Exhibition “Iron Men” by Jaanus Samma

On 23 August at 6 PM, Jaanus Samma's solo exhibition Iron Men, curated by  Krist Gruijthuijsen (KW Institute for Contemporary Art in Berlin), will open at EKKM. In this project, Samma presents a suite of new works, which continue his exploration and analysis on national narratives and representations of power through masculinity.

6 PM Exhibition tour with the artist and the curator
7 PM Opening speeches

Samma’s work is known for queering seemingly harmless subject matter on national representation through explorations on sexuality and the notion of the public realm. Often, the concept of folklore is a re-occurring theme in Samma’s work as a form of cultural circulation open to queer re-interpretation. By using traditional techniques, the artist navigates through various forms of communication, which at first seem innocent but on closer inspection present an array of gay and queer symbolism. Through archival research, he has found ways of broadening the socio-political perspectives on national and sexual identity by offering alternatives for contextualising the past.

The exhibition at EKKM follows Samma’s recent curation at the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, in which he investigated the use of national patterns and motifs in Estonian applied art and printmaking between the 1930s and the 1950s. In this exhibition, Samma mainly explored how national iconography is connected to power and how it has shaped Estonians’ self-image.

Iron Men focuses on a few elements that were included in that show, in particular the depiction of the so-called hero, one that symbolises and embodies strength, masculinity, protection and conviction, and he develops these further in artworks based on historical case studies. Without making a statement, the exhibition aims to connect several male protagonists who each have contributed to Estonia’s national pride, both in a mythological as well as political sense. Samma uses storytelling and forms of documentations to trace forgotten or overlooked histories in order to demasculinise the patriarchy.

With a light touch of irony, Iron Men playfully examines Estonia’s history and the men that are so proudly included in it.

The exhibition will remain open until October 15th, 2023.

Supported by: Cultural Endowment of Estonia, the Ministry of Culture of Estonia, AkzoNobel, Temnikova & Kasela gallery, Lipuvabrik, Lincona, Janere OÜ

Additonal information:
Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia
Kursi 5, Tallinn
Entrance free!
Wed–Sun 12.00–19.00