Large-scale paintings are presented in a creative installation that takes into account both floors of the spacious exhibition hall of the Viimsi Artium contemporary art gallery. The exhibition on the first floor of the gallery carries intensified shades from the psychological drama, historical novel, and tragic love story experienced on the theater stage, confirming the importance of theatrical art in shaping a person’s emotional development.
On the second floor of the gallery, there is a room of love where, through a video installation, it is possible to experience the poems from Toomas Pikhof’s 2023 poetry book “I Burn, Unkissed Kisses” performed by Merle Palmiste (Estonian Drama Theatre).
All of Toomas Pikhof’s paintings exhibited in the Viimsi Artium contemporary art gallery are thematic and based on the emotions of various theatrical performances that the author has experienced while working in the theater. The paintings tell a story in an abstract language about productions that the audience has loved, but the creation of which has been full of complications and secrets that usually do not reach the audience.
Pikhof: “I have worked at the Estonian Youth Theatre and the Estonian Drama Theatre for a total of 15 years and participated in the work of creative teams for new productions. Every season,15-18 new productions were born. It was a very interesting and colorful time that has left a special mark on me.Therefore, the paintings in the new exhibition are dedicated to various people connected to the theater: directors, actors,theater artists, but also to those who work in this exciting world invisibly, that is, behind the scenes.”
The exhibition features paintings that were born under the influence of well-known popular productions such as “August: Osage County,” “Boulgakov,” “Long Day’s Journey into Night,” “Porcelain Smoke,” “My Wonderful Divorce,” “Sunset,” “At the Last Minute,” “Icelandic Clock,” “Cancun,” “Radiant City,” “Blossom,” “Grease,” “Romeo and Juliet,” and “Risk.” In 2024, the exhibition can also be seen at the Karlova Theater in Tartu and in 2025 the exhibition will be on display at the Endla Theater Gallery Sammassaal in Pärnu.
Toomas Pikhof’s (born 1973) work is characterized by an intellectual, emphatically poetic approach to the subject, where the main focus is on the emotional and spiritual journey through feelings. As a painter, he has taken a romantic position in a meditative world space, which is captured in abstract acrylic paintings. In his work, the artist focuses on awakening the potential hidden in human consciousness and expanding the boundaries of perception. Through care and love, he focuses on depicting feelings, addressing the connection between reason and emotion, using various media such as painting, word, sound, and moving image. Toomas Pikhof’s work can be viewed in the Artvertigo online gallery at www.artvertigo.ee.
In addition to devoting himself to painting, Toomas Pikhof works as a school principal at Pirita Business Gymnasium, is a trainer and conducts creative trainings aimed at helping people discover their true nature. In 2023, he published the poetry book “I Burn, Unkissed Kisses,” in 2020 the first children’s book “Kuu usk ehk kuidas kuusk endale nime sai” (The Moon’s Faith or How the Spruce Tree Got Its Name), and in 2024 the second children’s book “Näksaja kassike” (The Nibbling Kitten).
