“The Scream of Kalevipoeg. Dream of a Monument” by Kirke Kandro

On Thursday, 20 November at 18:00, Kirke Kangro’s solo exhibition The Scream of Kalevipoeg. Dream of a Monument opens at Draakon Gallery. The exhibition will remain open until December 14.

Kalevipoeg is an epic hero who perishes by his own sword. As he wades through the River Kääpa, the blade cuts off his legs. According to Kreutzwald, Kalevipoeg’s cry of pain rose to the heavens, swelling into the clouds — and is said to echo to this day.

In myth, heroes are often torn apart or cut to pieces: Orpheus by the maenads; Set dismembers his brother Osiris, whom Isis later reassembles and revives; in India, Shiva accidentally beheads his son Ganesha, then replaces the head with that of an elephant.

The exhibition takes its cue from Kalju Reitel’s sculpture “Estonia Awakens” in Tapa, depicting Kalevipoeg — a work seen by some as casting a shadow over the town. What might a monument look like that builds a positive identity and inspires confidence? 

Kalevipoeg’s cry has been heard. His feet have been found. If all the parts of the mythical hero were gathered and sung together again, Kalevipoeg, like Osiris, might once more come to life.

Kirke Kangro is a sculptor and installation artist interested in how spatial and object-based forms can be used to address questions related to the human world and cultural space. In her installations, she employs minimalist means to analyse specific spatial situations and unfold the paradoxes of human experience. In recent years, her focus has been on issues of public art, and she has worked as a curator in research project “New Frames of the Monument,” which deals with the recontextualisation of dissonant monumental heritage. Kangro has curated several international exhibitions and currently works at the Estonian Academy of Arts as a professor and the Dean of Fine Arts.

The exhibition is supported by The Cultural Endowment of Estonia and Riisipere Puit. 

The artist thanks:  Ain Kilk, Hasso Krull, Linda Kaljundi, Kristjan Mändmaa, Valdek Laur, Madis Kaasik, Anneli Oppar, Anu Allas, Isabel Aaso, Kristjan Haljak, Oliver Issak, Mart Kalm, Anna-Magdaleena Kangro, Maarja Kangro, Mart Kangur, Kristi Kongi, Gregor Kulla, Johannes Luik, Tanja Muravskaja, Kaido Ole, Margus Ott, Sille Pihlak, Rein Raud, Liina Siib, Anu Tali, Marek Tamm, Gregor Taul, Helena Tulve, Tõnis Vilu, David Vseviov.

The exhibitions in Draakoni Gallery are supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, the Estonian Ministry of Culture, and Liviko AS.

Additional information:
Draakon Gallery
Tel:  +372 5645 1591
E-mail: galerii@eaa.ee
Pikk 18, 10133 Tallinn
www.hobusepeadraakon.ee
Wed, Fri-Sun 12.00-18.00 / Thu 12.00-19.00