From 16 June, the Estonian Museum of Applied Arts and Design (ETDM) will be hosting Tanel Veenre’s exhibition “Bluebeard”, which presents the first ever display of masks created by this jewellery artist and versatile designer over the course of the past decade.

Laden with otherworldly details, Veenre’s masks have evolved from the accessories he has created for fashion runways. “The idea of creating masks was born from the desire to tell a story,” says Tanel Veenre. “Most of my masks were made for the stage, as part of my interest in enhancing the fashion message. Yet it would be wrong to call these masks merely decorative – they have too many layers and stories for that.”

As standalone works, the masks take on sculptural, free-form dimensions and are captivating in their autonomy. Taking on the form of surreal seahorse compositions, deconstructed cross-sections of Bolt scooters or lavish clusters of ear berries, these conceptual masks made of the most diverse materials excite the senses of both the wearer and the observer, immersing visitors to the ETDM gallery in a fairy-tale spectacle inspired by Bluebeard, the famous tale by Charles Perrault.

“The story of Bluebeard is impossible to forget. The beautiful gothic castle where terrible things happen. The fair lady who cannot scrape the blood off the key. Bluebeard remains a mystery … why did he do it?” says the artist explaining the link with the famous fairy tale.

Veenre is driven by a similar sense of defiance and curiosity as the tale’s characters. Doors do not frighten him: “On stage, the masks serve as carnival accessories, but within the exhibition space, separated from the world of fashion and models, they become portraits of spiritual beings. Murdered muses, lovers from other times in life. Now I am Bluebeard!”

The exhibition will remain open until 24 September.

Tanel Veenre (1977) is an Estonian artist and designer of international recognition. He completed his master’s degree in the Department of Jewellery and Blacksmithing at the Estonian Academy of Arts in 2005. Having participated in exhibitions already during his studies, Tanel Veenre has since displayed his work in numerous solo and group exhibitions both in Estonia and internationally. Veenre’s work has been featured in several books, and he has also curated exhibitions focusing on jewellery and fashion. He is both manager and designer for his own brand.

Tanel Veenre is a member of the Estonian Artists’ Association and the õhuLoss collective. Veenre has worked as a lecturer in jewellery departments in Estonia and abroad. He is also a long-time cultural critic and journalist. He has received numerous awards, including the SuperNoova Fashion Award in 2001 and 2003, the Kristjan Raud Prize in 2010, the Young Cultural Figure Award in 2012, the Estonian State Cultural Award in 2016, and the Golden Needle Estonian Fashion Design Award in 2019.

In addition to being featured in the ETDM collection, his works have also been acquired by various museums and numerous private collectors. Tanel Veenre is a leading figure within the Young Estonian Jewellery Foundation and a valuable contributor to the advancement of contemporary jewellery.

Exhibition design: Katrin Sipelgas
Graphic design: Margus Tamm
Photographer: Iris Kivisalu
Sponsors: Cultural Endowment of Estonia