What artists are doing now. Marko Maetamm in Tallinn
An inspiration and mutual solidarity project for the creative industries
In the current situation, clearly our top priority is to take care of our families, friends and fellow citizens. Nevertheless, while public life is paralyzed and museums, galleries and cultural institutions are closed, in many of us neither the urge to work nor the creative spark have disappeared. In fact, quite the opposite is happening in what is turning out to be a time that befits self-reflection and the generation of new ideas for the future. Although we are at home and self-isolating, we all – artists, creatives and Arterritory.com – continue to work, think and feel. As a sort of gesture of inspiration and ‘remote’ mutual solidarity, we have launched the project titled 'What Artists Are Doing Now', with the aim of showing and affirming that neither life nor creative energy are coming to a stop during this crisis. We have invited artists from all over the world to send us a short video or photo story illustrating what they are doing, what they are thinking, and how they are feeling during this time of crisis and self-isolation. All artist stories will be published on Arterritory.com and on our Instagram and Facebook accounts. We at Arterritory.com are convinced that creativity and positive emotions are good for the immune system and just might help us better navigate through these difficult times.
From his studio in Tallinn, Estonian artist Marko Mäetamm answers a short questionnaire by Arterritory.com and let's us take a look at his workshop:
Are you working on any projects right now in your studio? If so, could you briefly describe them?
I have just completed a new project called WHAT SHOULD I WRITE... I was supposed to have a solo show in Budapest Cernter of Architecture called FUGA, the opening was supposed to be last week but it was of course cancelled. There is a plan to do some internet version of it but this is of course another thing. The idea of the project was to talk about the polarized and opinionated world we are living in these days. And the influence of social media and it's power of brainwashing. That kind of things to put it short. Here you can see some paintings from this project.
In addition to the paintings the project contains also one granite object and some short videos.
Right now I am working on a new series called LOVE IS BLIND. This is a totally different story - very personal and very intimate. I had carried the idea with me for some time and now I finaly have time to do the works. I don't know where does it take me, I will see it during the process.
What is your recipe for survival in a time of almost only bad news?
We can't deny or reject it because it is all so global and it come from every channel 24/7. If we want to block ourselves out of it then we must go and live in the woods. My idea is that we should let it through us and feel this moment. Every experience is worth something but we will understand it later when it is already over. I believe that through this difficult time we have a chance to learn sometnig new not only from ourselves but from the whole system which is called "life on Earth". We have a privilege to experience it.
What is something that we all (each of us, personally) could do to make the world a better place when this disaster comes to an end? It is clear that the world will no longer be the same again, but at the same time...there is a kind of magic in every new beginning.
Yes, it is strange. We only start thiking of the need for changes when there is something really going wrong. Good example - we start taking care for ourselves only when we feel that we are losing our health. I don't know what will happen once the crisis is over. Or will it ever be completely over at all? I rather believe we just need to learn to live with this new reality and try to do what we believe is right.
The art world and the culture sector is one of the most affected. What is the main lesson the art world should learn from all this? How do you imagine the post-apocalyptic art scene?
The art world is a stange place, sometimes it can be quite superficial. It is quite healthy to let some extra steam out of it sometimes to get peoples' feet back on solid ground again. I think this is what crises like that can do quite well. But I am sure this time will generate new phenomenas and art forms. And new forms of presenting art. Everything is in a constant move.
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Marko Mäetamm is one of Estonia's most prominent contemporary artists. Represented by the gallery Temnikova & Kasela in Tallinn, Mäetamm‘s work can be seen at various art fairs and group exhibitions at home and abroad.
At first glance, the works of Marko Mäetamm may come off as a collection of witty anecdotes, although the artist himself has said that he does not want to be considered "funny". One must admit that his works – paintings, drawings, objects, sculptures etc. – are a highly satirical and comical representation of the human condition.
Marko Mäetamm's work has been exhibited at such international venues as Gallery Platan, Budapest, Hungary (2001); la Biennale di Venezia, Italy (2003); Wäinö Aalto Museum, Turku, Finland (2009); Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs, New York City (2009); NADA Art Fair, Miami, Florida (2012); Gallery Iragui, Moscow, Russia (2014); the IKON Gallery, UK (2014) and many other places. Mäetamm has received numerous awards such as the Kristjan Raud Annual Award, Estonia (2000), the Baltic Assembly Prize for the Arts (2009), and the Annual Award of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia (2011). He was given the Estonian State Decoration, Order of the White Star, V Class in 2008, and in 2003 and 2007 represented Estonia at the Venice Biennial.
