Analogue + Digital Materials = Sensorial The Second OCAD U x Estonian Academy of Arts - Artists-in-Residence Program. Tallin, Estonia August 12–23, 2024

Once the participants were informed of their team members, they got together to learn about one another’s practice. On the morning of the first day, the technician gave a tour of their respective studio/lab so that the participants gained a basic understanding of possibilities and limitations of creation production in each of the studios/labs (Figure 1). After this, the participants selected two workshops to which they would attend on the next two days (Figure 2). Most OCAD U students were excited about the workshops, especially when it was the first time for them to have a hands-on experience with the materials and technologies that they had not worked with before.

The participants were free to find a way to work together, to conceptualize their proposed creative projects, and to experiment with analogue and digital materials in various studios and labs as they found interesting. Places for making were not confined; the participants were not required to work inside the EKA building but could roam around the modern city and old town, nature, and historical and cultural sites that harmoniously existed in the everyday life of Tallinn residents and in proximity to EKA (Figure 3). While several participants enjoyed the autonomy of working independently in the studios (Figure 4), others were fascinated and inspired by the untamed nature; beaches and animals (birds and highland cows!) could be seen in the areas close to EKA.

Each team was required to present their in-progress work to the entire group every other day for feedback; this was called “check-in” (Figure 5). The sentence “let’s meet at the beach” was often heard after the “check-in” session. Consultations could be sought throughout the entire residency period. Such consultation session called “check-out” was when the participants could troubleshoot to find a quick solution to an ongoing issue with Nithikul and Kristi.

While sustainability was not highlighted as such in the theme for the residency, sustainability seemed to be embedded in the practice of most of the participants. They considered leaving the least possible footprint by sourcing materials available around them, especially those natural ones that could be returned to their original environments.

Since we had planned to have a public exhibition at the end of the residency, the participants had an opportunity to visit the exhibition site at Põhjala tehas (Nordic factory, in English), an emerging culture factory and community centre (Figure 6). This place encompassed the city’s rich history; it once was the centre of a working-class community and the beating heart of local industrial culture. The giant iconic hangars had originally belonged to the Bekker Shipyard, and after the declination of the shipping industry during the interwar period in the 1930s, they were converted to house the largest Estonian rubber production until its closure in 1998 after the collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). This cluster of hangars was deserted for over three decades until they reopen as Põhjala tehas today. The visit to Põhjala tehas helped each team to envision the way in which their ongoing work could be installed together to compose a coherent display and what equipment and devices necessary for their display that must be loaned from EKA or elsewhere.

THE EXHIBITION

On the last day of the residency, the participants set up their displays in the exhibition space at Põhjala tehas. They had about seven hours to get the work up ready for the opening reception at 4pm. It was amazing to see the exhibition gradually came to being and filling the massive space in a short time (Figure 7). Prior to the exhibition, invitations had been sent out to local communities through various online channels. The aim was to promote the residency participants’ public engagement with Tallinn residents and visitors. With the limited timeframe of the residency, the exhibition could go on only for a day between 4pm and 7pm. Although the time was short, the experience was rich and intense. The participants were busy with conversing and interacting with local people (Figure 8). The crowd was much bigger than anticipated—which was great!