ESTOOKIN - SIMULAAKRUM

“I love keeping an eye on what other artists are putting out into the world and sharing aesthetic elements that drive me to express my artistic views in a more distinct and personal manner. The exhibits are not made-to-order vinyl designs that draw on a conversation between the artist and musician, and aim to represent the musician’s image as closely as possible. I chose these musicians intentionally and allowed my senses to guide the process of artistic interpretation. These reproductions of the paintings created during my experiment form an independent reality that has lost connection with its origins – in other words, a simulacrum*,” explains Estookin. 

Estookin (b. 1997, Tallinn), who began exploring digital painting in 2012, is an illustrator, and visual and digital artist active in Estonia and abroad. Over the past few years, Estookin has taken part in various creative projects that, in addition to allowing her to create, learn and polish her technical skills, have brought her close to the music industry. Music and sound have always been of integral importance to Estookin’s artistic output. As an outstanding album cover designer, she has created visual identities for musicians such as Bella Poarch, nublu, Wateva and Lexsoul Dancemachine. In addition to music, Estookin draws inspiration from fashion, theatre, architecture, technology and electropunk. Aside from digital art, Estookin finds expression in photography, and video and theatre arts.

SIMULACRUM is part of Estookin’s bachelor’s project for her degree in scenography at the Estonian Academy of Arts. The project is supervised by Ene-Liis Semper. 

* According to Jean Baudrillard, a simulacrum replaces the real. In Simulacra and Simulation he writes, “Simulation is no longer that of a territory, a referential being or a substance. It is the generation by models of a real without origin or reality: a hyperreal. […] It is no longer a question of imitation, nor of reduplication, nor even of parody.” The simulation no longer reflects reality but creates a new and independent reality – a visual representation of sound.