Photo reportage from the exhibition ‘Form as Function’ at the Prospektas Gallery

The group exhibition ‘Form as Function’ (Paul Kuimet, Kristina Õllek, and Ruudu Ulas) runs at the Prospektas Gallery until 30 November.

Form as Function explores the multidimensional concept of “form” in contemporary Estonian photography, presenting the works of three artists who push the boundaries of traditional photographic techniques. Despite their geographical proximity, the distinctive conceptual approaches in Estonian photography remain relatively underexplored in Lithuania. This exhibition offers a fresh perspective on these innovative practices, where photography extends beyond its conventional presentation to actively engage materiality in dialogue with conceptual inquiry.

Paul Kuimet, Kristina Õllek, and Ruudu Ulas each approach photography as a material medium, expanding its possibilities through their shared interest in the process and material construction of the photograph. For them, form is not merely a visual component but a potentially radical element that shapes meaning in multiple senses of the word. Their practices show how form, materiality, and abstraction carry deep implications – not only on aesthetic but also political (Õllek), sociohistorical (Kuimet), and personal-psychological (Ulas) levels.

Õllek approaches photography with a research-driven focus, concentrating on the fragile ecosystems of the Baltic Sea and the human impact on these environments. In her investigations of natural and synthetic environments, she uses a wide range of materials, including sea salt and cyanobacteria, to create speculative visions of our ecological futures. Kuimet’s practice often incorporates 16mm film and installation, blending aspects of modernist history to explore its ideological undersides. His investigations reveal how form can be meditative, exploring the histories of modern architecture and how photography as a medium relates to space, ideology, and perception. Ulas brings a more personal dimension to this dialogue, using photography to explore the relationship between personal and public spaces. Her site-responsive re-rendering of “Material Resistance” offers an embodied experience, drawing the viewer into intimate psychological spaces, while her object photographs navigate the tension between the familiar and the unknown.

At the heart of Form as Function is a shared exploration of how form actively contributes to meaning-making in photography. It becomes a dynamic force shaping both the visual and conceptual aspects of the works, whether dealing with the technological, ecological, or personal dimensions. Through their investigations of materiality, form, and process, these artists reframe photography as a medium that is not just about seeing, but also about critically engaging with the world through all senses.

Text author and curator of exhibition is Paulius Petraitis

This exhibition is supported by Cultural Endowment of Estonia and the Nordic Culture Point.
Lithuanian Photographers’ Association is funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.

Photography: Arturas Valiauga and Paul Kuimet