25.08 – 15.10.2023
The exhibition “Illusions” investigates unseen identities and queer culture through the medium of fashion design and animation.
Clothing has long been one of the starting points throughout history, from which one can distinguish their own identity and sexuality through the perspective of clothing, materials and colour use.
The collaboration between Hungarian-born animation artist Cecilia Kugler and fashion designer Tauri Västrik creates a symbiosis of a fantasy club, based on Berlin club culture, where every club visitor is free both mentally and physically to discover their self – image. How to free yourself from social norms and what is the true meaning of freedom in being yourself? Including the exhibition works touching places of the borders of love or even the absence of these borders.
This exhibition features garments and material from the design process of Västrik’s. Garments remain as a medium to discuss and observe queer identities and the characters behind clothes and textiles.
Next to Tauri’s collection is Cili’s installation, which served as a case study for her research about creative reflective practice. This animated and interactive installation continues discussing self-expression by utilising optical illusions and abstraction to tell a story.
This illusionary world welcomes the unseen identities and raises questions: What defines one as masculine or feminine or neither? Is there a way to break out of the binary gender rules without conforming? Is this even an exhibition or an extravagant queer club?
Cili Kugler (b 1995) has graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fashion design from MOME, Budapest. She continued her master’s studies in visual communication design at Aalto University, Helsinki. In her work Cili experiments and combines fashion and graphic design with animation to create humorous narrative-driven projects. Two of her animations were screened previously at Tallinn Fashion Week in 2019 and 2020.
www.cilikugler.com
Tauri Västrik (b 1993) has graduated with a bachelor’s degree in fashion design from EKA. They continued their master’s studies in Helsinki at Aalto University. Their works have been presented in international competitions, such as Mittelmoda (Italy), BIAAF (Spain), and Mados Infekcija (Lithuania). At the beginning of 2021, they were nominated for the Eduart Wiiralt creative scholarship. Their works mainly focus on material development, retaining the high emphasis on developing lightweight knitwear while addressing discussions related to gender studies in their work.
The exhibition will be open until 15 October 2023.
Graphic design: Cecilia Kugler
Video editing/ the execution of the handbags: Anari Västrik
Special thanks to: Tartmus, the Västrik family, Indrek Kits, Lauri Kütt, Silver Marge, Filipp Škerin
The exhibition is supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.
Vana-Võromaa Museum and Art Gallery
Katariina allee 11, Võru, 65608
Wed-Sun 10-18
Additional information: mariskerin@gmail.com/ +372 53449447
