Edward von Lõngus's virtual tour of Shepard Fairey’s “Photo Synthesis” exhibition with Andra Orn

What happens when two legends of street art come together in the same exhibition hall? For one night only, Fotografiska will host a meeting of the works of Estonia's iconic street artist Edward von Lõngus and the international street art pioneer Shepard Fairey.

On November 24 at 5 PM, Fotografiska’s “Photo Synthesis” exhibition hall for Shepard Fairey will host a virtual tour of Edward von Lõngus’s grand exhibition “Cathedral of the Final Days,” the main show of the 2020 Tallinn Biennale, previously displayed at Ülemiste City.

This unique tour, led by Andra Orn—head of NOBA.ac and representative of Edward von Lõngus—will unite the distinct styles and ideas of these two extraordinary creative identities into an inspiring experience.

Andra Orn

Andra Orn is a curator, art critic, and organizer of international art festivals and competitions. With extensive experience in the art field, she has organized art festivals, curated hundreds of exhibitions, and compiled art books. She has contributed to cultural publications, created artist and exhibition profiles for catalogs and art books, and regularly writes for NOBA Art News. She is also the founder and director of the Nordic Baltic Art Center NOBA and the art portal NOBA.ac.

Under her leadership, significant art events have taken place, including the revival of Estonian Art Week and organizing Art Weeks from 2016–2022, featuring major exhibitions and inclusive Art Days across the art scene. She also initiated the Tallinn Biennale format and curated Edward von Lõngus’s retrospective exhibition “Cathedral of the Final Days” in 2020.

Edward von Lõngus

According to their own words, Edward von Lõngus does not exist in physical form—only as ideas. They are a shared theoretical concept, a multi-identity reflection of the era, born from the vibrations of collective consciousness. Emerging from the fertile conditions of the information age, they materialized as a phenomenon of the 21st century, a thought born “between the lines.” Their ideas circulate like a non-digital computer virus, spreading from mind to mind.

Von Lõngus’s works can be found on the streets of Tartu and other Estonian cities. They practice cultural remixing, cutting apart and reassembling elements from the existing cultural landscape to create new connections in the viewer's mind. Their work has sparked both enthusiastic approval and intense outrage; they’ve been both arrested and awarded the title of Tartu City Cultural Ambassador. Their works are found near the trash bins at Tartu Art Museum as well as in their permanent collection, displayed in Kumu and published in National Geographic, featured on Estonia’s "Pealtnägija" TV show, and covered in numerous media outlets. Some of their works have been painted over or removed, while others have sold at record-breaking auction prices. They’ve been called the "Estonian Banksy," while others have vowed to "give them a beating" if caught.

Von Lõngus’s art is inseparable from their existential identity, with each piece forming a part of themselves, as does each viewer, thinker, commentator, and buyer.

Headline: NOBA