Culture.ee’s weekly recommendations: 3–9 Dec 2018

This exhibition is a utopian meditation on the preservation of something delicate and fragile: how to remove ourselves from a dangerous situation in this day and age, if that is even possible anymore.

Is a spaceship the solution – one with enough room for the animals as well, since nature alone is incapable of slowing climate change under the current circumstances and soon there will be no place for us on the Earth?

Marita Lumi graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2015 with a Master’s degree in jewellery art. She has gone on to further studies in Strasbourg in France and at the Institute of Geology of Tallinn University of Technology.

The starting point of the exhibition is the concept of the Garden of Eden that was also the basis of Tishkov’s MA graduate work and it explores if we would be welcome in the paradise that humanity has imagined. Paradise is a utopian and idealistic environment where the existence takes place in harmony with the surroundings. At the same time, in our anthropocentrism we have collectively drawn a line between ourselves and the rest of the world ever since the domestication of the first animals. Therefore the paradise of the exhibition copies the existing nature but does it by emphasizing its artificiality and absurdity.

Aleksandr Tishkov (b 1989) has studied sculpture in the Tartu Art College and in Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London.

Birgit Püve is looking at the small village of Vao in northeastern Estonia and its current inhabitants. Vao experienced the first influx of immigrants of different ethnicities from the former Soviet Union when the sovkhozes and kolkhozes were established in the 1950s-60s. Now the village is witnessing the second wave of immigration from different countries because of the new refugee centre established in the village a few years ago.

Annika Haas sheds light upon the most mysterious minority of the Others in Estonia — the Roma. The majority of locals looks at Roma people suspiciously without knowing much about them, their customs and cultural traditions. Annika’s images provide an unique opportunity to take an intimate look at Romas’ daily life and their homes.

Maxim Mjödov’s personal story takes us to the peripheral landscapes of Lasnamäe, the suburban area in the eastern part of the capital Tallinn, which is widely considered as the major residential area of the main Other. The majority of residents here are the Russian-speakers who arrived to Estonia from all over the Soviet Union during the USSR period. As a side note, although Maxim has grown up in Lasnamäe, he says that he has not felt himself as the other.

Blade Runner returns in Ridley Scott’s definitive Final Cut, including extended scenes and never-before-seen special effects.

In a future of high-tech possibility soured by urban and social decay, Rick Deckard hunts for fugitive, murderous replicants – and is drawn to a mystery woman whose secrets may undermine his soul.

NB! In English without subtitles.

The Palme d’Or awarded sharply humanistic drama continues Kore-eda’s fascination with profound family ties, which hardly can be broken by toughest challenges, financial problems, everyday troubles and longly hidden secrets.

In the farthest corner of Tokyo devoted family lives in unimaginably simple, tiny and poor conditions. They must steal food and essential things from nearby shops for basic survival. Head of thieves house Osamu purposefully rises kids as fraudsters. Younger passionate wife Nobuyo takes everything she finds in pockets of clothes left for cleaning in a laundry. His mother Hatsue is addicted to pension consuming gambling. One day Osamu returns with frightened 4-year-old girl Yuri, who ran away from abusive parents.

13th emotional and melancholic film by Hirokazu Kore-eda broke attendance records and gained 2,65 mln. admissions at home, but sparked controversial reactions with a deeply touching depiction of unflattering poverty in Japan. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was not so happy to watch provocative social-realism and remained silent on his golden victory in Cannes from 5th attempt (Like Father, Like Son, Our Little Sister, Nobody Knows, Distance).

Hedda Gabler directed by Anna Pettersson is a visual experimental deconstruction of one of Ibsen’s classic works. Hedda Gabler is one of Henrik Ibsen’s most durable masterpieces. Written in 1890, it tells the story of the frustrated woman trapped in patriarchal social structures, who has an increasingly desperate need to free herself from the shackles.

In 1998 Anna Pettersson herself played the title role in the Stockholm City Theater’s celebrated production. Now as the director of the show, she continues to explore Ibsen with radical attitude and ingenuity.

On December 6, two fascinating Estonian artists will perform at the legendary Old Town concert club, Von Krahl.

Iiris is one of the more courageous and unique musicians in Estonia. After the successful debut album “The Magic Gift Box”, which brought her the best female artist award in 2013, Iiris went to study in London. Iiris delved into life in London and in collaboration with producer Proverb, the EP “Hope” was born. The single “Iridescent Love” from that album was selected to the Top 50 by the UK blog The Line of Best Fit in 2015.

The single “Stranger” that was released last year had already more pop music influences and it became one of the most played songs in Raadio 2.

In Tallinn, Iiris presents her brand new single “Star”.

Gram-Of-Fun or Kristel, Muudu, Jaan Jaago and PhilGood.

Gram-Of-Fun performed this summer at festivals such as Sweet Spot, I Land Sound and Juu jääb. In autumn they were the warm-up band for Jungle concert at Rock Cafe.

Just a month ago, their debut single “Getaway” was released.

Marcello is a simple man, whose life revolves around his grooming salon for dogs and his daughter Sofia; Simone is a former boxer with violent ways just released from prison.

After a long series of abuses, Marcello decides to help Simoncino in some robberies, but he ends up having to serve a year in prison. Once he leaves and realizes he is alone, Marcello decides to take revenge.

Winner of the Best Actor Award for Marcello Fonte in Cannes Film Festival 2018. Submitted to the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award by Italy.

Director: Matteo Garrone
Cast: Marcello Fonte, Edoardo Pesce, Nunzia Schiano

An outstanding organist of Estonia’s younger generation, Ulla Krigul has regularly come out with new solo repertoire each year – next to Bach, Buxtehude, Bruhns, Muffat and Hindemith new music of today also holds an important spot.

The music performed by her at this year’s Christmas Jazz is written by talented young composers such as Maria Faust, Malle Maltis, Raul Ojamaa and Sander Mölder. Characterized by jazzy intonations, improvisation and a Nordic feel, Maria Faust’s compositions change and surprise constantly. Malle Maltis has always been interested in mixing the electronic and the acoustic – with her classical, but modern electroacoustic sound, her creations are always a breath of fresh air. More known as the mastermind behind the dance music project TIKS, Sander Mölder has recently also premiered his first ever stage composition, the ballet “Keres”. The Miljardid-guitarist Raul Ojamaa is also a talented producer, who can be described as a band player with an ambition for electronic music.

What will happen, when all these composers create a composition for the organ and electronics?

Traditional Estonian Academy of Arts students Christmas Fair takes place on December 9, 2018, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Free entry!