Shepard Fairey exhibition 'Photo Synthesis' opening
Talk with the artist 31.10 & opening party 1.11
Shepard Fairey is in Tallinn for the opening of his exhibition
October culminates in Fotografiska with a powerful artistic chord – the doors of an exhibition by iconic street artist and creative genius Shepard Fairey open in Tallinn, offering an extraordinary opportunity to meet the artist himself!
Shepard Fairey is one of the most renowned and provocative street artists, with over 135 murals worldwide. He made his breakthrough during the 2008 U.S. presidential campaign with the Barack Obama portrait 'Hope' and the explosive rise of his clothing brand OBEY. Now, his art arrives at Fotografiska, bringing together earlier iconic works and new pieces created specifically for this exhibition, blending into a captivating visual experience at the exhibition 'Photo Synthesis'.
The exhibition's opening talk on October 31st will transport the listener straight into Fairey's fascinating world of (street) art, while at the opening party on November 1st, creative energy and social awareness will intertwine, accompanied by vibrant music.
Tickets are limited, and buying on-site will be more expensive. There is also an option to purchase a two-day ticket for both events (see links below):
Tickets for the opening party.
Thursday, October 31, 7 PM – Conversation with the Street Art Legend: Shepard Fairey
The evening before the official opening offers a unique opportunity to see and hear Fairey live and visit his exhibition before anyone else. On the evening of October 31st, a discussion evening will take place on the Fotografiska stage, where Fairey will discuss street art, pop culture, politics, punk, and the police with the leaders of Estonia's street art festival Stencibility, urbanist and curator Kadri Lind, and artist and entrepreneur Sirla. This is a conversation you simply cannot miss.
Shepard Fairey has become one of the most sought-after and provocative artists globally, changing the way people converse about art and view the urban landscape. Fairey's work is politically charged and rich in symbolism, and his creations, often in collaboration with musicians, filmmakers, and activists, have embedded his art into the fabric of popular culture. In an increasingly fragmented world, Shepard Fairey's art remains as relevant as ever, sparking vital conversations and driving meaningful change.
6:30 PM: DJ Jaan Jaago
7:00 PM: Artist Shepard Fairey on stage, the talk will be in English
Until 10 PM: After the talk, visitors can explore the exhibition (before the official opening)
Kadri Lind is an urbanist, curator, and producer. Since 2013, she has organized two art festivals related to urban space in Tartu: the interdisciplinary Urban Festival UIT and the street art festival Stencibility. Kadri Lind was awarded the title of Young Culture Carrier of Tartu in 2016 and was a speaker at TEDxTartu in 2019. She is interested in how people perceive and experience cities.
Sirla is an Estonian artist and entrepreneur. She is the founder of the street art festival Stencibility, as well as the silk screen printing studio Mäshroom and the Alistamise Akadeemia jiu-jitsu club. Sirla has an education in photography and communication management and has written scientific papers on street art. She also authored the manifesto for free street art and is known as a prominent advocate for street art in Tartu.
Photo: Kiur Kaasik
Friday, November 1, 10 PM – Opening Party of Shepard Fairey's 'Photo Synthesis' exhibition
The opening party of Shepard Fairey's exhibition 'Photo Synthesis' will take place right in the heart of the art and will bring lyrically provocative underground rap group NKN, along with old-school rap scene veterans Tommyboy and Chalice, to the stage. The evening will be kicked off by street art superstar Shepard Fairey himself, with DJ Lauri Täht keeping the beats going throughout the night.
Tickets for the opening party.
10:00 PM: DJ Lauri Täht
10:45 PM: Greetings from artist Shepard Fairey
11:00 PM – 11:45 PM: Live performance by rap group NKN
11:45 PM: DJ Lauri Täht
1:00 AM – 1:45 AM: Live performance by Tommyboy & Chalice
Until 3:00 AM: DJ Lauri Täht
TOMMYBOY & CHALICE
Tommyboy and Chalice (Jarek Kasar) have been making music and performing live together since the early 2000s, over 20 years now. In 2010, they founded Superbandiit Records, a label born out of the idea to release their own and their friends' music and to offer listeners a different sound than what had been available in Estonia until then. When asked why not only hip-hop, the answer is simple – both have always been driven by experimentation and the search for new, fresh sounds. Since rap is inherently a genre of borrowing through sampling, it seemed unnecessarily limiting to stick to just one genre.
Chalice/Jarek Kasar is perhaps the best example of how a young rapper has evolved over a couple of decades into a nationally recognized and acclaimed singer, producer, and performer. His deeply personal creations and passionate performances have made him a sought-after artist across all Estonian-speaking areas. Tommyboy has been one of the pioneers of Estonian rap since the scene's emergence in the early 90s. His songs mainly focus on social issues, relationships, and love. Without love, there is no hope for anyone. At this joint concert, they will revive some of the tracks they’ve made together over the years, and as always, "the world’s #1" DJ Kayoti will be behind the decks.
DJ LAURI TÄHT
Lauri first got behind the turntables in 2001. His first purchased records were in the hip-hop genre, but a few years later, funk and jazz vinyls were added to the collection. A greater interest in turntablism brought Lauri together with Estonian hip-hop cult groups such as Kuuluud, Gorõ Lana, Noizmakaz, and 5Miinust. Since 2008, he has also been a tour DJ for Reket, performing in Ukraine, France, and Australia. DJ Lauri Täht has also been involved in radio, with his show "Tähetund" starting in 2015 on Raadio 2 and now airing on Ida internet radio.
NKN
NKN is an underground rap group that plays in various genres. The group's lyrics tackle everyday life and social issues with clever wordplay. Over three years of work, NKN has released 11 albums and a critically acclaimed vinyl collection, 'VINÜÜL 1'. For visual enthusiasts, there are also music videos, the latest of which is 'PEATUS' directed by Henrik Vaher.
Exhibition 'Photo Synthesis'
Shepard Fairey's solo exhibition unfolds the artist's captivating world, transcending the conventional boundaries of street art to embody powerful symbols of activism and social thought. The central theme of the exhibition is the role of photography in Fairey's artistic journey – much of his work is closely intertwined with photography, enriched by various artistic techniques such as graphic design, illustration, painting, and masterful printmaking, including relief and silk screen printing.
The exhibition features over 200 works and will remain open until March 2025.