On April 26, Tanel Veenre presented his latest series, “Tæwas,” in the atrium of Kumu Art Museum. As part of the layered and performative event, no fewer than five distinctive jewellery and fashion collections were unveiled. And as far as we know, the show was record-breaking in its own way — has anyone ever staged a fashion show with flying models before?
Farewell, gravity!
Tanel Veenre is a storyteller, and a conventional catwalk is not his format. In the atrium of Kumu Art Museum, models entered into a battle with gravity with the help of trampolines. As a result, dancers from the Estonian National Ballet—Anna Roberta, Anne-Sophie Marjeram, Ashley Chiu, Caroline Hamilton, Mia Katrina Lill, João Xavier, Ellinor Piirimäe, and Oscar Pouchoulin—floated high in the air wearing cloud-like headpieces and celestial silks. Their footwear, designed for takeoff, was provided by Nike.
The concept of the performance grew organically out of the silk series “Tæwas,” whose central motif is clouds. The collection is a tribute to the Estonian sky—an expanse above us, whether we are at home or far away in the world. The sky as infinity, as the possibility for thought to move freely and take flight.
Atlas of Silk Clouds
Last winter, Tanel Veenre always kept a ready-to-shoot camera on the table in his home studio. Whenever he spotted interesting clouds, he would rush outside to capture them in a frame. Clouds as perfect chance—caught in the moment and never to be repeated in time.
The performance unfolded over the course of a full day and night: from crisp early morning clouds, through a clear blue sky, all the way to a blazing sunset and ink-black night clouds. With his saxophone, Karl Tipp conjured sonic clouds.
The cloud imagery was translated by Tanel into garment patterns (always following a zero-waste principle!), resulting in dresses, caftans, jackets, and blouses. The models’ heads were surrounded by tulle clouds. Heads in the clouds, feet on the ground.
A Kaftan Waterfall Inspired by Aili Vint
The second star of the evening was the Estonian art classic Aili Vint. She served as the muse for a fashion installation of 18 sun-pleated robes suspended in the atrium of Kumu Art Museum.
One of the roots of Tanel’s sense of color likely traces back to a childhood copy of Aili Vint’s notebook, worn into frayed corners: “Yellow in Blue Like a Sun in the Sky.” It inspired the creation of a cohesive whole that unites color and the movement of the sun.
Aili was also Tanel’s lecturer at the Estonian Academy of Arts—an igniter of creative impulses, a playfully rule-breaking presence, and a sparkling-eyed role model. In this way, Aili occasionally drifts through his thoughts like a vivid ghost of color.
The installation at Kumu was also a playful anniversary tribute to Aili Vint, who turned 85 on April 25. And true to her free spirit, it was she who gave a gift to the audience: one of her graphic works was raffled among the visitors.
Tanel Veenre made a grateful bow to everyone who came to Kumu Art Museum to celebrate this explosion of color and sky-bound joy.
It was a delight to see more than 300 invited guests taking part in Tanel’s jewellery guessing game, adding their own interpretations next to the pieces.
Many thanks to Anora for the “language sauce,” and to Fazer for the marmalade pearls. From the latter, Tanel even created an edible, sunset-toned marmalade painting.
The dancers’ makeup was done by Reet Härmat (with thanks to Germaine de Capuccini), and the technical production was created by Frank Tehnika. Special thanks also go to the Estonian Cultural Endowment for its support.
Warm thanks for the photographs to Veljo Poom, Maria Mäeots, Viktor Burkivski, and Kreete Kits.
Deep gratitude to Cristopher Siniväli, who directed the entire evening technically, and to Elena Eftodi, who assisted in the studio.
Thanks to Hannes, Aldo, Anneliis, and Anti—his core team.
A heartfelt thank you to the lovely assistants Margaret, Marin, Ralf Oskar, and Johan Marcus.
A bow to Kumu Art Museum (and especially Ketlin).
And finally, thank you to Rita, who sewed almost all of this silk.
