The international conference Art, Image, and Exploitation, organized in conjunction with the 95th anniversary of the Estonian Academy of Arts,  illuminates the relationship between art and power, concentrating on exploitation in art, through art, and around art.  As a separate topic of discussion we will pose a question of when and how art becomes a form of exploitation and consequently the artists' responsibility.

Art, Image, and Exploitation conference, EAA, Estonia

February 18 - 19, 2010

Rüütelkonna building, Kiriku plats 1, Tallinn

Renowned artists and experts from various fields will present at this two-day event, analyzing polemical images of the relationships of power in the modern world. Instead of traditional presentations, the conference will be based on video material case studies, with participants analyzing specific works. Among the latter will be the much debated documentary "Episode 3" (2008) by Dutch filmmaker Renzo Martens, Sundance award winner "Sleep Dealer" (2008) by Alex Rivera, "Bitch Academy" (2008) by Alina Rudnitskaya and "The Return of the Real" (2007) by Phil Collins. The program also includes videos from Norwegian artist Jannicke Låkerilt and from American filmmaker Laurel Nakadatelt.

Participants include Teemu Mäki - Professor of Visual Art of University of Art and Design Helsinki, Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs diplomat Priit Turk (Estonia), artists Jannicke Låker (Norway), Laurel Nakadate (US), and Renzo Martens (Holland) among others.

The conference will be held in English. Entrance is free.

For more information and registration: www.artun.ee/exploitation

Contact information:

Registration: Maria Jürisson, ph +372 6 267 388,  This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Press: Solveig Jahnke, ph +372 56 26 4949, This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it  

Program/Curators:Karin Laansoo, This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Maria Arusoo, This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Supported by the Estonian Cultural Endowment, Office for Contemporary Art Norway, and the Embassy of the United States, Estonia