Marita Liivak “Lasnamäe - Beginnings and Endings”
On May 4th 2023, Marita Liivak's exhibition "Lasnamäe – Beginnings and Endings" opened at Victoria Olt Gallery.
The title was inspired by the artist's personal experiences in the infamous district of Lasnamäe, Tallinn, both early and recent. One of the standout pieces depicted boys in Adidas tracksuits playing tic-tac-toe on the asphalt in front of the legendary Kotka store, once the first supermarket in the Soviet Union, which continues to operate today.
In the exhibition, viewers found paintings depicting scenes from Lasnamäe, which held personal significance to Marita Liivak. She hoped the works would offer a blend of humor, visual delight, and heartfelt emotions. Reflecting on her childhood memories of Lasnamäe, she painted the area with bright colors, juxtaposing these nostalgic recollections with the reality of the district’s notorious reputation. The exhibition was born from this duality, balancing fond childhood experiences with the grittier aspects of the environment, a place she both loved and feared.
Gallerist Victoria Olt found the exhibition conceptually strong, noting that despite its vibrant palette, the works carried a bittersweet undertone. Liivak's paintings, influenced by the recent loss of her cousin, captured moments of childhood joy while hinting at the inevitable end of innocence. This duality added emotional depth, making the viewer feel the tension between nostalgia and the passage of time.
Marita Liivak has studied painting both at the Pallas University of Applied Sciences in Tartu and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Catania, Italy (BA). Her intuitive creative process is mixed with technical proficiency. She conveys her life-experiences through art and thrives on topics that exceed the lines of comfort by using vibrant colors, large canvases and sensual figures. Subject matters vary from mental health and sexuality to daily comedy, awkwardness and candid moments. Liivak’s work is mostly inspired by events in her life and accompanying emotions which as a result make the work autobiographical, though it is supposed to be subjective and open for interpretation. After publishing, the artwork starts a life independent from the artist.
This exhibition embodied that delicate balance of humor and seriousness, showing Lasnamäe through Liivak's unique lens—a place of childhood wonder and adult realities.
Marita Liivak's "Lasnamäe – Beginnings and Endings" exhibition featured a range of works inspired by the Lasnamäe district in Tallinn, combining childhood nostalgia with the raw realities of the area. Key pieces, such as “Kotka Turg” and “Paekaare Tänava Poisid,” captured the essence of Liivak’s connection to the neighborhood, blending humor, memory, and the sometimes harsh urban landscape. The exhibition offered viewers an exploration of Lasnamäe through bright, vibrant colors and poignant personal reflections.
Marita Liivak
100 x 120 cm
Acrylic and oil on canvas
2023
NOTE: Due to the dimensions of the work, outside of EU it will be either shipped rolled up or we also offer to arrange an art courier company to ship it for additional fee.