Vilen Künnapu “Roofs of Santorini” Acrylic on canvas. 120 x 150 cm. 2014
“Painted Architecture” brings together a circle of a spiritually like-minded fellowship and presents to the audience the best of Estonian art which is juxtaposed with the architectural paintings of Latvian artists.
The participants of the exhibition are ALEKSEJS NAUMOVS, VILEN KÜNNAPU, ANDRIS VĪTOLIŅŠ, AUGUST KÜNNAPU, MARTIN “QBA” KAARES, LIISA KRUUSMÄGI, MERILIIS “MERU” RINNE.
“Painted Architecture” began with the friendship of painters Aleksejs Naumovs (LAT) and Vilen Künnapu (EST), and their idea of making a joint display; they are also the core of this exhibition. The exposition was first presented in spring 2019 in the over 1,500m2 Fahle and Fahle Park galleries in Tallinn, Estonia. Vilen Künnapu invited curator Meelis Tammemägi from Fahle Gallery to curate the exhibition, who wanted to add more like-minded painters to the original mix. Thus, Andris Vītoliņš (LAT) and August Künnapu (EST) were joined in. In addition to their love for architecture, these artists also share a personal friendship. August Künnapu has worked together with Andris Vītoliņš for 17 years and together they have taken part in a dozen exhibitions in the Nordic countries, the Baltics, Luxembourg, and Baku.
The exhibition “Painted Architecture” is presented in Los Angeles in collaboration with Bohemian Galleries and the Venice Institute of Contemporary Art. This exhibition introduces the works of Estonian and Latvian painters to the American public, and the works of younger generation painters have been added - Meriliis “MERU” Rinne (EST / GBR), Martin “QBA” Kaares (EST), Liisa Kruusamägi (EST). This diverse array of authors in a single exhibition format is not a contradictions, as they have a striking conformity in their chosen motifs and figures. In addition to a common geographical region, the works of all artists are bound together by an extraordinary sense of energy and the ability to convey it through painting. Thus, irrespective of the language of the paintings of each artist, even the most abstract works carry us directly to the point of depiction. "In my search and juxtaposition of similar creators, symbols, and harmonies, it has been my desire to make the exhibition tell a coherent and flowing story," commented exhibition curator Meelis Tammemägi.
The exhibition will remain open in Los Angeles until the Closing Reception with special guests on Saturday, October 26 from 2-5pm.
The exhibition is compiled and curated by Meelis Tammemägi, co-curators are Juri Koll, Daisy Inslermann and Anna Matskevitš.
For details: juri@veniceica.org
