The Annual Award of the Estonian Landscape Architects' Union 2022
Author
Mark Grimitliht
Construction
Mark Grimitliht, Elina Tommik, Edwin Smagin, Andra Palla, Sander Kõiv, Elise-Irene Lensment, Sofia Robbe, Hanna Mia Sooman, Anna Maria Teras, Merili Aitsam, Mari Liis Aader, Marily Pern, Saskia Krautman, Karin Malm, Terke Kram, Meri-Ly Luik, Nicole Reitsakas, Liisa-Lotta Pahkma (Students of the Academy of Architecture and Urban Studies of Tallinn University of Technology)
Commissioned by
Estonian Association of Architects
Curators
Ljudmilla Georgijeva, Mae Köömnemägi
Total area
2222m2
Project and completed in
2021
Photos
Tõnu Tunnel

Näita kaardil
  765
TAGASI

The installation “Pausing to Consider” at the urban festival TURN! was minimalistic in nature. The work initiated a train of thought without giving the audience clear answers. This was the most provocative and controversial one of the three installations completed for the festival. At first, the implementation seemed technically very simple: just bring the tree stump ends and place them on the square. After some contemplation, the intricacies of the project transpired. We needed to find a compromise between safety and trust. We carefully considered all possible dangers accompanying tree stump ends placed on the main city square that every passer-by can easily relocate. Our projected horror images varied between either end of the vandalism scale but thanks to 24h security, nothing like that ever happened. Looking back, it was the technical complexity of the project that added another meaningful layer to the installation, allowing the passers-by to play with the pieces, build forts and ask, “How wild is a city dweller?”
Ljudmilla Georgijeva, Mae Köömnemägi, curators of TURN!

In the context of the installation “Pausing to Consider”, the Liberty Square in Tallinn was fitted 2999 tree stump ends to make us pause for a moment to think and thus extend the life cycle of timber. It allowed us to consider the fate of trees in our country, our superficial attitude to trees and their future prospect, or just to hang out there. After the installation, the stump ends were returned to their ordinary cycle.

The installation was a part of the urban art festival TURN! celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Estonian Association of Architects. The main theme of the festival curated by Ljudmilla Georgijeva and Mae Köömnemägi was green transition that in the broadest sense of the word aims at reversing the effects of the man-induced climate change. TURN! is a call to take notice of the spatial experience together with its implications and discuss the given topic. Each object is born out of some material creating a particular spatial environment. Creators of space bear considerable responsibility in leading the processes with a broader vision of the aims and possibilities – it is their task to direct the future perspective towards more qualitative environments and better use of resources. People perceiving the space have a similarly responsible task to notice the good or bad choices around them and take the time to stand up for good solutions.