Excess and Refusal is centred around the notions of excess and refusal as artistic and lived practices. The two are, in fact, a contingent pair – often excess is achieved through refusal and refusal is enforced because of excess.
Our understanding of excess relies on the idea of existence of limits to what is acceptable – politically, culturally, in our private and public lives etc. Refusal or inability to abide by these limits – to step outside the acceptable – produces what is perceived as excess, often with connotations of immorality. Declaring someone or something excessive is also a way to refuse access, means and power. However, a conscious refusal can emerge as a powerful strategy for reclaiming one’s agency.
Historically, ideas of excess, opulence, luxury and abundance have been associated with a rather negative image and linked to frivolity, unseriousness and unintellectuality. In art, for example, these alignments have allowed disregarding a wide array of artistic practices as example, these alignments have allowed disregarding a wide array of artistic practices as sidenotes to “Great Art”. In the context of this dichotomy and while refusing to be subjected to it, the artists in the show use excess as a tool for invention, both aesthetically and conceptually.
The show looks at refusal and excess in various contexts and themes: gender and activism, queerness, abjection and grotesque, health and illness, performativity, community building and experimentation. This is a quest for imaginative opulence.
The exhibition is accompanied by curatorial tours in English and Estonian.
Excess and Refusal
EKKM, Tallinn
28.07.–22.08.2021
Artists: Be Oakley, Rebecca Jagoe, Sandra Kosorotova, Hanna Kisch, Agu Pilt, Pire Sova & Ando Naulainen, Women’s History Museum
Curator: Keiu Krikmann
Graphic design: Ott Kagovere & Indrek Sirkel
Thank you: Anu Grabbi, Harry Liivrand, Ain Talalaev, Aarne Kraam and Lili Pilt
Supporters: Estonian Ministry of Culture, Cultural Endowment of Estonia, National Heritage Board of Estonia, City of Tallinn, Akzo Nobel Baltics AS
Excess and Refusal at EKKM, exhibition view. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Excess and Refusal at EKKM, exhibition view. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Be Oakley, SIGNALING THE REFUSAL OF MASTERY AND AN INSISTENCE OF PROCESSING & BECOMING, 2020. Installation view at EKKM. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Be Oakley, Black Trans Lives Matter Type Poster, 2020. Installation view at EKKM. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Rebecca Jagoe, Red Delicious, 2019. Installation view at EKKM. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Rebecca Jagoe, Red Delicious, 2019. Detail. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Rebecca Jagoe, Red Delicious, 2019. Detail. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Excess and Refusal at EKKM, exhibition view. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Agu Pilt, Selected garments, 1990s–2000s; and the documentation of the costume performance “The Dance of Life” at St. Nicholas Church in Tallinn, 1998. Installation view at EKKM. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Agu Pilt, Selected garments, 1990s–2000s. Installation view at EKKM. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Agu Pilt, Selected garments, 1990s–2000s. Installation view at EKKM. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Agu Pilt, Selected garments, 1990s–2000s. Detail. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Excess and Refusal at EKKM, exhibition view. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Hanna Kisch, The Garden, 2020. Installation view at EKKM. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Hanna Kisch,The Garden, 2020. Detail. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Hanna Kisch, The Garden, 2020. Detail. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Sandra Kosorotova, Occupatient, 2020. Installation view at EKKM. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Sandra Kosorotova, Occupatient, 2020. Detail. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Excess and Refusal at EKKM, exhibition view. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Women’s History Museum, Selected items from the Calico Svetlana collection, 2018; and video Her Bed Surrounded By Machines, 2018. Installation view at EKKM. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Women’s History Museum, Selected items from the Calico Svetlana collection, 2018. Detail. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Women’s History Museum, Selected items from the Calico Svetlana collection, 2018. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Excess and Refusal at EKKM, exhibition view. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Pire Sova & Ando Naulainen, Bring a body, bring a prop, bring a friend, 2020. Installation view at EKKM. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Pire Sova & Ando Naulainen, Bring a body, bring a prop, bring a friend, 2020. Detail. Photo: Paul Kuimet
Pire Sova & Ando Naulainen, Bring a body, bring a prop, bring a friend, 2020. Detail. Photo: Paul Kuimet
