SOLARIS IS ART— SINAN CAKMAK „ESTONIA 2000”

From this year on, we are curating the public exhibition platform Solaris is art, where we will present the works and projects from the photo, video and digital artists to be exhibited on the large-format LED display at the Solaris Centre.

The opening exhibition is by Danish/Turkish photographer Sinan Cakmak called “Estonia 2000”.

Living through a time of change, and being aware of it, is a fascinating experience. When it happens to a country, and its people are overwhelmed with a happy sense of curiosity, it is all the more exciting. At the turn of this century, that was the tone set on the streets all around Estonia. I was allowed a glimpse into the past of a country, torn between the super powers of its time, while the country was being offered a bright future, looking towards Europe.

Road furniture in fading Soviet colours; medieval town squares awaiting tourists; factories taking their turn to be converted to bling shopping centres were the backdrops for the Estonians – themselves going through a similar change in their outlook and style. The furious pace of construction of the country hardly shows a sign of slowing down. But the sense of wonder or the pulse in the city’s veins – the streets – seem to be calm now. The future is already here.