New Exhibitions in Tallinn in Summer 2022
30.06.2022
visittallinn.ee
The most exciting aspect of Tallinn’s museums is that they are constantly developing, full of in-spiration and new viewpoints. Tallinn’s museums provide people with an overview of the classics, they showcase local and international cultures and technology and overall bring a breath of fresh air to the city’s cultural life and enhance the city of Tallinn by displaying its 800-year history, modern life as well as visions for the future.
Did you know that the Tallinn Card provides free access to most of the museums mentioned in this article? The card also lets you use public transport and offers several other discounts. One adult card will allow you to take two children under the age of seven with you for free. Buying online saves you €1 on every card.
History
The Estonian History Museum, the Great Guild Hall – Musical Garden. Hortus Musicus 50
As of 2022, 50 years have passed since the founding of the early music ensemble Hortus Musicus. This significant anniversary marking half a century of the ensemble inspired us to offer visitors the opportunity to go on a musical journey from the Middle Ages to the present day.
The exhibition is open from 21 May 2022 to 29 January 2023.
Seaplane Harbour: Researcher of the ecology of Antarctic lakes Enn Kaup 75
Arriving in Antarctica for the first time in March 1972 as a meteorologist, Enn Kaup developed an interest in the ecology of lakes, on the basis of which he graduated as a Candidate of Sciences in 1981. Kaup participated in nine different expeditions to Antarctica to gather the required materials and knowledge for his research. It was the first degree from Antarctica awarded to an Estonian.
The exhibition showcases artefacts that illustrate how work was conducted in Antarctica. Among them are expedition diaries as well as a 24-hour dial clock created specifically for polar explorers, and a radio telegram sent by the 37th President of the United States of America Richard Nixon to his contemporary winter enthusiasts.
The exhibition is open in the Seaplane Harbour, in the bow gallery of the icebreaker Suur Tõll from 11 March 2022 until 15 January 2023.
Architecture
Museum of Estonian Architecture: Siim, Kreis, Ausing
The exhibition showcases the works of architects Andres Siim, Hanno Kreis and Kristel Ausing. The works of Hanno Kreis and Andres Siim took inspiration from pre-World War II modernism and looked for active contact with the trends in contemporary international architecture and urban development. Kristel Ausing joined their collective in 1993. Her works are based on the view that spatial design is closely intertwined with social, economic and political processes. The collective’s most famous works are the Nissan Centre and the Estonian Golf & Country Club, both of which were awarded the Cultural Endowment of Estonia’s annual award.
The exhibition is open from 25 May 2022 until 21 August 2022
Museum of Estonian Architecture: Cityscape. The main streets of Tallinn, Tartu and Pärnu
The exhibition shows the changes in the central streets and squares of three Estonian cities during the last century and a half – from the time when photographers captured the first city views. The views of Tallinn include two central city squares – Viru and Vabaduse Square and the two streets connecting them (Pärnu maantee and Estonia puiestee). The views of Tartu are from the area of the city center, which is between the Raekoja plats (Town Hall Square), the Emajõgi River and the current streets of Riia and Ülikooli. The views of Pärnu extend from the square in front of the current Endla Theater to the front square of the historic Endla Theater. The main emphasis is on the oldest, high-quality photos possible, choosing as many as possible that have not been published before.
The exhibition is open from 7 May until 21 August 2022
Photography
The Museum of Photography – Estonia in Pictures. Photographer Carl Sarap 1893-1942
As a part of the Museum of Photography's Year of Analogue Photography, the main exhibition presents the best works of Carl Sarap, a top Estonian photographer of the 1930s. Sarap’s works can be seen on three floors and include rare preserved original photographs, photo postcards, photo enlargements and prints. Sarap’s collection is one of the largest surviving photo collections with an all-Estonian reach from the 1930s that has been created aesthetically and at a high technical level.
The exhibition is open from 16 June 2022 until 23 January 2023.
Fofografiska – Frank Ockenfels 3. Introspection
The artwork of the exhibition uses different mediums such as photography, painting and collage. Experimenting with light, optics and different types of cameras, Ockenfels tries to push the boundaries between photography and artwork. He sometimes brutally distorts his photographs by manipulating them with scissors, ink and charcoal, turning his portraits of world-famous actors and musicians into a reflection of his own inner world. The result is an intimate and often provocative set of images that may even seem startling at first, but which carry an inner beauty.
The exhibition is open from 17 June to 9 October 2022.
Art and design
The Estonian Design Centre – Interactive exhibition “Communicative Urban Space. Graphic design and typography in Tallinn urban space”
The interactive exhibition presents a cross-section of the contemporary and historical strata of graphic design and typography both in the Tallinn urban space and through the online Tallinn Design Map.
The exhibition introduces the existing graphic design strata in Tallinn’s everyday urban spaces. It includes 23 examples with introductory texts and both contemporary and historical photos.
You can best enjoy the interactive exhibition if you use the map application on your mobile device while exploring the city.
The exhibition is open from 17 June 2022.
Tallinn Art Hall – The 22nd Annual Exhibition of Estonian Artists’ Association “Spring Exhibition 2022”
This year, the popular annual exhibition of the Estonian Artists’ Association takes place both in the Tallinn Art Hall and the Art Hall Gallery on Freedom Square. The exhibition presents a cross-section of art created in 2021-2022 by 72 Estonian artists.
The exhibition is open from 20 June until 14 August 2022.
The Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design – Mare Kelpman. Colour Code
Celebrated Estonian designer Mare Kelpman has become a mainstay of the local design landscape and everyday life through her textiles. The strengths of her textile art can be seen primarily in her skilful combination of colours and patterns. The exhibition focuses on the woven fabrics created in Kelpman’s textile studio.
The exhibition is open from 3 June until 11 September 2022.
Kumu Art Museum – Project Space II: Maria Kapayeva. Loose Photos, Odds and Ends
Artist Maria Kapayeva’s new exhibition tries to answer the question: what can you do with a random collection of photographs? Eight years ago, Kapayeva purchased over a hundred old photos from an American dealer who believed these photos might be from Estonia. Even though it is no longer possible to find out more about these photos as the dealer passed away, Kapayeva hopes to find answers to some of her questions with the public’s help.
The exhibition is open from 16 June until 1 December 2022.
The Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia – “Greatest Hits”
As part of Evelyn Raudsepp’sexhibition project, six Estonian curators have each chosen one artwork that they wish to re-experience or that speaks to them. This exhibition thus forms a mixtape of contemporary art that includes the work of several highly regarded international artists. The curators’ letters written to the artists of their choice add a personal touch to the exhibition.
The exhibition is open from 18 June until 7 August 2022.
Mikkel Museum: Karl Morgenstern. A Scholar’s Collection
Johann Karl Simon Morgenstern (1770–1852) was a professor of classic philology, aesthetics, rhetoric, and art history at the University of Tartu, which reopened in 1802. In addition, he was the founder of the university library and art museum. Morgenstern was an art collector, who handed down his collection to the university. The exhibition showcases the engraved gems and prints in the collection, focusing on key themes that reflect the interests of a Tartu scholar influenced by the Enlightenment. A particular emphasis is placed on glyptic art, as studying gems was a part of Morgenstern’s teaching work and he was interested in Ancient Greek art.
The exhibition is open from 14 May 2022 until 18 September 2022
Long evenings in Tallinn’s museums
The Estonian Health Museum and the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design in Old Town are open until 20:00 on Thursdays.
The Kadriorg Art Museum and the Mikkel Museum in Kadriorg are places that can be enjoyed into the evening on Wednesdays as both museums are open until 20:00, while the Kumu Art Museum is open until 20:00 on Thursdays.
The Kalamaja museum is open until 20:00 on both Wednesdays and Thursdays.