In 1994, Anu Raud and Mare Hunt launched this specialty area, known originally as National Handicraft and Farm Design. Later, the name changed, and now four specialties fall under its umbrella – textiles, construction, metalwork and, the youngest, circular technology. In addition, there is also a master’s program in creative applications of cultural heritage for heritage technologists and traditional musicians. These are unique curricula in the entire European higher education landscape, where heritage-based handicrafts are taught and learned both practically, for research and creative interpretation. TÜVKA therefore has given a new life to many old forgotten craft techniques and is constantly contributing to craft science.
In this jubilee exhibition, 16 alumni and lecturers present their works and activities. Of course, the community is much larger than the people who chose to participate, but they represent, in one way or another, all the “life richness” that heritage technologists get to deal with. The original inspirations for the creations of the authors of the exhibition are objects in museum collections. It is thus quite self-evident for us that culture functions through the reuse and renewal of old ideas and forms – it is impossible to create something completely new without having some connection to the past. Cultural heritage offers a creative starting point, and looking at the objects, these connections should be identifiable even without extensive explanations. We can test out how much this heritage can speak to people today.
The concept of the exhibition is conveyed by the motif of the river, which illustrates the flow of time and the transfer of various layers of heritage to the present day, and further on.
Participating artists: Andres Ansper, Diana Dello, Kristi Everst, Gert Evert, Reelika Ilves, Kristi Jõeste, Astri Kaljus, Christi Kütt, Tõnis Luik, Eilve Manglus, Maarja Palu, Grete Pilliroog (end. Küppar), Mart Reino, Evelin Siiman, Kirsti Tuum, Made Uus
Exhibition team: Kristi Jõeste, Astri Kaljus, Lembe Lahtmaa, Tõnis Luik, Inna Raud, Kirsti Tuum
Design: Mae Kivilo
Wall execution: Marko Aatonen
Photos: Kristi Jõeste
Stylist: Triin Amur
Makeup and hair: Merle Liinsoo
Models: Daniel Hozjan, Liisi Kirss, Marta Konovalov, Sylvia Köster, Keiti Leon, Li Lind, Emma Lumi, Kulno Malva, Markus Pau, Annabell Tiismaa, Liisi-Ly Viitkin
Clothes on models: Kristi Everst, Inger Pürjema, private collections
Supporters: Cultural Endowment of Estonia, UT Viljandi Culture Academy, Viljandi City Government
The exhibition will remain open until 12 October.
