Invisible systems at exhibition 'Endless Story' by Mihkel Ilus and Paul Kuimet, Tallinn Art Hall

2020 03 07 — 2020 05 03 at Tallinn Art Hall
Author Echo Gone Wrong
Published in Events in Estonia

Endless Story brings new work by Mihkel Ilus and Paul Kuimet together under one roof. In this exhibition Ilus and Kuimet look at the invisible systems that drive our world, the former addressing local systems, the latter global, which despite the passing of time remain or are born once again in an almost identical form.

Exhibition is curated by Siim Preiman.

The exhibition will open on Saturday 7 March at 12pm. Pop-up bar will be serving snacks and drinks, music selection by Kaarel Valter. Opening speeches and a tour with curator and artist will start at 2pm.

Ilus is a visual artist who uses the tools of a painter and in recent years his work has focused primarily on dissecting and questioning the art of painting, as such. In Kuimet’s work, which continues to make use of traditional photography in the form of slides, film and analogue enlargements, architecture plays an important role both as the object of documentation, as well as the architectonic elements he uses in the exhibition space.

Superficially based on their methods, materials and creative ideas, the art practices of Ilus and Kuimet may not appear to have much in common. However, their work is united by a dedication and creative intensity which most clearly expresses itself in their fanaticism for their chosen media and techniques. The fields of painting and photography both endow their practitioners with numerous guidelines for the correct ways of behaviour and choice of materials. For the painter, let the canvas be made of linen and the paint be oil. Manipulating analogue photographs takes place, not in Photoshop, but with the skilful manipulation of light in the darkroom. And in the interests of effect it is also possible to lie a little.

Mihkel Ilus (1987) is a visual artist, who works in the expanded field of painting. He often tackles large-scale installations, approaching them with the logic of a painter. He studied painting at the University of Tartu and the Estonian Academy of Arts, and a substantial part of his practice involves combining contemporary exhibition practice with performance art. Recent exhibitions include – “How else could I put it” (Kuidas saaksingi teisiti) (curator Siim Preiman) Hordaland Kunstsenter in Bergen (2018), “Caprices: Pre-amp” (Kapriisid: Eelvõim) (with Henri Hütt) at the Design and Architecture Gallery (2017), “Stick it in your wall” (Pista see omale seina) at Hobusepea Gallery (2017) and “Dead End” (Tupik) (with Marten Esko) at the Art Hall Gallery (2016).

Paul Kuimet (1984) is an artist who combines photography and 16mm film to make installations. His work is characterised by typically technical ways of seeing that are mediated through technology. Kuimet studied photography and video art at the Estonian Academy of Arts, the University of Arts and Design (TaiK) in Helsinki, the Baltic Film and Media School in Tallinn and the University of East London. Recent exhibitions include – “Five Volumes“ (curator Nico Anklam) Narva Art Residency (2018), “Perpendicular” (Perpendikulaarne) Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia (2016) and “Late afternoon” (Hiline pärastlõuna) Tallinn City Gallery (2016).