PÄRNU DAY at the Museum of New Art, on April 5, 2025

PÄRNU DAY family ticket – 30% off at the Museum of New Art

3:00 PM to 3:45 PM discussion "ARE WE SAVAGES?"
      The city of Pärnu, along with its linden trees and citizens, has expanded to a territory that would no longer fit the Manhattan Peninsula.
The population of New York City is approaching ten million, while there are hundreds of times fewer of us in the local forests.
We live in a city of alleys and groves, overgrown fields and ancient forests, bog pines, and sacred oaks, we are a forest people. Therefore, savages in both the good and bad sense of the word.
We invite you on Pärnu Day to look in the mirror at the Museum of New Art's exhibition SAVAGES. The discussion is led by academician Karl Pajusalu, native of Pärnu, and Mark Soosaar, native of Mulk and transplanted to Pärnu as a child.
They have invited the mayor, Romek Kosenkranius, and city architect Siim Orav to share their visions of future park forests in Pärnu. We will find out whether they have the courage to hire park rangers and stop clear-cutting in the forests of Pärnu city.
      We will discuss how to restore historic boulevards in districts and the central city with the help of volunteers.
We announce a competition among Pärnumaa school students to find and map rare lindens, oaks, pines, and other aged trees where epiphytes grow among the branches. Old sprawling trees allow habitats for other species of plants, i.e., epiphytes, in their crowns, making them similar to their counterparts in tropical rainforests. There, colorful orchids grow on top of trees. It is not impossible that this could soon happen in Estonia. Whether, where, and who will be the first to find such a rarity in Estonia may become clear this autumn...

The discussion "ARE WE SAVAGES?" is free for all interested parties.
More information: https://mona.ee/parnu-paev-uue-kunsti-muuseumis-5-aprillil-2025/

Open exhibitions:

Hendrik Relve, Kaupo Kikkas, Mark Soosaar – photo exhibition SAVAGES
"Alone we are trees, but together a forest," liked to say Lennart Meri.
If so, then are we indeed a forest people? Or rather savages? In the black or white sense of the word?
The answer about both ourselves and all of us can be found in the exhibition, authored by photographers Hendrik Relve, Kaupo Kikkas, and Mark Soosaar.
These men have documented rare trees and avenues over the decades, no longer found in nature. But they live on in photographs and films. Just like the people who live among us thanks to the trees they planted and personal memories…

The annual exhibition of the Estonian Painters' Association UNTOLD STORIES / UNTOLD STORIES

As individuals, we all have our own stories to tell. Artists have always had the opportunity to sublimate their personal experiences into their work, to develop a certain metalinguistic and symbol system to cultivate their independent artist-ego or sovereignty.

From collective traumas and blank spots in history, full-throated discussions in public space have become possible since the start of Russia's war of aggression in 2022. Estonia is cleansing itself of the waste of red monuments, and despite the oppressive threat of war and the crazy situation in the economy, there is still a new breath in the air, a new sense of freedom, the courage to call things by their right names. The phrase `unspoken story` seems to suggest something that has never been talked about before, or that there was never a desire to talk about?

In my opinion, not enough has been said about how successful Estonia has been during its new period of independence, how greatly our living environment has changed over the past thirty years, how beautiful our country actually is! Perhaps superstition has kept Estonians from loudly proclaiming great joy, or it seems that until every single one of us shares in happiness, it is not proper to boast of Estonia as a wonderland?

The organizers in no way wish to prescribe the tone of the artwork, each person's story is valuable, the richer the mosaic, the more half-tones it has. The synopsis of the general exhibition is made to address/involve the majority of the members of the painters' association, the refinement of the exhibition concept and the articulation of the work collection will occur more based on reactions and feedback that arise when communicating with those who wish to exhibit. Therefore, the theme should be viewed this year more as a sociological study – after all, painting art and painters are not submissive, they are more individualists than herd people. This is one of the greatest charms of art with individual authorship, such as painting.

Exhibitors at the exhibition:

Vano Allsalu, Stanislav Antipov, Ivi Arrak, Kadri Bormeister, Marju Bormeister, Urve Dzidzaria, Manfred Dubov, Jaan Elken, Herlet Elvisto, Pille Ernesaks, Evi Gailit, Mauri Gross, Mirjam Hinn, Eero Ijavoinen, Sergei Inkatov, Ashot Jegikjan, Ly Kaalma, Martin Kaares/QBA, Kaie Kal, Kalli Kalde, Liina Kalvik, Liis Koger, Triin Kristerson, Eve Kruuse, Ilmar Kruusamäe, Liisa Kruusmägi, Andro Kööp, Tiia Külv, August Künnapu, Vilen Künnapu, Urve Küttner, Silvi Lepparu, Philiph Arvo Luik, Ivika Luisk, Helle Lõhmus, Liia Lüdig-Algvere, Lola Tehver, Vitali Macari, Andrei Maksimjuk, Margus Meinart, Maret Melder, Lilian Mosolainen, Ene Luik-Mudist, Maarit Murka, Peeter Must, Kati Müüripeal, Karl-Kristjan Nagel, Ulvi Oro, Tiiu Pallo-Vaik, Riin Pallon, Mall Paris, Anne Parmasto, Sirje Piir, Tiit Priidel, Pusa (Piret Bergmann), Lii Pähkel, Matti Pärk, Tiiu Rebane, Riina Rillo, Piret Rohusaar, Ingmar Roomets, Mari Roosvalt, Uno Roosvalt, Rait Rosin, Andrus Rõuk, Kaia Rähn, Marta Stratskas, Maret Suurmets Kuura, Santa Zukker ,Karl-Erik Talvet, Tiina Tammetalu, Lola Tehver, Jane Tiidelepp, Margus Tiitsmaa, Heli Tuksam, Alar Tuul, Maris Tuuling, Maria-Kristiina Ulas, Priit Vaher, Manfred Vainokivi, Einar Vene

Jaan Elken, exhibition compiler/designer

We are open on April 5th from 11 AM to 6 PM