The XXV International Wood-Firing Ceramics Symposium will take place from July 4 to 28, 2025, at the historic Tohisoo Manor.
GRAND FINALE — July 26 at 19:00!
The aim of the symposium is to support international exchange in the field of ceramics, deepen the understanding and recognition of wood-firing techniques, and foster interdisciplinary approaches through collaboration.
For the past four years, the symposium has followed a thematic approach, which has helped strengthen professional networks and foster collaboration among artists. In addition to ceramicists, each year we invite one artist from a different discipline, who responds to the ongoing creative processes, the participants, and the firing events. This interdisciplinary practice brings new artistic dimensions to the symposium.
Previous themes have included light, word, politics, and psyche. This year’s theme is clay and performance. The invited interdisciplinary artist is Henri Hütt, who will engage with the site, the studio work, and the participating artists to create a performance that will premiere at the festive closing event of the symposium.
Participating artists: Rikke Vinde (Norway/Sweden), Tosha Parmar (India), Paula Ruuttunen (Finland), Anabeli D. González (Mexico/Sweden), Rūta Butkutė (Lithuania/Netherlands), Ieva Rute (Lithuania), Kala Kovács (Hungary/Netherlands), Peter Christian Johnson and Steven Driver (USA), Juss Heinsalu (Estonia).
In this special anniversary year, the fire sculpture will be created by artist Ingrid Allik.
We invite everyone to take part in the public program!
Get to know the artists at the Artist Talk, visit our Open Studios, and join us for the GRAND FINALE — a vibrant day full of events for the whole family: the exhibition opening, Henri Hütt’s performance, an acoustic concert by Vaiko Eplik, a fire show, and the unveiling of Ingrid Allik’s fire sculpture. A free shuttle bus will be available from and back to Tallinn.
Public events at Tohisoo Manor:
5.07 Artist Talk (in English) — 14:00
10.07 Open Studios (in Estonian) — 14:00
26.07 GRAND FINALE:
19:00 Welcome Speeches
20:00 Exhibition Opening, Henri Hütt’s Performance & Tour
21:00 Acoustic Concert by Vaiko Eplik
22:20 Fire Show
22:30 Fire Sculpture Opening
All events are free of charge and open to the public.
Project lead: Jekaterina Kaplan
Core team: kiln master Andres Allik, assistants Kristel Ojasoo and Joonas Parve, project manager Rael Artel, public program coordinator Aigi Orav, cultural program coordinator Külli Kõiv, media and communication specialist Evi Pärn, fire sculpture assistants Liisa Aaslav-Kaasik and Leena Kuutma, photographer Annika Haas.
Volunteers: Florencia Califano, Maria Ivanova, Nele Kurvits, Liisi Ansip, Mihkel Voll, Andrei Kucheryavy, Anna Metelskaya, Marianna Romanets.
Partners and supporters: Estonian Cultural Endowment, Union of Raplamaa Municipalities, Kohila Parish, Ceramics Department of the Estonian Academy of Arts, Embassy of Hungary, Asuurkeraamika OÜ, Estonian Ceramists’ Association, OÜ Kerako, Kohila School of Arts, Kohila Youth Center, NGO Vabakond, NGO Kohila Paberivabrik and others.
Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who makes the symposium possible.
See you in Kohila!
Web page: https://www.kohilasymposium.com/ [1]
To register for the Tallinn–Kohila–Tallinn (26.07) bus, please send an email to eviparn@kohilasymposium.com
The bus to the Kohila Symposium departs from the parking lot at Mere pst 5 (Tallinn) at 18:00.
The return trip from Tohisoo Manor back to Tallinn will depart at 23:00 with the same bus.