TALLINN.- Tallinn Art Hall organised an art competition to find the best conceptual proposals for artworks for the renovated main building on Freedom Square. From among the works submitted by the deadline, the jury selected the design submitted under the motto Soup Kitchen ‘Art’, authored by artist Dénes Farkas.
Unlike most other buildings for which competitions are held to commission artworks, Tallinn Art Hall is intrinsically intertwined with art. The nature, duration, composition, and location of the events taking place there are in constant flux. Consequently, alongside sculptural works, the brief primarily sought ephemeral, performative, or participatory proposals. In total, 17 designs were submitted to the competition, including 5 performative participatory works, 2 technological works, 3 ephemeral sculptural works, and 7 sculptural works.
Excerpt from the winning proposal: “Soup Kitchen ‘Art’ is a conceptual spatial installation and a performative artwork that has no fixed form and follows no strict rules. Its main purpose is to periodically offer free food, provide an opportunity to observe the social aspects of art, and create a platform for discussing questions related to art. (...) Over time, the conceptual installation may evolve in form, appearing at times as a simple stage, a table with seating, a temporary structure, or even a van – depending on the weather, the participants, and the season.”
The jury praised the work for its community-building nature, opening up – both literally and metaphorically – the kitchen side of the art world to broader discussions. The winning project is context-sensitive and, through its recurring and flexible form, fits easily between the layers already present in the building. The jury also valued the proposal’s process-based approach and social dimension, which are highly topical, reflecting both the conceptual developments of the art field and its material conditions. The jury of the art competition included Tallinn Art Hall curator Siim Preiman, architect of the reconstruction project Juhan Rohtla, spatial researcher and Vice President of the Estonian Artists’ Association Tüüne-Kristin Vaikla, architectural historian Ingrid Ruudi, and conservator and Rector of the Estonian Academy of Arts Hilkka Hiiop.
The second prize was awarded to Karel Koplimets for his proposal Composition for the Sun, and the third prize went to Margus Tammik for Pillar of Salt. In both cases, the jury praised the works for their engagement with natural phenomena and weather conditions. The second-prize award amounts to €3,300, and the third-prize award to €2,200. Income tax will be withheld from the prizes in accordance with applicable legislation. The budget for the winning project is €110,000, plus VAT. The first event will take place after the reopening of the renovated Art Hall in late autumn 2026.
