TEMPORARY EXHIBITIONS
"KOOSKÕLA"
Synoptic exhibition of Estonian female artists
June 21 - September 8
The term ‘synoptic’ originates from the Greek word σύνοψις (synopsis), which can be translated as ‘whole view’. The exhibition at hand approaches the work of Estonian female artists as a whole, trying to highlight various shifts and developments by juxtaposing artworks of different artists from different eras. On the one hand, the aim is to find out whether and how the modes of visual representation have changed in the last one hundred years. On the other hand, it is also to see how female artists of different periods have perceived themselves, the society and everything in between.
Curator: Mareli Reinhold
Designer: Indrek Aija
The exhibition is brought to you with the help from Pärnu City Council and Cultural Endowment of Estonia.
Annual exhibition of the Estonian Association of
Jewellery and Blacksmiths
“THIS IS ME”
July 4 – September 1
It has become a tradition for the Estonian Association of Jewellery and Blacksmiths to bring their annual exhibition to the summer capital of Estonia. In 2022, the members of the association introduced us to the world of modern jewellery. Last year, they were inspired by the museum’s own exhibition “Kings and Guards”, showcasing pieces related to the sea and Vikings. This year the artisans invite you to see who they are. Without giving them a theme nor placing them in a box, they exhibit materials and styles close to their heart. Whether it is silver, gold, iron, wood, semi-precious stone, amber, birch tree bark – each piece is unique, carrying its maker’s character. Yet, the jewellery share two common qualities: practicality and aesthetics.
Exhibition “THIS IS ME” presents the work of 27
artists and 100 pieces.
Exhibition designers: Mari Pärtelpoeg
and Kertu Vellerind
Participating artist: Jaan Pärn, Reet Salonen, Ihan Toomik,
Ive-Maria Köögard, Ilona Treiman, Merike Balod, Keesi Kapsta, Viktorija
Lillemets, Kairi Sirendi, Kertu Vellerind, Krista Laos, Ülle Mesikäpp, Mari
Pärtelpoeg, Ene Valter, Anne Reinberg, Ane Raunam, Indrek Päi, Egge
Edussaar-Eidemiller, Kadi Kübarsepp, Ülle Kõuts, Mari Käbin, Kristjan Sinivee,
Raili Vinn, Riin Somelar, Margit Paulin, Alo-Allar Altmets, Andrei
Balaśov
The exhibition is brought to you with the help from Cultural Endowment of Estonia.
"Mother, I wore a uniform"
School, education, and uniforms in Pärnu in 13-20th century
February 1 - June 2
The first part of the exhibition provides an overview of the history of education and schools from the 13th to the 20th century. The second part reflects on the history of school uniforms, teaching aids and accessories from different periods. The third part describes the tradition of wearing school uniforms after World War II in the context of Pärnu and includes 11 stories related to school uniforms from individuals.
Kings and Guards
Exhibition of Historical Weapons and Armour
June 7 - January 7, 2024
Pärnu Museum's family-friendly exhibition 'KINGS AND GUARDS' takes us back to the time of Vikings and knights. It is a rare opportunity to learn about unique weapons and armour from Europe, Persia, India and Japan, the likes of which can usually only be seen in large world museums. More than 130 rare items introduce a variety of weapons and armour and the history of their development from the 8th to the 18th century.
The Magical World of Theatre Puppets
Travelling exhibition of the Museum of Puppetry Arts
September 28 - January 7, 2024
Exhibition booklet in English.
The Museum of Puppetry Arts is located in the Old Town of Tallinn next to the Estonian Theatre for Young Audiences, and is home to more than 800 theatre puppets that have once performed on stage. For the first time, the travelling exhibition takes the Museum of Puppetry Arts to places across Estonia. The travelling exhibition is a short form of the Museum of Puppetry Arts’ permanent exhibition and similarly offers insight into the history of puppetry as well as a chance to play with puppets and learn about the process of producing a play.
The art of puppetry, or the art of animating an inanimate object, is an ancient practice that for thousands of years belonged to the world of adults. It is only in the last hundred years or so that puppet theatre has come to be regarded as children’s theatre. Puppets usually have possibilities of performing on stage that are different from human actors: a puppet can cross the boundaries set by the human body and is able to do things that humans cannot: fly, turn from animate to inanimate, disappear in a second, etc.
The life of a theatre puppet begins with the puppet maker. Puppet makers create puppets by hand, based on the designer’s sketches. The puppet finally comes to life in the hands of the puppeteer. To illustrate this process, the exhibition displays design sketches through seven decades; visitors can themselves try to design a theatre puppet and examine tools and materials needed for creating a puppet. Everyone can also try what it feels like to be a puppeteer and to bring the puppets to life.
Similarly to the Museum of Puppetry Arts’ permanent exhibition, the travelling exhibition also introduces most widespread puppet types like shadow puppets, table top puppets, glove puppets, rod puppets and marionettes. Each puppet type is represented by one or more examples of the Puppet Theatre’s (today’s Estonian Theatre for Young Audiences) past productions. They are mostly copies of valuable original puppets, made specifically for the travelling exhibition by the puppet makers of the Theatre for Young Audiences. Puppets were chosen for the exhibition from various decades and the choice reflects the Puppet Theatre’s past and present artistic directors and head designers.