NordenBladet —
“Urmas Viik’s exhibition opens a door to the world of imagination and creativity in the walls of Toompea Castle; this is just as important for the development of our society as are discussions and decisions in the plenary hall. Art exhibitions like these help us take note of new viewpoints and value the role of culture in shaping an open and thoughtful country,” said the President of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar.
The inspiration for the exhibition comes from botanical engravings of the 19th century and imaginative medieval travelogues. In the mythology created by Viik, tribal foxes are strange creatures who meld together the animal and the human essence on the surface of paper. The exhibition includes the pseudo-scientific depictions, oversized formats, miniatures, and three-dimensional objects so characteristic in the oeuvre of the artist.
Urmas Viik has described his creative process as a collection of memories that does not lend itself to a search of specific hints. “The name of the series—Tribal Foxes—is an amalgamation of two words: tribal and werefox. The series plays with images as joyfully and as irresponsibly as with definitions; it is a mixture of clan, tribe, and gang signs. The mythical werefox—a master of transformation—blends the outlines between exotic and mundane, archaic and urban, and sensual and comical,” the author describes his exhibition.
Urmas Viik works in graphic art, illustration, and installation. He has worked as a professor in the Estonian Academy of Arts and Tallinn University. Viik has taken part in nearly 30 exhibitions and has won numerous awards: 4th Class Order of the White Star, Kristjan Raud Prize, Cultural Endowment of Estonia Annual Prize, Annual Prize of Vaal Gallery “Harpoon”, Eduard Wiiralt Art Prize, Silver Lovie Award in Website: Best Individual Editorial Experience.
The unique world of “Mega Flowers and Tribal Foxes” remains open until 14 November 2025. The exhibition can be visited on working days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors need to present an identity document to gain entry to Toompea Castle.
Exhibitions in the Exhibition Hall at Toompea Castle are organised by the Estonian Artists’ Association in cooperation with the Chancellery of the Riigikogu.
Photos (Author: Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)
Riigikogu Press Service
Maiki Vaikla
+372 631 6456, +372 5666 9508
maiki.vaikla@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee
Link uudisele: Urmas Viik exhibits “Mega Flowers and Tribal Foxes” in the Riigikogu
Source: Parliament of Estonia