The Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA) opened its graduation festival, Tase'26, on Wednesday, unveiling the winners of several awards for young creators, including the Young Artist, Young Designer, Young Applied Artist, and Part Horizons Residency awards. The festival's centerpiece is the EKA graduate exhibition, showcasing works from graduates across architecture, design, art and culture, and fine arts faculties. Notable winners include Odie Lap Chun Chow, who received the EKA and Part Horizons Residency Award for his interdisciplinary work combining ceramic casting, photography, and installation; Alice Kupri, who won the Young Applied Artist Scholarship at the bachelor's level for 'Only for Forgetting'; and August Joost, who received the Young Artist Scholarship at the bachelor's level for 'The Hollow Men.' The Tase'26 exhibition will remain open until June 19.
This event matters because it highlights the emerging talent nurtured by the Estonian Academy of Arts, a key institution in the Baltic art scene, and provides a platform for young artists, designers, and applied artists to gain recognition and launch their careers. The awards, including the Part Horizons Residency, offer tangible support for creative development, while the festival itself serves as a barometer for current trends in Estonian art education, from interdisciplinary practices to sustainability-focused design. By celebrating these young creators, the academy reinforces its role in shaping the future of visual arts and design in Estonia and beyond.