Scarred Visage

January 2023 marks eighty years since the war-time shelter of the collections of Tartmus at Lai 17 in Tartu took a direct hit from a bomb and collapsed. The sight that faced the rescuers was dismal: many artworks were beneath the rubble and the extent of the loss was uncertain.

This exhibition brings together the works of art which were located in the building at Lai 17 and were saved, with varying degrees of damage. The continuing war in Ukraine inevitably makes us look at historic loss with contemporary eyes and contemplate the role of artistic heritage for us personally.

Curator: Mae Variksoo
Co-ordinator: Kristlyn Liier
Exhibition design: Anna Škodenko
Graphic design: Tuuli Aule

Exhibition team: Richard Adang, Nele Ambos, Indrek Grigor, Joanna Hoffmann, Mare Joonsalu, Margus Joonsalu, Jaanika Kuznetsova, Katrin Lõoke, Anti Saar, Peeter Talvistu and Ago Teedema