Photo reportage from exhibition ‘Down in the Bog – Sporulation’ at the Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia

Until September 1, the Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia (EKKM) hosts the international group exhibition ‘Down in the Bog – Sporulation’. This exhibition features artists, designers, musicians, and scientists exploring the unique ecosystems of peatlands. It is curated by Karolin Tampere, a Norwegian curator with Estonian roots.

‘Down in the Bog – Sporulation’ is an exhibition and a place for sharing and learning from the peatlands of Estonia and around the world, and argues for the need for increased attention and care. Slowly growing, like peat forming, this is a project-in-process. Along with the artworks on display, one can contemplate on the subject through workshops, concerts and field trips that are also part of the exhibition. These activities build a multisensory experience where sound, touch and smell become central vessels for inspiration and knowledge.

The exhibition ‘Down in the Bog – Sporulation’ is the second of the three chapters of the overall project ‘Down in the Bog – Thinking with Peatlands’ curated by Karolin Tampere. The project emphasises the sharing and embodiment of knowledge and awareness to create attention towards the need for the increased care of peatlands, locally, nationally and internationally. Practically and conceptually, the topic of peatlands will act as a guiding map and a compass to learn about historical, cultural and contemporary changes in the environments around us in Northern Norway/Sápmi, Estonia and selected locations internationally.

Participating artists: Brit Pavelson, Caitlin Franzmann, Eike Eplik, Else Lagerspetz, Enn Kärmas & Villu Järmut, Ensayos, Geir Tore Holm, Hilde Hauan Johnsen, Ingrid Bjørnaali, Maria Simmons & Fabian Lanzmaier, Jaan Evart, Kristina Norman, Magnus Skei Holmen, Piret Pungas-Kohv / Estonian Nature Fund, Randi Nygård, Simon Daniel Tegnander Wenzel, Søssa Jørgensen.

The exhibition is open from 15 June to 1 September, Wed–Sun 12.00–19.00.
Admission free.

Supporters: Estonian Ministry of Culture, the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Tallinn Culture & Sports Department, OCA – Office for Contemporary Art Norway, Nordic-Baltic Mobility Programme for Culture, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø Kunstforening, British Council, AkzoNobel, Nordic Hotel Forum, Norwegian Crafts, The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Photo by Joosep Kivimäe.