On September 25th at 6pm, we are opening a new exhibition “Songs of the sea”, at Rõdugalerii, Tartu. Teresa Gruber’s paper sculptures are based on her research work, and focus on the topic of collective tradition, rhythm and ritual.
For her series “Reflections on home“ artist Teresa Gruber was exploring places from her past and the memories related to it. The works are a reflection on the immediacy of her perception and actions as a child. An attempt to translate the vague feeling of memories into a physical form, to make them tangible and preserve them. She examines the concept of home – not only as a physical location but even more as an internal state of safety and belonging.
During her research on Estonian culture and traditions, Regilaul especially caught her attention. She was drawn to the deeply rooted tradition of these songs, passed down from generation to generation – sometimes about cyclical transformational processes in nature, sometimes about mythological imagery, but also about daily life and the profane.
Structured in simple eight-syllable lines across four verses, it may seem simplistic, but it holds a quiet complexity. The monotonous singing, the repetition, the parallelism, and the centuries-old tradition of passing it down over many generations – within all of this seems to lie a distinctive power that is difficult to grasp.
From this exploration Gruber developed multilayered geometric objects during her KOOS art residency at Kakuke, to create an analogy to the repeating structure of Regilaul phrases and lines. By assembling shapes in rhythmic geometric formations, verses are translated into a visual metaphor.
For “Songs of the sea“, she followed this exploration of memory and internal experience, as a continuation to „Reflections on home“ – now with a focus on collective tradition, rhythm, and ritual. Both series investigate how intangible experiences – personal or cultural – can be embodied, preserved, and translated through material, pattern, and form.
Exhibition is open from 25.09.2025-12.10.2025, so for just a bit more than 2 weeks!
Exhibition is free to visit for everyone!
Rõdugalerii is located in the Aparaaditehas courtyard, through door nr 7, on the second floor!
Rõdugalerii is open Wed-Sun, 12:00-18:00.
Teresa Gruber, born 1983 in Upper Austria, is a Berlin-based visual artist working with paper, thread, and textile techniques. Her passion for developing precise and detailed artworks evolved during her four-year training as a goldsmith at a technical college in Austria, that continues to shape her practice today.
Her work explores memories, emotions, and silence, with a particular interest in the unconscious, the unspoken, and what lies hidden between the lines. Drawing inspiration from nature and personal biography, Gruber investigates the concept of home as both a physical and emotional state.
Through traditional techniques applied in new contexts, she creates multilayered geometric objects and drawings, made from paper, thread or metal. The circle is a recurring element, symbolically embodying unity and the cyclical nature of life. She begins at the center and works towards the outside. Her meditative process leads to a rhythm of structures and shapes.
The residency’s name, KOOS translates to together—inspired by the richness of the Estonian language—also resonates on a political level, engaging with the complex shared history of Estonia and Germany. By transforming spaces such as the Käesalu manor house, once a symbol of German occupation, into vibrant cultural hubs, KOOS underscores the values of democracy, collaboration, and cultural diversity that lie at the heart of the European Union.
The KOOS residency fosters sustainable artistic practice through international cultural exchange between Estonia and Germany. Dedicated to creating meaningful connections between local and international cultural scenes, KOOS is the result of long-term collaborations and a shared commitment to supporting artists and cultural protagonists of all kinds in extending their global reach.
Organizers & Partners:
TYPA – Printing and Paper Art Centre
Käesalu Art Center
Deutsch-Estnische Gesellschaft Berlin e.V.
MTÜ Eesti-Saksa KunstikoostööFunded by:
German Embassy Tallinn
Estonian Cultural Endowment (KULKA)
LEADER Estonia, Lääne Harju Koostöökogu, EU ÜPP 2023-2027 Strateegiakava sekkumise „LEADER-kogukonna juhitud kohalik areng“ raames toetatud tegevused