The exhibition ‘Unfortunately, You Were Not Selected This Time’ by Katariin Mudist and Keithy Kuuspu at Tartu Art House is open until March 2. Katariin Mudist’s and Keithy Kuuspu’s exhibition at Tartu Art House explores the multifaceted phenomenon of giving and receiving awards, delving into the dynamics of recognition within the art world and beyond.
Awards serve as social proof, reinforcing the legitimacy and value of individuals or organizations. From golden stars given to children for good behavior to lifetime achievement honors, these tokens fulfill a fundamental human need: to feel seen, special, and acknowledged. However, this recognition often comes with unintended consequences, fostering competition, comparison, and a goal-oriented approach to life. Does praise motivate improvement, or does it become a burden, creating expectations and pressure that hinder future efforts?
“Unfortunately, You Were Not Selected This Time” examines the cyclical nature of recognition, while wryly remaining entangled in these very dynamics. Keithy and Katariin were selected for this exhibition and received funding to realize it. In turn, they chose artists to create trophies and invited directors to distribute them. Who gets to choose, and who is chosen? What lies behind recognition, and what are its broader political and psychological implications?
A network of exchanges and collaborations is woven throughout the exhibition. Artists conducted interviews with individuals from various fields, including art, literature, and sports, gathering diverse perspectives on the meaning of recognition. Their process expanded to include volunteers who participated in carving chairs and creating the photo series. Finally, they invited 25 artists to contribute trophies, each celebrating a unique concept. These trophies will be awarded during a public, itinerant performative Awards Gala on March 1, where five theater directors will select the winners and distribute the prizes.
About the Artists:
Keithy and Katariin share a mutual interest in exploring self-ironic and socially critical themes, often through the performative activation of materials and conceptual solutions. Their collaboration began during Katariin’s recent exhibition, Slugs Like Us, at the HOP Gallery in April 2024, when Keithy supported the exhibition with an opening performance. Unfortunately, You Were Not Selected This Time marks their second joint project.
Katariin Mudist (b. 1994, Estonia) has a long history of collecting awards, starting as early as a second-place finish in her 3rd-grade “Most Popular Girl” contest (Keithy won 1st place in her class’s “Most Popular Girl” contest). She is an artist exploring the multifaceted nature of humanity and its manifestations in the social world. Her practice combines humor and irony to address societal norms, with a focus on performativity, value, and materiality. She is currently studying at the Estonian Academy of Arts in the Craft Studies program, where she investigates the intersections of visual and material-focused art practices. Katariin holds a Master’s degree in Contemporary Art (EKA, 2022) and a degree in Media and Advertising Design (Pallas University of Applied Sciences, 2018). A member of the Estonian Artists’ Association, the Estonian Association of Young Contemporary Artists, and the Association of Estonian Printmakers. Her recent exhibitions include Slugs Like Us at the HOP Gallery and Sisters Have Sisterhood at ARS Project Space (in collaboration with Johanna Mudist).
Mudist has received numerous awards and accolades throughout her life. Her earliest achievements include II place in the GAG 1st grade cross-country running competition (2002), I place in the 1B class mother tongue olympiad (2003), and II place in the 3B class popularity contest for girls (2004). She earned II place in the environmental drawing competition (2005), II place in the 3B class natural science olympiad (2005), and II place for the 5B class team in the school decoration competition (2006). In sports, she achieved I place in the Gustav Adolf Grammar School sports day for the 60 m sprint in the girls’ category for grades 7–9 with a time of 8.7 seconds (2009), I place in the Tallinn Sports Society Kalev Athletics School Christmas Competition in the T15 category for the 60 m sprint with a time of 8.67 seconds (2009), and III place in the Central District schools’ 6th–7th grade girls’ 60 m sprint with a time of 8.5 seconds (2009). Her artistic achievements during her school years include III place in the art education subject competition among Tallinn schools in the high school age group (2013), an award from the Art Education Association for a home creative work at the national art olympiad (2013), best on-site creative work in the high school category at the national art olympiad (2014), 1st place in the Tallinn art olympiad (2014), and I place in the national student art olympiad in the high school category (2014). Additionally, she won the best UI/UX design award at the Student Startup Camp (2017).
Mudist’s academic and professional accomplishments further highlight her talent. She was recognized for the best graduation project at the Colleges of Applied Sciences with her animation project “The Hesitator” (2018). She earned the Museum’s Favourite award at the Linocut Contest in the Printing and Paper Museum-Studio for her linocut “Architectural Cityscape” (2019). That same year, she won I prize at the Laterna Magica film festival for the short animation “The Hesitator” (2019). She received the Rotalia Foundation USA stipendium (2020) and later, the Young Sculptors Prize – III prize for her site-specific installation “Wall” (2022). Her work “Growth” was selected as the winning piece in the art competition by Telliskivi Creative City Art Festival “I Do Not Understand – Sculpture” (2022). Mudist contributed illustrations to Sally Studio’s book Brave… Chest is Colourful, which was included in “Estonian 25 Most Beautiful Books 22” (2023). Most recently, she received the Rain Lõhmus Foundation Scholarship (2024).
In her earlier life Keithy Kuuspu (b. 1994, Estonia) was active and successful mostly in sports as well as in beauty contests. Right now she is working in between the fields of performance, dance, visual art, and ceramics. In her practice, she engages with everyday structures and examines the societal influences on individuals, often through an ironic yet naive lens. Connecting visual and performance art and searching for connections between the body and material has an important place in her creation. She holds a BA in choreography from Tallinn University’s Baltic Film, Media, and Arts School and an MA in Contemporary Physical Performance Making CPPM from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. She is currently pursuing an MA in ceramics at the Estonian Academy of Arts.
Kuuspu has won several awards and received much recognition throughout her life. Some of the most significant achievements include II place in the sprint at the Tallinna Lepatriinu Kindergarten with a time of 23.03 seconds, II place in the jumping without running with a distance of 1.71 meters, I place in the sit-up exercise with 306 repetitions (house record) and I place in push-ups with 120 repetitions (2002). She was the most popular girl in the 2A class of Jakob Westholm High School and the student with the “healthiest” outfit (2004), best showgirl at Terje Treimann’s dance studio city camp (2004), II place in the Tallinn City Center Government’s autumn composition competition (2006), Miss Urumarja Camp (2006), II princess at the MiniMiss competition of Kristiine youth center (2006), II place in the Urumarja camp’s 12-year-old girls’ run (2007), the best breakdancer at Urumarja camp (2007), III-IV place in the Child Protection League’s photo competition “Smiles at School” (2008), II place in the long jump with a result of 4.27 meters and in the 60m sprint with a time of 9.40 seconds at the Viimsi School sports day at the Tallinn Sports Hall (2010). She achieved III place in the Golden Cup Dance Festival in the Jazz Dance solo performance in the adult category (2014).
In 2022, she received the Crystal Shoe Award at the Estonian Theatre Awards, recognizing her as one of two young performing artists for her first significant stage works. Recent awarded works include False Falling (STL, 2021, Estonian Theatre Awards 2023 nomination in the dance category) and Standstill (STL, 2023, Estonian Theatre Awards 2024 nomination in the performance art category). In 2024, Kuuspu received both the WTF Prize awarded by Urmas Lüüs and the peer award initiated by Karolin Poska at the dance day breakfast event of the Kanuti Gildi SAAL. Additionally, she completed the English language course at Tommy Play School (2002), the “Be Normal” program (2006), Marina Abramović’s “Cleaning the House” training (2022), and the peer supporting training (2024). In 2023, she, together with Liisa Saaremäel, created the performance part of the Estonian Pavilion “Home Stage” at the Venice Architecture Biennale (B210).
Photography: Kaimar Tauri Tamm