The isolation of the COVID period led us into the unknown labyrinths of the inner world of the soul. Unexpected meetings at the crossroads of the secret garden bring light to the fragile yet powerful world of feelings and instincts, revealing unexpected opportunities and connections. Some creatures have been banished by cultural false modesty to the darker recesses of the secret garden, where they will hopefully stay alive.
Curator Kalli Kalde: “I wanted to organise a group exhibition because there has been a lot of isolation and loneliness in recent years. I felt that now is the time to work together. I miss the inspiration and synergy that comes from working together. All of the artists participating in the exhibition have dealt with similar themes independently of each other at different times. The inner secret garden is the reason why we got together.”
Participating artists: Kadri Toom, Külli Suitso, Kalli Kalde, Tuuli Puhvel and Anne Rudanovski.
Kadri Toom (b. 1984) studied painting at the Tartu Art College (2006, BA) and printmaking at the Estonian Academy of Arts (2009, MA). Since her studies, she has been in various residencies, participated in several international art projects and workshops. In addition to Estonia, she has had solo exhibitions in Latvia, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.
Külli Suitso (b. 1974) graduated from the Painting Department of the University of Tartu in 1996 and joined the Kursi School artists’ group in the same year. From 2001 to 2004, she worked at the Tartu Art College, after which she settled in Denmark, where she teaches painting courses at the Århus Art Academy.
Kalli Kalde (b. 1967) is a painter and printmaker who graduated from the Tartu Art School in artistic design (1986), then obtained qualifications in art education and as a manual skills teacher at the Tallinn Pedagogical Institute (1991), and has been working since 1991 as a teacher of drawing and printmaking at the Tartu Art School. She is a member of the Association of Estonian Printmakers and the Tartu Artists’ Union.
Tuuli Puhvel (b. 1966) graduated from the Tartu Art School in artistic design (1985), and the Estonian Academy of Arts in painting and monumental painting (1993). She is a lecturer in the painting department of the Pallas University of Applied Sciences, and a member of the Estonian Watercolour Society and the Tartu Artists’ Union.
Anne Rudanovski (b. 1964) is a sculptor and art lecturer, and received her education at the Estonian Academy of Arts (1984–1990). She has been a professor in the sculpture department of the Pallas University of Applied Sciences since 2014. She is the founder of the Paper Museum (2010) and of the Estonian Origami Centre SATORI (2020).
