„Momentum / Monumentum“ by Al Paldrok

On Friday, August 1st at 18.00 Al Paldrok’s solo exhibition Momentum / Monumentum will open in Hobusepea gallery. 

A new generation has emerged, seeking to define its way of thinking and carve out a space in society. This pursuit has become a wellspring of creative energy and a path toward understanding. They seek to disrupt the existing balance of power, engaging directly with reality and placing greater value on artistic expression. They veer toward the extreme, provoking themselves and their audiences to oppose social norms. They are troubled by the emergence of a new puritanical social movement that imposes significant restrictions on individual freedoms.

Al Paldrok

At the opening, the book Non Grata. 5. Performances 2017–2024 will be presented for the first time in Estonia.

The 582-page hardcover volume presents a comprehensive overview of Non Grata’s activities between 2017 and 2024: performance tours, exhibitions, actions, and festivals across the U.S., in Europe, and Asia. The book includes extensive photographic documentation of Non Grata’s work globally, alongside essays, articles, and diaries by philosophers, writers, and artists from around the world in multiple languages. The publication was published by the Academia Gustaviana Society in collaboration with Texas-based art patron Steve Boriack, with support from the Cultural Endowment of Estonia and the City of Pärnu.

Al Paldrok (1969, Tallinn), also known as Anonymous Boh, is an Estonian performance artist, sculptor, printmaker, and video artist, as well as the leading figure of the legendary international performance collective Non Grata.Paldrok is known for his bold and uncompromising approach, which challenges conventional societal norms. His performances jolt viewers out of their comfort zones with a wild intensity, often bordering on danger, raising questions about the very foundations of social order. In interviews and critical reviews, he has been described as an unpredictable provocateur unafraid to confront institutional and societal expectations. His artistic practice has drawn comparisons to figures such as Tristan Tzara and Orson Welles, underscoring his influence on contemporary performance art and the art world at large. – Andra Orn

Paldrok is a co-founder and former vice-rector of the art school Academia Non Grata, a former professor at the Estonian Academy of Arts, and former head of the Pärnu College of EAA. He has given lectures and workshops in universities and art institutions worldwide.

Awards and recognitions include: Young Estonian Printmaker Award (1999); Pärnumaa Educator of the Year (2000); Tallinn Print Triennial Prize (2004); Pärnumaa Cultural Endowment Culture Event Award (2006); Cultural Endowment of Estonia Annual Award (2007); Pärnu Art Award (2007) Pärnumaa Cultural Endowment Annual Cultural Event Award (2007); Pärnumaa Cultural Event of the Year Award (2009); Pärnu Cultural Organizer Award (2014); Kaunas Biennial of Graphic Arts Prize (2017). His works are held in numerous private collections around the world.

Thanks to: Siim Kuljus, Taje Paldrok, Paul Roose
Opening drinks: Punch Club

www.alpaldrok.com
www.nongrata.ee

Facebook: Al Paldrok
Instagram: Anonymous Boh
nongrataperformance

Contact:
paldrok@gmail.com
+372 5015672

The exhibition is open until August 25, 2025.

The exhibition is supported by Cultural Endowment of Estonia.
The exhibitions in Hobusepea gallery are supported by Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Ministry of Culture, and Liviko AS.


Additional information:
Hobusepea Gallery
Tel: +372 56 451 591
      +372 52 85 324
      +372 6 276 777
E-mail: galerii@eaa.ee
Hobusepea 2, Tallinn 10133
hobusepeadraakon.ee
Wed‒Mon 12.00‒18.00