Enter Woodland Spirits

The European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 unveiled its international exhibition of technological art Enter Woodland Spirits on 28th of June, offering the public new contexts in which to approach and revive folk wisdom and render the essence of nature as a tangible and tactile entity. Twenty two artists from the Nordic and Baltic region have participated in the exhibition, including fourteen new works inspired in several cases by Estonia’s natural heritage. Enter Woodland Spirits takes place in two historic neighbouring buildings in Tartu: the Estonian Literary Museum and the University of Tartu Natural History Museum. Closely intertwined with the exhibition project is the newly created anthology Estonian Nature Folklore, which highlights the rich folklore collections and their value from an ecological perspective: the folk inheritances of the Nordic countries and their people, which reveals both utilitarian and sustainable aspects in addition to a respectful relationship with nature as a soulful, powerful partner. Enter Woodland Spirits takes visitors on a journey through two historic buildings, with the possibility to encounter installation environments, sound and video works, works generated by AI or through manipulating with augmented reality, kinetic sculptures and other hybrid forms where the art experience is multi-sensory. Site-specific artworks can be encountered from the largest auditorium of the University of Tartu to the mysterious attic of the Literary Museum. The artists from the Nordic and Baltic countries embrace the essence and reverence for nature in their work. The exhibition will feature Bryndís Björnsdóttir and Þorsteinn Eyfjörð from Iceland, Oskar Koliander from Denmark, Tori Wrånes, Ingrid Torvund and Jonas Mailand from Norway, Hans Rosenström, Niskanen & Salo in collaboration with Inkeri Aula, Pia Sirén and Nastja Säde Rönkkö from Finland, Linda Boļšakovaa and ART+ from Latvia and Norman Orro with Joonas Timmi, Zody Burke, Johannes Luik, Emer Värk, Roman-Sten Tõnissoo and Mari-Leen Kiipli from Estonia. Initiated by the Estonian Literary Museum in 2019, the Enter Woodland Spirits project is part of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 programme line Tartu with Earth.