06 XI – 02 XII 2020 | Haus gallery, Tallinn
The exhibition „Memory of the Place III“ at Haus Gallery consists of a series large- and middle-scale paintings, in which muted colour scheme recreates powerful references to epic wastelands – whether volcanic plains in Island, rock and sand deserts of North America and and North Africa, or the abstract textures and silhouettes of metropolis such as San Francisco or New York. Jaan Elken explains: „Being on the road has been my author’s position as an artist for decades already, both in its literal and indirect meaning; in addition to straight pathways, I also appreciate the logic and rhythm expressed in complex urban structures and in addition to natural rock deserts, I also consider urban conglomerates as grand. As an artist who values the methods of abstract art most highly, I want to be the (re)creator of textures/forms similar to natural forms – not an imitator… For that reason to say I am an abstract artist would be superficial, the triggers and atmosphere are always spurred from specific events, structures, or even psychologically experienced memory fragments. I talk about senses and instincts on my paintings, how I sense things. These are very specific. There is nothing abstract about this, so whether art is „abstract“ „conditional“ or „signified“….
List of paintings
- Valge kõrb VI / White Desert VI
akrüül, kollaaž, lõuend / acrylic, collage, canvas | 160 x 200 | 2019/2020 - Writing on the wall XII / Manhattan
Akrüül, kollaaž, lõuend / acrylic, collage, canvas | 135 x 150 | 2019/2020 - Urban nature
Akrüül, kollaaž, lõuend / acrylic, collage, canvas | 135 x 150 | 2020 - From something to nothing
Akrüül, kollaaž, lõuend / acrylic, collage, canvas | 135 x 150 | 2020 - Kajakas III. Restart / seagull III. Restart
Akrüül, kollaaž, lõuend / acrylic, collage, canvas | 130 x 150 | 2014/2020 - Raamat/The Book
Akrüül, kollaaž, lõuend / acrylic, collage, canvas | 100 x 120 | 2020 - Tulevik mõjutab olevikku … Friedrich Nietzsche /Future influences the present… Friedrich Nietzsche
Akrüül, kollaaž, lõuend / acrylic, collage, canvas | 100 x 120 | 2020 - You only live once
Akrüül, kollaaž, lõuend / acrylic, collage, canvas | 100 x 120 | 2020 - Confucius: life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated III
Akrüül, kollaaž, lõuend / acrylic, collage, canvas | 100 x 120 | 2020 - Life is simple, but we insist on making it complicated – Confucius. III
Akrüül, kollaaž, lõuend / acrylic, collage, canvas | 100 x 120 | 2020 - Vaade / A View
Akrüül, kollaaž, lõuend / acrylic, collage, canvas | 100 x 120 | 2020 - North of the border
Akrüül, kollaaž, lõuend / acrylic, collage, canvas | 100 x 120 | 2020 - Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans (J. Lennon)
Akrüül, kollaaž, lõuend / acrylic, collage, canvas | 100 x 120 | 2020 - Cover
Akrüül, kollaaž, lõuend / acrylic, collage, canvas | 160 x 200 | 2019/2020
In the media