The world of a textile artist is vast — full of colors, materials, techniques, and the freedom to invent. It also holds passion and enthusiasm, both to challenge oneself and to engage the viewer. Not too radically, however — rather with the firm conviction that textile art is the most human-friendly form of art.

I enjoy experimenting with motifs and form: being as minimalist as possible, or stretching the tension between black and white to its very limits, even embroidering until my fingers bleed. Sometimes I carry an idea with me for years, searching for the right materials, until finally releasing all that accumulated energy into its realization.

Because I have always loved contrasts — in everything — this exhibition is largely black and white in a way that is very characteristic of me. There are festive notes, but also melancholic ones. Yet throughout the exhibition runs a carefree devotion to the things that currently interest me the most. Some works, however, have a very specific origin story. One such work is NERO FORTE, whose idea and vision emerged from a close friend’s serious illness. The work clearly carries a great deal of my hope and goodwill — and my friend recovered.

I deeply value traditions, but sometimes it is necessary to allow oneself a few moderate detours. My earlier exhibition RETRIIT tempted me to experiment with form — to explore a static figure in monotonous repetition. This elegant procession perhaps best represents my many selves today: something fragile, something powerful… and something striped.

Although I mostly keep my gaze directed toward the future, I occasionally look back as well. I invite the audience to approach my works either individually or as a whole exhibition — to look for points of identification, or simply to experience them here and now, so that we might become better acquainted.

Kaire Tali (b. 1960) studied at the Estonian Academy of Arts from 1978 to 1983. She subsequently worked as a designer at the factory Tekstiil, as a production artist at the fashion company Hame, and also designed products for the textile atelier of the former art combine ARS Art Combine.

She has served as compiler and editor of the publications Käsitööalbum and Sirje. Since 1995 she has worked as a freelance artist and has been an active member of the applied artists’ association Katariina Guild in Tallinn’s Old Town.

In 1997 she joined the actively working group of six tapestry artists known as Vaba tahe (“Free Will”). Kaire Tali has participated in exhibitions since 1979 and is a founding member of the Estonian Designers Union, as well as a member of the Estonian Artists Association and the Estonian Textile Artists Association.