16.03.2024–21.07.2024
“Ilmar Malin. The Glow of Eternity” brings together a selection of unique works by Estonia’s pre-eminent surrealist. Besides some of Malin’s most renowned paintings, the exhibition offers a chance to discover works that have never before been on public display.
2024 marks the 100th anniversary of both surrealism as a movement and the birth of Ilmar Malin. The exhibition “Ilmar Malin. The Glow of Eternity” celebrates these anniversaries, focusing on the longest period in Malin’s creative career.
Re-inventing surrealism, Malin combined his interests in the subconscious and contemporary expansions of science. In the middle of the 1960s, a breakthrough took place in his oeuvre, after which he dedicated himself to surrealism, leading to his unique symbols and handwriting. These are characterised by great contrasts: the same composition can combine smouldering glows and dark voids, moments and eternities, biological micro structures and cosmic expanses.
Curator: Mae Variksoo
Exhibition design: Mari Kurismaa
Graphic design: Katrin Nõu
Translation: Peeter Talvistu
Keeletoimetajad: Anti Saar & Richard Adang
“Ilmar Malin. The Glow of Eternity” takes place within the framework of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 main program. It is part of a larger series of exhibitions dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the surrealist manifesto, which also includes “Initiative from Below. Estonian Caricatures is the 1980s” and Kris Lemsalu’s solo exhibition “DONATELLA. Spiral of Life”. Along with the exhibitions at the Tartu Art Museum, the exhibition “Surrealism 100. Prague, Tartu and other stories …” is on display at the Estonian National Museum from 4 April.
Exhibition views
Photos: Madis Katz
