The artist describes her current exhibition as follows: "The symbolism of fly is rather ominous – but despite this or precisely because of this, it is also a muse for many writers: as a symbol of feud and bloodlust or nuisance and disgust, as a sympathetic interlocutor or as an all-seeing eye on the wall." As for Pählapuu, the fly represents a riot against everything and everyone, but also a call for mutual understanding. While dealing with the theme of provocation and rebellion in her new series, Pählapuu uses the image of a fly that has woken up from sleep, raising the question whether we could coexist peacefully instead of destroying someone?
Photo from HOP galerii
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.
Galerii nimi: HOP galerii
Address: Hobusepea tänav 2, 10133 Tallinn, Estonia
Opening hours: Mon-Tue 11:00 - 18:00 Thu-Sun 11:00 - 18:00
Open: 23.09.2022 — 18.10.2022
Address: Hobusepea tänav 2, 10133 Tallinn, Estonia
Opening hours: Mon-Tue 11:00 - 18:00 Thu-Sun 11:00 - 18:00
Open: 23.09.2022 — 18.10.2022