Taavi Suisalu (EE)

Taavi Suisalu emphasizes the vital parts of the research and experiment oriented phase in artistic work during a residency in unknown territory, and it is something that A.I.R. Blekinge embraces during his residency period. “The escape from common routine and no stress of deadlines opens up and allows to follow directions not imagined otherwise.”.

In his motivation Taavi Suisalu writes that he would like to develop a new body of work to see where it can lead, conceptually and formally. “Although the underlying ideas of the work are quite global, and in a way also abstract, they are inspired by conditions affecting audiences in local scale as much as anywhere.”

The environments of Blekinge might find their way into his work, either physically, via representation or by inspiration. During his residency period he will connect to relevant actors in the region, such as Blekinge Institute of Technology, and exhibition plans are also in the pipeline.

Taavi Suisalu initially proposes to present either work-in-process sketches or a performative event, alternatively to lead a workshop during the residency, but can also turn out into a surprise depending on the development of research and meetings.

His conceptual starting point is the first ever photograph of a black hole in April 2019, which emanated from a very complex gathering of data. “But nothing escapes a black hole, not even light and thus what we see on that image, is a shadow of a black hole and not the object itself. Even data can’t escape black holes and thus we become mesmerized by the representation of what is not there.” By juxtaposing technological apparatuses designed to engage or manipulate its users; the attention economy; our fascination for the unknown and black holes – new narratives will appear and might even take form during the residency.

Taavi Suisalu works in the contexts of technology, sound and performance, mixing traditional and contemporary sensibilities and activating peripheral spaces for imaginative encounters. His practice is informed by phenomena of contemporary society and its relations to and use of technologies. He applies subjective research methods to study socio-cultural phenomena, being interested in the behaviour, perception and thinking of social beings.

In 2014, he received the Young Estonian Artist Prize for curating a distributed exhibition throughout non-existent villages of Southern Estonia. In 2017, his work Distant Self-Portrait was awarded 2nd prize in Riga Photography Biennial Awards. In 2018 he was one of the selected artists to participate in the European Media Art Platform.

In recent years he has shown at KUMU in Tallinn; Riga Art Space and Latvian National Museum of Art in Latvia; Le Lieu Unique in France; Impakt in Netherlands; European Central

Bank in Frankfurt; Bozar and European Parliament in Brussels; gallery Triumph in Moscow; gallery Horseandpony Fine Arts and Weisser Elefant in Berlin; Four Domes Pavilion in Poland and many venues and festivals in Estonia.

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#36 Katarzyna Pagowska och Taavi Suisalu, A.I.R. Blekinge 2019 Länk till annan webbplats.