Graduation show: TASE 2021

Visions that shape our living environments

TASE (LEVEL in English) is the annual graduation show of the Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA) and presents the final projects of Fine Arts, Architecture, Design, and Art and Culture faculties master’s students, along with the final artworks by fine arts bachelor’s students. The physical exhibition was opened on May 28 and took place in five major locations around the capital city of Estonia, Tallinn. The main exhibition was accompanied by a versatile program of satellite exhibitions, thesis defenses, TASE FILM, and much more.

From June 18, the online exhibition TASE ’21 grad show will go live on tase.artun.ee, giving access to a wider audience around the world. In addition to the works in the exhibition, bachelor’s theses, portfolios and written works of the Faculty of Art and Culture will also be available online.

TASE is undoubtedly the most important event of the year for EKA but it’s also an important event for the whole Estonian art scene and local cultural life. This year, EKA was proud to welcome the prime minister of Estonia, Kaja Kallas at the opening of the exhibition. In her welcome speech addressing the graduates and students of EKA, the PM emphasized the role of EKA as a training ground for change-makers: “You have an important role to play in making our living environment human-friendly, culture-friendly, and transmitting these values. Another important aspect is that here are many international students who will one day surely become ambassadors for Estonia.”

During the opening ceremony, EKA rector Mart Kalm pointed out that EKA TASE ’21 is an exceptionally strong exhibition despite the difficult year. “During such a challenging year, the graduates of the Estonian Academy of Arts have been able to exhibit an extraordinarily well assembled exhibition of graduation works. To some degree, the crisis has provided inspiration, powered by strengthened hearts, and sticking to the work no matter what. It seems that everything is possible with strategy and vigor.”

At the opening of TASE ’21, the master’s level awards for both the Young Artist and the Young Applied Artist were also announced. According to the jury, a student of the Contemporary Art MA programme, Karolin Poska, was worthy of the Young Artist 2021 prize. Katrin Enni, Silvia Sosaar, King Wai Cheung (Hong Kong) and Denisa Štefanigová (Czech Republic) were also mentioned. The winner of the Young Applied Artist Award was chosen from among the MA graduates of the Faculty of Design and was awarded to Amie Nga Man Chan (Hong Kong), a student of Design & Crafts Ceramics MA programme. The committee also singled out the final theses of Ingrid Helena Pajo and Ismini Pachi in the fields of Textile Design and Jewellery and Blacksmithing.

The Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA), founded in 1914, is the only public university in Estonia offering higher education in architecture, design, fine arts, art culture, cultural heritage and conservation. It is an active study and research institution and the leading national center of innovation in visual culture.

Twelve hundred students from more than 30 different countries are currently enrolled at EKA are taught by nearly three hundred professors, associate professors, lecturers and workshop managers from Estonia and abroad. EKA offers more that 30 study programmes, ten of them are international, ie taught in English: Animation, Contemporary Art, Graphic Design, Interaction Design, Urban Studies, Design & Crafts (ceramics, glass, jewellery and blacksmithing, textile design, accessory design and fashion design), Design & Technology Futures, and Literature, Visual Culture and Film Studies on Master’s level. And Art & Design and Architecture and Urban Planning on PhD level.