VV Foundation is excited to announce ‘Gardens of the Galaxy’, a new exhibition by Estonian contemporary artist Katja Novitskova, opening at PAiR gallery in Pavilosta, Latvia, on August 9, 2025, on view until September 15, 2025.
At PAiR, Novitskova artwork “forever” will enter into dialogue with her video art piece “Pattern of Activation”, resulting in an innovative show driven by the artist’s anthropological and ecological exploration, as well as her interest in found imagery. In the exhibition, the two works, positioned outside and inside the PAiR building, engage in an unexpected dialogue. They are united by a shared exploration of the unknown: humanity’s deeply rooted fears and obsession with capturing and defining reality. Together, they challenge our perception of time, contrasting the eternity evoked by “forever” with the fleeting, momentary rhythm of “Pattern of Activation”, explore the artist’s interest in animalistic imagery and investigate the power of new media.
Created in collaboration with Kareem Lotfy, “forever” combines a bold text with a black-and-white image of hyenas, challenging perceptions of fear and the unfamiliar. The work, which is exhibited at the PAiR’s northern façade, literally “crawls out of the bushes” and unexpectedly greets passers-by. However, the privilege of seeing this scene of darkness at any hour of the day releases any imaginary fear, rather inviting one to think about their causes. It will most likely turn out that fear is only a human-like reaction to what is unaccustomed, unlearnt. And darkness, as we know, will remain untamed forever.
“Pattern of Activation” bring together a collection of found imagery, including wildlife cam photos, astronomical images, snail embryos, monkey blood cells, proteins, bacteria, clouds on Mars, and many others — the artist herself has classified over 12,000 images. If the overabundance of instrumental, machine-readable images may cheapen any meaning or aesthetic value, Novitskova actively digs some poetry out of these datasets. Such poetry comes from a combination of technology and the reality that it attempts to capture: glowing eyes of animals that reflect the flash-light of the camera, digital low resolution artifacts, accidentally stunning compositions of galaxies and forests. The piece questions our obsession and ability to “capture” nature with technological means.
With this exhibition, PAiR gallery continues its mission of bringing internationally renowned artists to Pāvilosta and showcasing innovative contemporary art, highlighting pressing themes such as ecology, the presence and perception of technology, the shifting realities of the Anthropocene, and the emerging traces of the post-Anthropocene.
Opening evening programme:
14:00 Opening
14:30 Maija Demitere in conversation with Katja Novitskova
16:00 “Artists Table” dinner in collaboration with Cooking by the River
About the artist:
Katja Novitskova (1984) is a world-renowned Estonian artist living in Amsterdam and Berlin. Her creative work includes research in ecology and image production, focusing on issues related to the sustainability of the planet and humanity. She mostly works with images found online, which are integrated in different places, where technology and physical conditions coincide.
Novitskova holds degrees from the University of Tartu (Estonia), University of Lübeck, (Germany), and the Sandberg Instituut (The Netherlands). Her work has been exhibited internationally in solo and group exhibitions including Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler, Berlin (2025); Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (2024); 15th Gwangju Biennale (2024); Museum für Gegenwartskunst Siegen (2023, solo); Fries Museum, Leeuwarden (2023, solo); Stavanger Art Museum, Norway (2023); MUDAM Luxembourg (2021); Kunstfort bij Vijfhuizen (2021, solo); Belgrade Biennal (2021), Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Zürich (2020); Sharjah Art Foundation (2020); Hamburger Bahnhof, Berlin (2019); the 14th Fellbach Trienniale (2019); CCA, Tel Aviv (2019); Whitechapel Gallery, London (2018, solo); Kumu Art Museum, Tallinn (2018, solo); Baltic Triennial, Vilnius (2018). In 2017, Novitskova has represented Estonia at Venice Biennale.
The artist’s works are included in important international private and public collections.
About the conversation host:
Maija Demitere is an artist and researcher whose work focuses on ecology and sustainability. In her practice, Demitere often employs an interdisciplinary approach, developing works and objects that blend art, innovation, and technology. She frequently uses rapid prototyping tools, combining them with conceptual and philosophical inquiry to create artworks and objects that raise awareness about various ecological issues.
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