These days, not only in Russia, but also in the Baltic states, the families of veterans will celebrate the victory in the Second World War, which, unfortunately, a number of Russian politicians also use to glorify the war started in Ukraine. On the other hand, the resistance to the war in Ukraine is not only the activities of Western politicians and the sanctions imposed on Russia, but also various civic and creative initiatives. How and how actively do artists in neighboring Estonia reflect on the war in Ukraine?
“Draakoni Gallery” (Drakon Gallery) in the beautiful old town of Tallinn, in a narrow street, is located directly opposite the building that houses the Embassy of the Russian Federation. And that is why the Estonian artist Marija Kapayeva decided to exhibit here… screams. The exhibition, which can be viewed until May 11, uses old televisions placed in the windows facing the embassy of the aggressor country, from which a multi-voiced chorus of despairing cries and moans flows. Kapayeva says that she recorded it together with eight other women, asking them to shout out their rage about this deadly war imposed on Ukraine and all of us.
The exhibition “Listen to my scream, hear their dreams” has not been here since the beginning of the war, it was opened a month ago. The author, whom I meet at the exhibition, explains that she planned it very purposefully – she applied for the “Draakoni Gallery” exhibition program a year ago. The gallery belongs to the Union of Estonian Artists, Marija Kapajeva is one of its members, but it had to wait a while for the rooms to become available, which in this case is one of the most important elements of the exhibition.
The artist wanted to put the televisions directly on the street, sending a signal to the Russian embassy even more visibly, but the regulations on noise in the city did not allow it. The monitors in the gallery windows now play videos of screamers 24 hours a day.
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