business School. She has participated in flameworking masterclasses and in courses of videography, sand etching and glass fusing in Estonia, Finland and Italy. Pählapuu has participated in domestic and foreign exhibitions since 2008 and in 2007 she was awarded a creative scholarship named after Maks Roosma. Since 2010 she has been a member of the Estonian Association of Glass Artists. In addition to her personal career as an artist, Pählapuu is one of the founders and leaders of Okapi Gallery.
