Victoria Olt “Lost Gods”
“We are still at the mercy of fate, however we choose to define it. But the lessons from the past—what our ancestors believed about life, death, and human nature—remain deeply relevant, and there’s so much we can learn from them."
On January 4th Victoria Olt Gallery unveiled a new exhibition titled Lost Gods, where intricate watercolor techniques were seamlessly blended with the themes of ancient cultures. The highlight of the exhibition was a striking 20 m² installation of paper cranes, a reference to the Japanese legend that promises a wish, often for a long life, to anyone who folds 1,000 origami cranes.
Victoria Olt described the exhibition as a continuation of her ongoing search for meaning, explaining: “Lost Gods was another step in my journey to make sense of the world. After finding little comfort in modern popular religions, I looked to the past to see what wisdom could be gained from ancient civilizations. What I discovered is that many of the struggles our ancestors faced are remarkably similar to the challenges we continue to grapple with today. We are still at the mercy of fate, however we choose to define it. But the lessons from the past—what our ancestors believed about life, death, and human nature—remain deeply relevant, and there’s so much we can learn from them."
The exhibition explored a wide range of mythological figures and themes, starting with the most iconic characters from Greek mythology. Visitors were introduced to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, born from the foam of the sea, and her son Eros, whose notorious arrow, meant to strike Psyche at his mother’s command, ultimately backfired on him. The myths presented included tales of divine vengeance, destruction, human suffering, and remorse, but also preserved the belief that hope persists—like in the story of Pandora’s Box.
Nordic mythology was also prominently featured, with stories of the first humans, the Norns who governed time and fate, and Hel, the feared ruler of the underworld. The exhibition extended beyond European myths, incorporating mythical creatures from the indigenous peoples of North America, as well as tales from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, centered around themes of life, death, rebirth, love, and revenge.
More exotic myths brought a global richness to the exhibit, such as the Hawaiian fire goddess Pele and the Japanese sun goddess Amaterasu. Throughout the exhibition, many of the myths served as cautionary tales, their messages resonating as strongly today as they did in ancient times.
Lost Gods invited visitors to reflect on humanity’s timeless quest for understanding and meaning, and how the echoes of ancient wisdom still hold powerful relevance in our modern world.
Victoria Olt is a traditional artist whose ethereal paintings fuse classical realism with the dynamic colors of contemporary art. Her work delves into the depths of the human soul, capturing the complex emotions we often try to conceal. Using mixed media, she creates captivating “windows” into inner worlds that feel both timeless and deeply personal. Her art has been exhibited in galleries across the globe and is held in numerous private collections.
Born and raised in Estonia, Victoria later moved to Spain, where she pursued a degree in Fine Arts at the University of Seville. After graduating, she worked as a freelance artist in Madrid and Amsterdam. During the height of the pandemic, she relocated to the secluded island of Nevis, where she completed the Starchild collection. In late 2021, she returned to Estonia to open the Victoria Olt Gallery.
2020
Gouache and handmade watercolor on paper.
18 x 24 in
46 x 61 cm + frame included for free in shipments within Estonia
} Enlil & Ninlil {
The Ancient Sumerian story story starts when Ninlil decides to go to bathe in the river, her mother forbids her to as she doesn’t want her daughter to go alone, but she goes anyway. There she meets the God Enlil, who rapes her. When Ninlil returns home the next morning pregnant, her mother is furious and Enlil is banished to the underworld. But Ninlil misses Enlil and pursues him to the underworld. They make up and decide to stay together and she soon gives birth to Nanna, who is as beautiful as the sun but colder. When she grows up she becomes the goddess of the moon. This story represents the life cycle of crops, from pollination to their withering and eventual return to earth. This story is also considered a coming of age tale.
“The exhibition “Lost Gods” is another step in my quest for meaning, where, after finding no solace in current popular religion, I turn my gaze towards the past, to see what can be learned there. And what I’ve found is that a lot of the issues our ancestors struggled with, are the same issues we have yet to resolve today. We still live at the whim of fate, however you define it. But our ancestors still have fascinating things to say about the human condition, and we would be wise to learn from them.”
-Victoria