The exhibition consists of three different, completely separate visual and conceptual unities, which, however, are united by a strongly perceived common ground, which connects, supports and balances the energy between the exhibitions, creating a synergistic and unified timeless space that encompasses the entire exhibition, in which the entire human-faced atmosphere is manifested.
EVA ELISE OLL AND ANNABEL BERG ,,realNESS and responsiveNESS”
Annabel and Eva can be considered one of the craziest duos of artists in Tartu, who started painting together in Budapest, where they had an unexpected opportunity to organise an exhibition (“The moon took offence”, Bunker Gallery, Budapest). If the first works were made a little shy of each other, as time went on, the collaboration between the two artists became more intense. Synchronously experiencing the essence of Budapest as a city down to its most organic layers, every bit of inspiration, shifting interpretation of experience and creation of metaphor was seized to be put side by side on the canvas. From Budapest, the artists took with them the habit of painting together, the process of which has remained the same. Canvases on the studio wall, they are still trying to unlock the moon’s offence, to see Judas in our genetic pattern, and to play with shifting the usual focus of the sensory experience of oneself.
RALF SANNIKOV
Annabel and Eva’s paintings are accompanied by an expressive showcase of works by Ralf Sannikov, in which the author introduces himself as an artist without an art education. Such a definition seems to be very important to him, because he wants to be an example to those who want to realise their artistic dreams, but fear that they do not have enough potential. “If an artist without an art education can get somewhere with a stubborn consistency and self-belief, then anyone can do it.”
“The subject of my work is generally a person. Not a specific existent person, but just a generic one that represents us all. Each work has its own face, which is formed from different techniques, layers and emotions. Strong scratches, heavy emotions, painting with hands, destroying the finished work with a painter’s knife or putty shovel – I have not limited myself, it’s all just me,” the author describes his work.
EPP MARGNA
The work of South Estonian artist Epp Margna balances the work of younger authors Eva, Annabel and Ralf. She weaves it into a single and unified Finno-Ugric sleigh quilt, a belt of letters flowing through time and the Northern Sky, with a smoking fireplace in the first tower at one end and today’s person at the other. In Epp Margna’s paintings, the inhabitants of the upper, middle and lower world live as timeless symbols. For a city dweller, this is actually the only chance to meet them, because nature spirits only show themselves to locals. “If I hadn’t ended up living in Karula, in the middle of the forest, in a log house when I was young, where there was no electricity and only a transistor radio reminding me of civilization, I probably wouldn’t be who I am today,” Epp thinks. While living in Karula, she realised that she had to start drawing the characters of her world and made her first experiments with charcoal. Painting came later. This is how Epp’s paintings remind us of what is important and call us back to our roots as beacons.
