The saying „blow hot and cold“ expresses ambivalence, alternating between two states. In her artwork presented at the current exhibition, Kaisa Maasik examines depicting of (alternation of) emotions.
When it comes to languages, expressions about moods tend to involve opposite colours: for instance the saying „see red“ means the same as „turn blue with anger“ in Estonian, and yet, in both languages, one becomes „green with envy“. Various studies have also proved that human face is changing undertones depending on a specific emotion (Benitez-Quiroz, F., Srinivasan, R., Martinez, A. M. (2018) Facial color is an efficient mechanism to visually transmit emotion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.) When the mood swins, the blood circulation in facial skin subconsciously helps to express how we feel, while receiving mutually gentle signals from our communication partners.
At the current exhibition, a scheduled spectacle opens up in the form of vessels changing colours. Also, the subject of emoticons with similar pattern is brought up – specific colours are attributed to certain facial expressions. The kinetic cycle starts with water heaters while inviting the viewer to slow down and observe alternating shades. These static beings, frequently changing moods, become hot and cool down just like hinting at something.
Kaisa Maasik (1994) is an artist and curator based in Tallinn. She has obtained MA degree in contemporary art, faculty of fine art at the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2021 where she also previously obtained a BA degree in 2017. In 2019, she was an exchange student in the Praxis curatorial Master’s Programme at the University of the Arts Helsinki. Maasik values shared practices and working with techniques which expand into space. She has been a member of the Umbrella Group (2016–2017), a team member of the Tallinn Photomonth biennial (2017 and 2019) and has taken part in running Vent Space project space (2018–2019). Maasik was awarded the Wiiralt stipend in 2020.
The artist expresses her gratitude to : Andra Jõgi, Anne Eelmere, Astra Aavik, Benedikte Bjerre, Chih Tung Lin, Estonian Artists’ Association, Eve Koha, Fabrikken for Kunst og Design, Indrek Köster, Karel Koplimets, Merike Estna, Otto Varjust, the Maasik family, proloogkool, Tiiu Saadoja, Tõnu Narro.
Exhibitions in Hobusepea gallery are supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Ministry of Culture and Liviko Ltd.
Exhibition by Kaisa Maasik
Title: Blow Hot and Cold
Open: 24.11.-13.12.2021
Hobusepea gallery, Hobusepea 2, Tallinn.
Wed-Mon 11.00-18.00
Photos by Kaisa Maasik
