[EN/EE] ‘Cut Out of Life’ by Flo Kasearu at Tallinn Art Hall

[EN]

What really goes on behind closed doors? Why is it safer on the streets than at home? How do male perpetrators – every fourth man in Estonia – justify their actions? How to recognise violence around us and where to get help.

Tallinn Art Hall presents Cut Out of Life, the largest solo exhibition to date by Flo Kasearu, one of the most important Estonian contemporary artists, which conceptualises domestic violence against women, a social problem with devastating and severe effects on society.

Flo Kasearu’s art is playful, provocative and conceptual, exploring the broader conditions of society. In recent years, the artist has drawn attention to the role of women. Cut Out of Life is the result of a long process for the artist. Even though the problem of domestic violence, which was kept quiet and considered taboo for a long time, has gained more and more coverage in Estonia in recent years, it still remains a pressing issue in society.

Kasearu’s personal interest in this topic is by no means recent, and did not simply rise out of solidarity; rather, it is rooted within her own biography. In 2009, the artist’s mother, Margo Orupõld opened a women’s shelter in the city of Pärnu. Over the years, through creative workshops and art projects, Kasearu has been engaging with several generations of women living in and receiving counselling from the Pärnu Women’s Shelter.

Flo Kasearu, 'Error Free Correction', 2020, digital print on transparent sticker, ca 11,8x1,4 m. Courtesy of Tallinn Art Hall

Spanning across the generous spaces of the Art Hall, the artist conceived the exhibition as a narration in chapters that follows the efforts of survivors of violence who seek to gradually claim independence from their abusive partners. Through her visually playful and provocative practice, Kasearu understands how to engage her audience, pushing the right buttons. She proposes genuine and helpful solutions, also showing us that sometimes humour and laughter can be the best forms of therapy.

“Kasearu belongs to the generation of young Estonian artists who witnessed a change of power after the collapse of the bipolar world order. When dealing with upheavals in Estonia, the artist is primarily interested in changes in personal and public life and their wider impact. In recent years she has drawn particular attention to the role of women in society,” says Cathrin Mayer, curator of the exhibition. “For her work Illustrating the Request for Privacy (2016), Kasearu organised a performance at NO99 Theatre in Tallinn with women who had suffered from severe domestic violence. In the course of two hours, the women read their court cases to the audience. The artist’s first major solo exhibition delves into the issue of domestic violence, exploring its various aspects and looking at the journey of breaking free from an oppressive relationship and restoring one’s independence.”

Flo Kasearu, 'Cut Out of Life', exhibition view. Courtesy of Tallinn Art Hall

Flo Kasearu, 'Illustrating the Request for Privacy', 2020, HD video, 1 h 39 m. Documentation of a performance during Artishok Biennial 2016 in Theatre NO99. Courtesy of Tallinn Art Hall

Flo Kasearu, 'Excuses', 2021, pen on paper, 15 pcs, each 42x30 cm. Courtesy of Tallinn Art Hall

Johanna, six years old, 'When', 2019, collage, pencil on paper, sticker, 42x30 cm. Courtesy of Tallinn Art Hall

Flo Kasearu, 'Business Cards', 2020, business cards with the shelter’s contact information. Courtesy of Tallinn Art Hall.

Flo Kasearu, 'Festival of the Shelter', 2018, HD video, 9' 10". Courtesy of Tallinn Art Hall

Flo Kasearu, 'Violence Grows in Silence', 2021, dried house plants, Courtesy of Tallinn Art Hall

Flo Kasearu, 'AHHaa Group', 2020, custom furniture from wood, polystyrene foam, synthetic leather. Courtesy of Tallinn Art Hall

Flo Kasearu, 'Cut out of Life', 2020, inkjet prints of paper collages, 869x1229 mm each. Courtesy of Tallinn Art Hall

Flo Kasearu, 'Changing the Pattern', 2021, installation with polyurethane balls and styrofoam baseboards. Courtesy of Tallinn Art Hall

Flo Kasearu, 'The Game is not over until I say so', 2021, installation with pvc flooring, fiberglass mesh, metal, Courtesy of Tallinn Art Hall

Flo Kasearu, 'Child Welfare', 2020, HD video, 11' 3". Courtesy of Tallinn Art Hall

[EE]

Mis tegelikult toimub suletud uste taga? Miks on tänaval turvalisem kui kodus? Kuidas õigustab oma tegusid iga neljas vägivallatsejast Eesti mees? Kuidas vägivalda enda ümber ära tunda ja selle vastu abi saada?

Tallinna Kunstihoones on valminud meie kaasaegse kunsti ühe olulisema looja Flo Kasearu seni suurim isikunäitus „Elust välja lõigatud“, mis keskendub naiste vastu suunatud koduvägivalla kui ühiskonda lõhkuva ja ränkade mõjudega sotsiaalse probleemi mõtestamisele.

Flo Kasearu kunst on mänguline, väljakutsuv ja kontseptuaalne. Oma loomingus ühiskonnaolusid laiemalt uuriv kunstnik on viimastel aastatel tähelepanu juhtinud just naiste rollile. „Elust välja lõigatud“, Kasearu seni suurim isikunäitus, on pika protsessi tulemus. Kaua maha vaikitud ja tabuks peetud probleemist on Eestis viimastel aastatel aina rohkem avalikult räägitud, siiski on see endiselt terav.

Kasearu huvi ei ole tekkinud hiljuti ega ajendatud pelgalt solidaarsustundest, vaid tal on sellega isiklik side. Aastal 2009 avas kunstniku ema Margo Orupõld naiste tugikeskuse Pärnus. Loominguliste töötubade ja kunstiprojektide kaudu on Kasearu aastate jooksul kokku puutunud Pärnu varjupaigas eri ajal elanud ja sealt abi saanud naistega.

Flo Kasearu, 'Chair with a Large Hole' from the installation 'AHHaa Group', 2020, custom furniture from wood, polystyrene foam, synthetic leather. Courtesy of Tallinn Art Hall

Kunstihoone avarates saalides üles seatud näitus on jagatud otsekui peatükkideks, mis järgivad vägivallaohvrite püüdlusi, et järk-järgult iseseisvaks muutuda ja jõhker partner hüljata. Kasearu oskab meie kõigi tähelepanu suunata, õigeid nuppe vajutada ja seega pakkuda abistavaid lahendusi ning näidata, et mõnikord toimib teraapia hoopis huumori ja naeru kaudu.

„Kasearu kuulub Eesti noorte kunstnike põlvkonda, kes kogesid võimu teisenemist bipolaarse maailmakorra lagunemise järel. Eesti murranguid käsitledes on kunstnikku huvitanud ennekõike muudatused isiklikus ja avalikus elus ning nende laiem mõju. Viimastel aastatel on ta juhtinud tähelepanu just naiste rollile ühiskonnas,“ ütleb näituse kuraator Cathrin Mayer. „Tööga „Privaatsuse sooviavalduse ilmestamine“ (2016) korraldas Kasearu teatris NO99 performance’i ränga koduvägivalla all kannatanud naistega. Kahe tunni jooksul lugesid naised publikule ette oma kohtuasjad. Kunstniku esimene suur isikunäitus tegeleb koduvägivalla küsimusega süvitsi, uurides selle eri külgi, ja pöörab pilgu rõhuvast suhtest vabaks murdmise ning iseseisvuse taastamise teekonnale.“