On 10 December at 16:00 NART will open exhibition “On the Other Side of the Great Oblivion”, which will run until 5 February.
Artists: Angela Maasalu, Eike Eplik, Manfred Dubov, Urmas Lüüs
Curator: Maria Helen Känd
Project manager: Anita Kodanik
The group exhibition focuses on the feeling of emptiness: when you are removed or lifted out of your environment by powerful transformations or transitioning from one phase of your life to another. Eike Eplik and Urmas Lüüs are known for their installational staging of the space, while Manfred Dubov and Angela Maasalu translate charged emotional states onto canvas.
The exhibition allows the viewer to perceive that everything happens in a constant state of in- betweenness. The present moment is split into two halves. We accommodate scenarios that are waiting to be fulfilled, offering a space for imagination and growing out of reach before they unfold and start to transform, decrease and warp once again. The uncanny, ritualistic, at times playful and somewhat humorous works strike a wedge into our consciousness. As the sharp blade of the sword falls behind us, the exhibition guides us through space-time continuums, within the reach of great powers, oblivion, reconciliation and dreams.
The title of the group exhibition is inspired by the Estonian poet Jaan Kaplinski’s poem from his collection “Raske on kergeks saada” (“It is Hard to Become Light”, 1982). The poetic self conveys a mystical experience of time and space, where the person has not yet received a time, a space or a name. For Kaplinski’s poetic self, the experience of the unknown is not one of misery or of a dark state of mind. On the contrary, letting go of the self brings enlightenment. Reaching the enlightened state, however, can be hard work, full of losses and renunciations.
On the day of the opening, transport to Narva will be organised. Registration for the bus: shorturl.at/sXY17
The bus is leaving from Estonian Academy of Arts (Põhja pst. 7) and will return to Tallinn around 22.30.
Before the opening there will be an opportunity to participate in a guided tour at the permanent exhibition curated by Rael Artel “Life or Karma? Stories of Narva” Narva Muuseumi Kunstigalerii.
The bus ticket with a visit to the Narva Museum costs €5. Guests that arrive independently can also take part in the Narva Museum art gallery tour at 2 p.m. If joining separately, the museum tour also costs €5.For those who do not want to visit the Narva Museum art gallery, the art bus ticket is €3.
You can pay in cash or transfer: Maria Helen Känd, EE237700771003727460
PS! Opening at NART is free!
The exhibition is supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.