From Tuesday, October 31, 2023 Paul Kuimet’s solo exhibition Crystal Grid is open in Draakon gallery.
The project-related artist’s book presentation will take place on November 23 at 18:00 adjacent to the gallery in Kanuti Gildi SAAL.
“… the main question (the series) raises might be formulated as follows: How to give structure to something that itself is lacking one? How to present something like that? This is a question of visibility and making visible. What are the means for making visible something that always remains invisible? More precisely: the thing that remains invisible in real life, but of which we can get a glimpse in Crystal Grid, is the structure of capitalism. But how to display something like that?”
Neeme Lopp The Analytical Photography of Paul Kuimet
Essay from artist’s book Crystal Grid (Lugemik, 2023)
The exhibition features 25 new works from the Crystal Grid series. The series, commenced in 2020, consists of collages composed of photos taken in palm houses of various botanical gardens around the world. The collages are arranged in sets of two, three or four, juxtaposing plant fragments, which in reality are located hundreds or even thousands of kilometers apart.
For the collages, a pattern is used, derived from the structure of the ceiling of the central nave of the Crystal Palace, erected for the World Exhibition in London in 1851. For each work, a new pattern is designed within the existing framework, based on the internal composition of each photo – part of the image is cut according to the pattern, and part is left uncut.
Paul Kuimet (1984) is an artist who works with photography, 16 mm film and installation comprising of these media. Although his work is described by a technological way of seeing, his practice places emphasis on the movement and presence of the beholder in the exhibition space. Since 2013 his work has been interested in modernist forms. In his latest works he has concentrated not so much on the forms of modernism, but its materials, like steel and glass, and their relationship to the development of modern capitalism since the mid 19th century. He received an MA degree from the Estonian Academy of Arts (2014). In 2018, he participated in the residency programmes at WIELS Contemporary Art Centre, Brussels and at the International Studio & Curatorial Program (ISCP) in New York City. Kuimet’s work has recently been shown in solo and duo exhibitions at Tartu Art Museum (2023), WIELS Project Room, Brussels (2021), FUGA: Budapest Centre of Architecture (2021), Kogo Gallery, Tartu (2020) and Tallinn Art Hall (2020).
The exhibition will remain open until November 25, 2023.
The exhibition is a part of the satellite programme of the contemporary art biennial Tallinn Photomonth (6.10.–26.11.2023). More info: fotokuu.ee
Supported by: Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Academy of Arts, Põhjala Brewery
Exhibitions in Draakon gallery are supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Ministry of Culture and AS Liviko.
Draakon
Exhibition by Paul Kuimet
Title: Crystal Grid
Open: 31.10.-25.11.2023
Draakon Gallery, Pikk 18, Tallinn.
Mon-Fri 11.00-18.00, Sat 11.00-17.00
Photography: Paul Kuimet
