In the White of the Shade. The Exhibition of Finnish Light Art

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Description

In the White of the Shade, an indoor exhibition of the Tartu Light Biennale TAVA26 brings together Finnish artists working at the intersection of art, technology, and spatial practices, showcasing the distinctive approaches of the Nordic light art scene. The exhibited works range from meditative installations to complex interactive environments, born from interdisciplinary experimentation.

The hypnotic oscillation of light and shadow alters our perception of time and quiets the restless mind, yet raises the question: does light create shadow, or is it the other way around? Which comes first, and which of the two is the true blinder of our senses? Traditionally, light alone is regarded as a revealing and illuminating force - yet the illuminating power of shadow also has something to say. Shadows bring forth our instincts, perception, memory, and emotional experiences that light has concealed. Our perception of the co-creation of the visible and invisible worlds remains unstable, while meaning emerges through allegorical and poetic reflections of the deeper layers of our existence, in the continuous shifting between the visible and the hidden.

The exhibition spaces of Gallery Pallas have been transformed into an atmospheric whole, a poetic space where shadows do not appear merely as secondary phenomena, but as active agents that expand, break, and transform in response to the viewer's presence. The movement of visitors through the gallery becomes the point of balance between light and shadow; the artworks become a moment of the present intertwining past and future, reminding us that it is always now. Light refracts and shadow breaks, only to emerge again, seemingly out of nothing.

"In the White of the Shade" is part of the Tartu Light Biennale programme. Following the exhibition opening, visitors will gather at 7 pm at Thalia Cinema (Aida 7), a venue dubbed the ugliest place in Tartu, where the evening will continue with the opening of an installation by Katja Muttilainen.

Participating artists: Teemu Määttänen, Timo Kokko, Christine Candolin, Antti Tolvi, Jere Suontausta, Antti Hevosmaa, Alexander Salvesen, Saana Volanen, Anu Raatikainen.
Curator: Elo Liiv.
Coordinator: Lotta Karoliina Räsänen.
Visual identity: Margus Tamm.
Organizers: MTÜ Valgusklubi and MTÜ Väike Valgus.
Supporters: Tartu City Government, Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Tartu Cultural Endowment, Pallas University of Applied Sciences.

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