According to the artist, the starting point of the exhibition is the desire to let go of excessive tension and make space for feeling: “When we cling too tightly and uncompromisingly to our plans and goals, the process of achieving them can become tediously numb or even come to a halt. All the more so because life itself is a constant state of change and, in many ways, continuous uncertainty—something that requires finding a way to relax within that condition. To rediscover the courage and joy to do things as they feel right. To trust oneself, because along the way we encounter all sorts of feathered and furry creatures whose paths do not align with ours, or at times even seem openly conflicting. Relationships between me and you, and between us and them, are born, develop, and change. How can we be together in a way that allows all of us, each strange in our own way, to accept, tolerate, or even love one another?”
The works exhibited were created without prior planning. Kangilaski has continued to play with earlier works, painting remembered sounds, thoughts, and desires, and allowing the imagery to develop at its own natural pace. Although the themes and symbols may appear universal, the experience of what is seen always remains personal and depends on what the viewer brings with them.
Kristi Kangilaski (b. 1982) is an Estonian illustrator, artist, and designer whose work is characterized by poetic storytelling and a sensitive visual language. She graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts with a bachelor’s degree in 2013 and has worked as a freelance artist since 2012. Since 2020, Kangilaski has served as the city artist of Viljandi. Kangilaski has created and illustrated several popular children’s books, both as an author and as an illustrator. Her work has been widely exhibited in Estonia and internationally, including at the Tallinn Illustration Triennial, the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the Biennial of Illustration Bratislava, and several touring exhibitions across Europe. Her solo exhibitions have taken place in galleries in Tartu and Tallinn. Kristi Kangilaski is a member of the Estonian Association of Graphic Designers.
The exhibition is supported by the Estonian Cultural Endowment.
