Man & Woman: Robbing Europe
The exhibition "Man & Woman: Robbing Europe" is open at ENM until 10.12.2023.This summer's Pärnu New Art Museum's XXX international nude exhibition "Man & Woman" brought to life the violent love story of the main god Zeus of Ancient Greece with the Phoenician princess Europa. With the permission of the curator, we can also show a selection from this exhibition at ERM.
The ancient Greeks believed that their chief god, Zeus, was enamored of the Phoenician princess Europa. Zeus sent the princess a dream where two women were fighting over her. One was called East, the other West. God informed Europe that if Ida wins, the princess can stay in her homeland. However, if the West were to win, he would have to leave for the West.
Zeus soon found out that Europe did not want to leave his homeland. Zeus then decided to kidnap Europe. God turned himself into a white bull and went after Europa.
The white bull was so handsome that the princess lightly jumped on the animal's back. But it was not a fun ride, the bull immediately rushed into the waves. Poseidon came to Zeus' aid and turned the sea into a mirror. The violent God soon arrived in Crete, settled there with Europe and had children. Three sons were born.
And all the lands that remained west of Crete came to be called Europe...
The robbery of Europe as a beautiful adventure has been reflected in their works by Titian, Jacob Jordaens, Gillis Coignet, Rembrandt van Rijn, Paul Rubens, Jean-François de Troy, Félix Vallotton and many others. Estonian classics have been done by Ado Vabbe and Jüri Arrak.
In this exhibition, artists from Greece to Estonia and Puerto Rico reflect the romantic myth of Europe today. Just today, where Europe's survival depends on us, and which is a much sadder and bloodier story.
Mark Soosaar invited nearly 40 artists to Pärnu, ERM was selected with the work of 14 artists. Captain, Michalis Manousakis (Greece), Rafal Olbinski (Poland), Kalev Mark Kostabi (USA), Oleg Kharch (Ukraine), Meda Norbutaite, Algis Skačkauskas, Šarunas Sauka (Lithuania), Peter Diem (Netherlands), Enn Tegova, Peep Pedmanson, Lemme Haldre, Vira Takinada (Estonia)
Unfortunately, we cannot use museum paintings in the lobby.
"Let's look and think together about the fate and future of Europe!"
Mark Soosaar
Curator of the exhibition
Sponsors of the Pärnu exhibition: City of Pärnu, Cultural Endowment, Ministry of Culture, Embassy of the Republic of Poland, Embassy of Greece, Hotel Victoria, Jaanihanso.
The Pärnu exhibition was created in cooperation with Alma Gallery (Athens), Estonian Art Museum, Tartu Art Museum, Estonian Consumer Art and Design Museum and ERM.
