The 2025 spring issue, Uncertain Territories, looks at how both physical and mental territories around us are in constant flux – be it due to political or economic uncertainty, both of which often have dire consequences for art and culture, not to mention the well-being of people forced to navigate these circumstances.
The issue opens with Maria Kapajeva’s poems, written during the months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, detailing the difficulties of seeing both physical and mental realities shift during the war. Approaching the less-explored terrain of art history, Katrin Kivimaa writes about the artist Terje Ojaver, whose sculptural work spanning decades and often featuring the themes of feminism and animalist female figures, is long-deserving of renewed perspectives and audiences.
In a similar vein, Sten Ojavee looks into the history of the network of Soros Centers for Contemporary Art that were established throughout the former Eastern Bloc in the 1990s and have now provoked a re-evaluation of their legacy even involving conspiracy theories. Ojavee’s research is expanded on by three artists, Jaan Toomik, Kai Kaljo and Anu Juurak, who were actively reshaping their practices around the time the centres were created – they share their memories of how the art scene in Estonia changed in the 1990s and 2000s.
Exploring tensions in contemporary landscapes, Johanna Rannula writes about the joys and struggles at NART residency, located in the city of Narva at the border between Estonia and Russia. Addressing territorial struggles on a different scale, Cathrin Mayer interviews Flo Kasearu on how the current political climate has shaped the Estonian landscape through new energy policies, real estate developments and people’s understanding of the public and private space.
The borders of young Estonian fashion are also in a process of being redefined – Olivia Soans speaks to five young designers to get an insight into the Estonian fashion scene in 2025.
Last but not least, Kaarin Kivirähk asked six art professionals from the Nordic and Baltic region how they would like to see language re-map the territory of contemporary art – and which words they never want to see circulating again.
As always, our Events Guide highlights the most fascinating art events in the Baltics and the Nordics in the coming months.
The sticker sheet for this print issue has been created by Bohdan Bunchak, a Ukrainian artist, who after being wounded on the frontline is now actively advocating for veterans’ needs. A Shade Colder continues to donate to the Ukrainian Emergency Art Fund.
