University of Tartu brings prominent artists to the Capital of Culture

The University of Tartu is an excellent partner in planning the events of the 2024 European Capital of Culture, bringing the works of world-renowned artist Ryoji Ikeda to Tartu under the leadership of the Capital of Culture, and organising several exhibitions combining art and nature.

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The world-famous Japanese sound and visual artist Ryoji Ikeda is best known to Estonians for his exhibition “Supersymmetry”, which was displayed at the Kumu Art Museum and remains one of its most visited exhibitions. At the Estonian National Museum, the artist will present a massive spatial installation based on scientific data from the University of Tartu Institute of Genomics. Ikeda, a pioneer of glitch music, also creates a sound installation for the exhibition in cooperation with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir.

“Both works have been created specifically for the rooms of the Estonian National Museum. What is exceptional is that Tsuyoshi Tane, one of the architects of the museum, will be responsible for the design of Ryoji Ikeda’s solo exhibition,” said Hele Priimets, the “Tartu with Universe” Programme Line Manager of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024.

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The “Tartu with Earth” programme line and the University of Tartu will bring the exhibition “Unknown” to visitors at the Natural History Museum in cooperation with international artists. The exhibition focuses on human activity that damages the environment, especially the animal kingdom. “Through the artworks, the impact of our activity and threats to other species are visualised, and ideas are offered for more sustainable urban and rural environments,” said the Programme Line Manager Triin Pikk.

The exhibition “Missing”, which will also be opened at Tartu Art House within the “Tartu with Earth” programme line, looks at the impact of human activity on nature from a scientific and cultural perspective. “Art enables us to make even the most elusive problems audible, visible and tangible, for example, biodiversity loss or species extinction,” said Pikk.

In addition, the University of Tartu organises several other events that support the leading idea of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024, telling the story of the arts of survival – talking about the knowledge, skills and values that help us live better in the future. Other examples of cooperation with the university are the Heritage Festival of the Viljandi Culture Academy and “Toomemägi Revisited”, organised with the help of the University of Tartu Museum.