On Friday, 10 April at 5:00 pm, John Grzinich will open his solo exhibition “Field of Impermanence” in the monumental gallery of the Tartu Art House.
The exhibition features John Grzinich’s audiovisual and photographic works, which were created in seeking ways to make perceptible the changes that take place in frozen landscapes. In addition, these works reflect a central concern of his practice: how we might sense, experience and understand the ever-changing climate. The captured images reveal deeper patterns related to weather and climate, both in close-up and at a distance, and how we may respond.
This winter, ice took centre stage, placing itself at the heart of numerous events and encounters. Nature provided us with a temporary bridge, and visitors from near and far came to witness the ice roads connecting Estonian islands. Skaters traversed the sea ice across Pärnu Bay from one shoreline to another. Migratory birds returning to Estonia were confused, as the bays were frozen and their usual nesting grounds unusable. These are some noticeable changes in the face of an exceptional abundance of seasonal ice.
“Primarily known as a sound and audiovisual artist, John Grzinich has explored ice as a phenomenon in his work in recent years. For instance, he has recorded the sounds of internal ice tensions on Lake Peipus and filmed ways of life and adaptation among people living around the frozen Gulf of Bothnia. Unlike dramatic climate imagery depicting melting glaciers or floods, Grzinich’s works often focus on overlooked everyday environments: places we do not typically associate with the climate crisis, yet which are also undergoing change. A recurring thread in Grzinich’s work is an inquiry into objectivity: how we observe “the same place” while witnessing its transformation over time, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day,” explains the curator.
John Grzinich (b. 1970) is a U.S.-born audiovisual artist based in Estonia, and his work combines sound, moving image and site-specific installations to explore the perception of sound and space, seeking resonances between people and places. His recent works employ both performative and fixed media forms to question anthropocentric perspectives, combining more-than-human voices, expanded listening practices and participatory engagement.
The exhibition will be open until 10 May.
Additional information: Maret Tamme, Producer of the Tartu Art House, produtsent@kunstimaja.ee, 5800 3882