MODERN PAINTING
11.26 – 12.19, 2010
The greatest collection of paintings ever seen in Rapla gave a glimpse of tendencies in contemporary Estonian painting, through the works of the younger generation of painters. Participants: Piret Bergmann, Sirja-Liisa Eelma, Rikka Horn, Andrus Joonas, Andres Koort, Mara Koppel-Ljutjuk, Laurentsius (Lauri Sillak), Kaido Ole, Riin Pallon, Alvar Reisner, Kairi Orgusaar, Leho Rubis and Alide Zvorovski. Music was performed at the opening by Tiit Born.
CROQUIS
10.28 – 11.04, 2010
Croquis is the term for quick sketch of a live model. The show presented various drawing styles – abstract sketches, automatic drawings, realistic renderings of characters and types, underpaintings in oil et cetera. Participants: Valter Uusberg, Alide Zvorovski, Janika Jürgenson, Märt Vaidla, Margit Terasmees, Eda Taevas, Eha Koit, Maiu Kangur, Tarvo Mett, Eteri Tõlgo, Mikk Allas, Sigrid Talviste, Tiiu Nurme, Riin Pallon, Kairi Orgusaar.
DOUBLY MEANINGLESS
07.22 – 07.29, 2010
Our first exhibition, titled DOUBLY MEANINGLESS, offered a selection of conceptual works of art, utilizing different media – light installations, interactive sound sculptures, photo staging, digital print, painting and book binding. At the opening, Rene Haljasmäe presented his performance “Artist Shearing Himself” and Igor Ruus his film portrait of ceramics master Leo Rohlin. Participants: Merle Kannus, Erki Kannus, Katrin
Rüütli, Kati Kerstna, Rene Haljasmäe, Riin Pallon and Kairi Orgusaar. Exhibition was designed by Merle Kannus.
The Creative Youth Society Riinimanda continues its series of exhibitions which started in 2012; participants are young choral singers who were “allowed” to express themselves visually. The paintings, drawings, photos and installations were created during summer camps in Saaremaa in 2013-2017. Also on display are the set decoratons of the legendary Riinimanda Theatre performances.
A slideshow chronicles young people’s development, and exemplifies how a supportive environment can help overcome inner barriers, and nourish confidence to state the right to creativity.
Kuraator / Curator: Valter Uusberg.
Photos: Katri Lumi
In the context of this exhibition, the Old Persian word pairidaeza (enclosed garden) suggests an ideal, ambivalent world, which isn’t necessarily imagined as otherworldly. The past contains cultural memes which were oriented not towards self-actualisation, but towards preserving balance on Earth. These memes can be revived today, if only our state of mind and actions allow it.
The paintings juxtapose vanishing tribal imagery with figures of contemporary urban dwellers, thus seeking our essential roots within hidden patterns. All life and universe are full of examples of structural similarity, repeated on both the smallest and the largest scale.
Shamanistic tribal cultures appear to have had an intuitive grasp of the connection between humans and nature. They expressed it through identifying with animals, or through symbolic body ornamentation. These paintings are a poetic nod to vanishing cultures and to the sense of oneness with, as opposed to conquest of, our environment.
As one of today’s leading physicists, Lawrence Krauss, has put it: “You are all stardust”
Sound composition: Kaido Kirikmäe.
https://kultuur.err.ee/645214/kunstnik-leho-rubis-vahendab-kaugeid-kultuure
An exhibition of poetic photography by Imran Hussain, an Indian Assamese photographer; poems of Assamese poet Bijou Sankar Barman will be translated and read by Mathura.
India is a country of continental dimensions. In the West, we mostly know about Mumbai, Delhi and Goa, and the languages of Hindi and Sanskrit. But India has many provinces and 23 official languages. The province of Assam in Northeast India is a meeting point of many cultures, landscapes and languages.
This exhibition endeavours to get closer to this region through the creative work of two young men – photographer Imran Hussain and poet Bijow Sankar Barman.
Imran Hussain (b. 1980) lives in Guwahati, Assam province, sharing borders with Bangladesh, Burma and China. He is among the initiators of the project Bibliophilia Cafe, aiming to make books and Internet universally available. He travels through the countryside, capturing his impressions of nature, people’s way of life and cultural traditions. He says: “I photograph that which I see and which touches my heart.”
Husain’s photos have found recognition around the world. They’ve been published by Taylor & Francis (London), Allikaäärne (Estonia), Delicious Books (Korea) and printed in the National Insurance Company’s India calendar, among other publications.
To better understand this region, we hear poetry by Bijoy Sankar Barman (b. 1980). In 2013, he was awarded the Best Young Author Prize by India’s highest literary body, the Sahitya Akademi. His creations bear a strong connection to heritage and tradition; Vedic mythology and native folklore are referred to in many of his poems. Barman has said: “Over time, I’ve come to understand the world through poetry.” And added: “We have to respect our roots, our uniqueness. It is not so difficult to write a poem. But it’s hard to become – and remain – a good person and good poet.”
Bijoy Sankar Barman has earlier connections to Estonia. In 2015, he lived in Tartu for 6 months, researching mythology at the university. He has visited a previous exhibition at the RCCCA, leaving a verse of his own in our guestbook.
We have asked writer and translator Mathura to assist us in understanding the exhibition’s background. He is a longtime researcher of Indian culture, and a translator of a number of books, including Bijoy Sankar Barman’s collection “Streaming Tears of Ketetong.”
15.09 – 01.10.2017
There is a sizzling present between artworks and viewers at “Life on Earth.” The works are showing signs of life: they respond to the touch, play with light, generate strange music. An environment resembling sci-fi, yet describing life on planet Earth, inspired by its multitude of forms and echoing visual utopias. Our eye is turned towards the environment both locally and globally, from the familiar to the microscopic.
The keyword “bio” connects science with art, and underlies art objects inspired by science. Works by Kati Kerstna, Erki Kannus, Merle Kannus, Herbert & Kairi Orgusaar were produced this summer during the Haapsalu hot glass symposium titled BIOGLASS. Marine biologist Lennart Lennuk presents an installation of plankton music. The international couple Varvara Guljajeva and Mar Canet create a futuristic, digital illusion of a mystery landscape that flirts with ideas of Anthropocene in their “Tree of Hands.” Elo Liiv’s interactive, kinetic installation “Pure Art” becomes a dream machine producing pure art, its creators and its receptive audience. Mauri Gross represents Rapla with his tiny “Zen Garden” where visitors can leave their imprints. The younger generation is represented by “A Game of Identity” – winner of the audience prize at the Italian Youth Art Biennale – by Egmond Merivee, Iris Allese, Markus Orgusaar and Valeria Potjava.
Curator: Kairi Orgusaar
https://www.facebook.com/metssalu/videos/10212729525066719/
The culture festival Särin (transl. Sizzling) focuses on artists from Rapla County. The event takes place in the former Rapla Automobile Base building, that now houses Culture Club BAAS and the RCCCA. In addition to the music and theatrical programme, this year we have an art, film and literary programme included in the event. Performers come from all over Estonia and from abroad; over 20 artists take the scene, including poet Kristiina Ehin, the band Ans. Andur, DJ Vaiko Eplik and Swedis poet Pär Hansson.
Peakorraldaja / Chief organiser: Maili Metssalu
Alaprogrammide juhid / Subprogramme curators: Mathura (kirjandus / literature), Kairi Orgusaar (kujutav kunst / visual arts), Sten-Olle Moldau (muusika / music), Aljona Suržikova, Jürgen Volmer (film), Loore Martma (teater / theatre).
Photo from the project:
Varvara & Mar „Soovisein“, photo by Varvara Guljajeva
The painters of RCCCA open their exhibition Focus, where one can observe artists freely reflecting on whatever catches their interest, each with their personal handwriting. We’re all looking for a focus, whether on camera or in life. Sometimes, we also need to distance ourselves from a narrow focus and see the big picture instead. It is vital to appear visible, to stay in focus – this means, something must also remain hidden. The exhibition attempts to shift the focus toward things that need to come out of hiding.
Participants: Mikk Allas, Ulvi Blande, Anne Kase, Eha Koit, Helena Lasner, Karin Polluks, Mari Põld, Olga Sokk, Margit Terasmees, Ave Tislar, Mati Toomla, Tiina Tubli, Marge Vonk.
Design: Helena Lasner.
2D, an international travelling exhibition of art glass, taking place for the third time, focuses on the expressive opportunities offered by two-dimensional glass. Among its main attractions are large-scale glass installations, stretching the boundaries of the medium.
The concept had its beginnings in Vilnius, with Lithuanian artist Dalia Truskaité as the initiator and main curator. Starting with the second biennial, new organisers have come from Latvia, Estonia, and Finland. The first event, taking place in 2012, brought together 32 artists from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Sweden; the works were exhibited in Vilnius and Klaipeda. In 2014, artists from Norway, Denmark, and Iceland joined the show, with 38 participants in total; venues included Vilnius, Jurbarkas, Pärnu, and Riga.
This year, there are 29 participants from around the Baltic Sea – Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Sweden, and the exhibition travels again between Vilnius, Jurbarkas, Pärnu, and Riga.
Artworks in a variety of hot and cold glassworking techniques explore the possibilities of two-dimensional glass in three-dimensional space. The so-called Vilnius School – historically a centre of 2D glass art – meets and exchanges ideas with its Baltic neighbours.
The opening will take place on Friday, December 9, 2016, at 18:00. Maili Metssalu and Ragnar Toompuu will make music at the opening.
The exhibition is open on Tuesdays to Sundays 15:00-18:00 on December 9-23.
Bringing the exhibition to Rapla was supported by Rapla County Municipal Development Fund (Raplamaa Omavalitsuste Arengufond).
Photos: Tiina Kõrtsini
09.09.– 02.10.2016
A group of six Danish photo artists use the camera and the posssibilities of digital editing the same way a painter employs a brush and paints, or a composer employs the piano. The click of the shutter is just the beginning of the process: the artists of METAMORPHOSIS work near the boundary of fiction and reality, intermingling experimental and conventional means of expression. They create a visual language that weaves new connotations out of fiction and reality. They don’t seek beauty or harmony, but show the way to genuine self-expression through the avenues specific to photography.
Participants: Annemette Rosenborg Eriksen, Else Vins, Erik Jrgensen, Josephine Ernst, Peder Brdsted Pedersen, Peter Birk.
