Outset Estonia is very proud to have supported the production of Kris Lemsalus solo show Birth V – Hi and Bye at the Estonian Pavilion of the 58th La Biennale di Venezia (11.05–24.11.2019). The show was organised by the Estonian Center for Contemporary Arts and was located on the island of Giudecca. Birth V was simultaneously an exhibition and a Venetian masquerade ball with performers, actors, musicians and dancers performing around an immersive large-scale ceramics fountain charged with symbolic meanings. The V in the exhibition’s title refers to Venice but also to female organs from which birth is given, thus turning Venice into a living – and mortal – character. Kris Lemsalu, described as “a punk pagan trickster feminist sci-fi schaman”, often uses collected and crafted objects in her sculptures and surreal environments. In Birth V she investigates the creative power of birth, using a creative team to underline that birth never takes place alone – the work is both collective and personal. She has included a team of writers, artists, curators and friends to collaborate with her on the exhibition, among others poet Andrew Berardini, artist Sarah Lucas, researcher Irene Campolmi and collaborator Tamara Luuk. The soundscape of the exhibition in Venice has been created by artist Kyp Malone.
The Estonian Pavilion at the 58th Venice Biennale has received a lot of media attention and was considered as one of the top 10 pavilions at the biennale by Artnet News. At the end of the 58th Venice Biennale, Kris Lemsalu’s new book “Birth V – Hi and Bye” was launched, published by the Estonian Center for Contemporary Arts in collaboration with Mousse Publishing.
Kris Lemsalu (b. 1985) was born in Tallinn, Estonia, and lives and works between New York and Tallinn. She creates mixed-media sculptures, installations and performances with unexpected materials. Lemsalu’s pieces evoke the bestial side of human beings and civilizations, and are often underscored by feminist themes. Lemsalu has shown as part of Performa 17 (2017), DRAF performance night (2017), Bunshitu Gallery, Tokyo (2015), Ferdinand Bauman Gallery, Prague (2015) and is represented by Koppe Astner, Glasgow and Temnikova & Kasela, Tallinn. Lemsalu represents Estonia at the Venice Biennale 2019.
Kris Lemsalu’s Birth V – Hi and Bye at the Estonian Pavilion on the island of Giudecca was on view from May 11th to November 24th, 2019.
