The eleventh edition of the art fair Foto Tallinn, held from September 6th to 8th at Kai Art Center, attracted around a thousand art enthusiasts to Tallinn, with a record number of artworks finding new owners. As part of the event, a production stipend was awarded, and a renewable energy and clean-tech innovation company acquired pieces from the Foto Tallinn 2024 collection to highlight the value of investing in art and to encourage businesses and organizations to expand their contemporary art collections.
This year’s edition of Estonia’s only art fair, originally launched in 2010, showcased the best in global contemporary photography during the first weekend of September at Kai Art Center. Featuring works by 35 artists, the fair included seven participating galleries and a special presentation of contemporary Ukrainian photography titled Essential Goods. The event’s dynamic public program offered eight guided tours, three panel discussions, short lectures and conversations, pop-up talks with the artists, and an artist film program curated by FOKU, which included several premieres.
Kadi-Ell Tähiste, the main organizer of Foto Tallinn, noted that the three-day fair attracted around a thousand visitors, consistent with previous editions. However, she emphasized a noticeable increase in both awareness and interest in the medium. “Foto Tallinn is always delighted to welcome art enthusiasts, but this edition stood out for the audience’s deep interest and engagement compared to previous years. This was also evident in the number of artworks sold,” she added. A total of 40 works by 19 artists were sold, marking a 20% increase compared to the last edition.
To emphasize the value of collecting contemporary photographic art, the renewable energy and clean-tech company Sunly acquired four artworks for their collection: Ruudu Ulas „CMYK“, Riina Varol „Voyage X“, David Fathi „Feedback Loop XXXIV“ and Flo Kasearu „Violence Grows in Silence III“ (produced in collaboration with Hedi Jaansoo).
In partnership with Artproof, a production stipend was awarded to Estonian artist and FOKU member Birgit Püve. “The Foto Tallinn and Artproof stipend is not an award with just a monetary value, but a production grant that supports the creation of a new series for the fair. This year, Birgit Püve’s captivating and remarkable series was chosen,” said Taavi Rekkaro, Artproof’s board member. “It’s important to note that Foto Tallinn’s overall selection was of exceptional quality, and if possible, we would have loved to select even more recipients,” he added.
Foto Tallinn is a biannual international art fair that presents the latest in contemporary photography, creating an opportunity to see, buy and collect photographic art selected by a professional jury and to meet artists and industry professionals. Foto Tallinn 2024 participants: Agate Tūna (LV | ISSP Gallery), Ana Vallejo (CO/US | PUNCTUM), András Ladocsi (HU/FR), Birgit Püve (EE), Charles Thiefaine (FR/IQ), Daniel Wagener (LU/BE | Valerius Gallery), Daria Svertilova (UA/FR | Contemporary Ukrainian photography), David Fathi (FR | PUNCTUM), Devashish Gaur (IN), Diana Tamane (LV/EE), Elena Subach (UA | Contemporary Ukrainian photography), Eve Kiiler (EE | FOKU), Flo Kasearu (EE | Temnikova & Kasela Gallery), Heikki Leis (EE | Kogo Gallery), Ivar Veermäe (EE/DE | FOKU), Jean Vincent Simonet (FR/CH), Joosep Kivimäe (EE | FOKU), Krista Mölder (EE | Temnikova & Kasela Gallery), Kristina Õllek (EE | Tütar Gallery), Kristīne Krauze Slucka (LV | ISSP Gallery), Léa Habourdin (FR | PUNCTUM), Maria Di Stefano (IT), Maria Kapajeva (EE/UK), Paul Kuimet (EE), Ritsch Sisters (AT/US), Rebekka Deubner (DE/FR), Riina Varol (EE), Ruudu Ulas (EE/UK/DE), Sander Coers (NL), Sarah van Rij (FR/NL), Sasha Kurmaz (UA | Contemporary Ukrainian photography), Tomas Raul Aphalo (FI/AR), Triin Kerge (EE/IT), Valentin Joseph Valette (TN), Vasylyna Vrublevska (UA/FR | Contemporary Ukrainian photography).
Foto Tallinn 2024 curator was Isabella van Marle, and the jury members were the Executive Director and board member of the Estonian Contemporary Art Development Center (ECADC) and Artistic Director of Kai Art Center Karin Laansoo, Senior Editor of the US-based photography platform Aperture, Brendan Embser and the Founder and Artistic Director of Bologna-based PhMuseum and PhMuseum Days International Photography Festival Giuseppe Oliverio.
The fair is organized by Foto Tallinn, the Estonian Union of Photography Artists and the Estonian Contemporary Art Development Center. Main organizers of Foto Tallinn are Kadi-Ell Tähiste and Helen Melesk.
Estonia’s only art fair is supported by Artproof, the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, DHL Express, Sunly, Tallinn Culture & Sports Department and co-funded by the European Union.