Tere!
Hello from Tallinn, Estonia.
I have adventured here for an artist residency at Kultuuritehas Polymer (Culture Factory Polymer). The building was once a Soviet toy factory, which has now been morphed into an artist collective. There are probably two dozen or so artists who live here. However, I have only met a handful so far (Estonians like to keep to themselves and silence is appreciated). Residents often stay here for a number of years, with international artists stopping in for a shorter time.
In less than a week I have seen multiple spaces similar to Polymer across town. Which is exciting and unexpected to me. It makes me imagine a place like this happening in Philly. Is it possible? Or who knows, it may be in some West Philly house that I am oblivious that it even exists.
Being here has been a shocking adjustment. This is my first trip abroad and Polymer certainly forced an immediate change. For me it is living rougher than ever before. My room is concrete. Perhaps you should think about a South Philly “back yard” and put a roof on it. So far, many people I have met speak English. Lucky for me. However, I have immediately found a difficulty in having simple conversation— I am judging myself as not wanting to sound like an idiot. Why should I care? I don’t know. Language is diverse in the younger locals. Jan, who lives here, speaks 5 languages: Estonia, Russian, English, French, and Spanish. However, I was at the marketplace today, and most of the merchants do not speak English. I am not sure if I scream “American!” But, I was thoroughly entertained by an Estonian woman who only kept saying to me “Ten” for her beautiful wool socks. I didn’t buy them.
One convenient thing about Tallinn: public transportation is free for locals. So I fake as one. With the latest political regime they found that it was actually cheaper to make public transportation free for people who live here due to the cost of printing tickets and transit cards. I walk a lot as well though. Part of the benefit of walking is I can take in more of the scenery. There is a clear difference between Soviet and Estonian buildings. Soviet buildings are brick (not well insolated) and in general opinion ugly. Estonian buildings are wood, and the opposite of the other. Even the old Estonian houses that haven’t been painted in years have a rustic beauty.
As I adjust to this new community, I am beginning to focus on my work. I immediately wondered how my work fits into this culture of artists. Are they asking similar questions that I have? Are they even interested in my artistic questions? When in process seeing work is always a benefit. Takes me out of my own mind and forces me to process what another artist is proposing. So I’ve seen some work, taken a deep breath, and am ready to start making. I am currently working on a short piece that stems from research I have previously explored (my bicycle accident), but the work got lost after workshop and never progressed. Now I hope to claim its voice again.
I will be here for over a month. Feel free to continue to follow my journeys at: thomaschoinacky.com/travels
I leave you with an image from my window. I’m looking forward to the white nights. The sky and light were beautiful as the sun “set” last night.