The group exhibition “Multilayered” presents the work of the laureates of the annual awards of the Estonian Textile Artists Association, selected this spring by a jury composed of representatives from various creative fields.
Spread across several gallery spaces, the exhibition forms a diverse and contrasting ensemble that highlights the wide-ranging possibilities of textile art and reflects the distinctive artistic languages of authors representing different generations.
The exhibition opens with the work of Young Textile Artist of the Year Kristina Oja, who presents a knitwear collection inspired by her family history and its further developments.
In the smaller hall, visitors can explore the vibrant tapestry work of the Lifetime Achievement Award laureate Ludmilla Swarczewskaja.
In the main gallery space, the airy and multilayered works of Textile Artist of the Year 2024 Aune Taamal are presented in dialogue with a white tapestry by Ilja Uhlinov, recipient of the jury’s special prize.
Textile Artist of the Year 2024 Aune Taamal (b. 1963) received the award for her diverse exhibition activity in 2024. The artist experiments with various textile materials and techniques, often favoring transparent textures that allow the creation of multilayered spatial installations.
She graduated in textile art from the Estonian Academy of Arts in 1993 and is a member of the Estonian Artists Association, the Estonian Textile Artists Association, and Studio 22.
Her works have been presented in numerous exhibitions in Estonia and abroad. Alongside her artistic practice, since 2012 Aune Taamal has also worked as a gallerist at the Lühikese Jala Gallery.
Lifetime Achievement Award laureate Ludmilla Swarczewskaja (b. 1949) is a consistently active textile artist with a distinctly recognizable artistic language. Since 1998 she has been a member of both the Estonian Artists Association and the Estonian Textile Artists Association.
She studied at the Kalinin Art and Industrial School in Moscow and later at the Estonian Academy of Arts, specializing in textile and fashion.
Ludmilla Swarczewskaja is a persistent and tireless creator who rarely misses an opportunity to participate in exhibitions and share her work. Her art reflects thoughts inspired by nature, music, poetry, and human relationships, translating them into abstract tapestries. Alongside her woven works, she often presents compositions created in collage technique.
She has participated in dozens of exhibitions in Estonia as well as in Lithuania, Poland, Finland, Italy, and Russia. Her works are included in private collections in Estonia and abroad, as well as in the Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design and the Estonian Actors' Union. A monumental textile panel titled Athletics decorates the Pärnu Sports Hall.
Young Textile Artist of the Year 2024 Kristina Oja (b. 1999) received the award for her passionate dedication to textile art and machine knitting.
Kristina Oja studied textile design at the Estonian Academy of Arts and tailoring–styling at the Tallinn Industrial Education Centre. She has also furthered her studies at the Escola d'Art i Superior de Disseny de València.
She has participated in several group exhibitions and the ERKI Fashion Show, and has been awarded the Mari Adamson Scholarship.
The Textile Work of the Year 2024 award was given to Ilja Uhlinov (b. 1991) for his tapestry “Tühjus / Void,” which was exhibited at the annual exhibition “Color of the Year Is Diverse” organized by the Estonian Textile Artists Association at the Museum of New Art.
Ilja Uhlinov graduated from the Textile Department of Pallas University of Applied Sciences in 2017 and in recent years has devoted himself to tapestry.
Ilja Uhlinov: “This image came to me in a dream: a large, pure, snow-white sheet of paper. It was flawless and completely perfect, like boundless, unconditional trust. It literally radiated light and love, harmony and the unity of all things.”
The exhibition is organized by the Estonian Textile Artists Association in cooperation with the gallery of the Võrumaa Museum.
Exhibition design: Madis Liplap
Graphic design: Arabella Roosi
Curator: Aet Ollisaar
Photography: Andres Treial
Supported by: Cultural Endowment of Estonia
Võrumaa Museum
Katariina allee 11, Võru
Wed–Sun 10:00–18:00
