Pärnu art museum opens international Magic Forest exhibition

An international illustration exhibition titled Magic Forest opened on October 10 at Pärnu’s New Art Museum, ERR reported. It features works by 18 Estonian artists and 31 artists from 14 other countries.

The exhibition explores the forest’s enduring appeal: it can be both frightening and inviting, and, the accompanying text says, every person has their own forest and every forest its own magic.

The text also draws on traditional Estonian beliefs, describing the forest as a source of shelter, food and protection. In old stories, the Forest Old Man tested the kindness and fairness of woodcutters and hunters, rewarding them with a way home or unexpected riches.

The Estonian artists are Regina Lukk-Toompere, Anne Linnamägi, Catherine Zarip, Piret Mildeberg, Jüri Mildeberg, Piret Niinepuu-Kiik, Katrin Ehrlich, Ulla Saar, Kadi Kurema, Urmas Viik, Kadri Ilves, Anne Pikkov, Kertu Sillaste, Tuulike Kivestu-Rotella, Kristi Kangilaski, Kaia Rähn, Viive Noor and Marja-Liisa Plats.

Artists from abroad include Virpi Talvitie of Finland; Ana Juan, Ignasi Blanch, Josep Antoni Tàssies and Laura Pérez Granel of Spain; Rebeka Luciani of Argentina; Judith Clay, Olaf Hajek and Stefanie Harjes of Germany; Hanna Karaleva of Austria; Martin Jarrie of France; Joanna Concejo of Poland; Lena Revenko and Natalie Pudalov of Israel; Gundega Muzikante, Anita Paegle, Aleksejs Naumovs, Arta Ozola-Jaunaraja, Gita Treice and Anda Strautniece of Latvia; Glenda Sburelin, Andrea Calisi, Daniela Costa, Daniela Iride Murgia, Matteo Gubellini, Anna Forlati and Sergio Olivotti of Italy; Marius Jonutis of Lithuania; João Vaz de Carvalho of Portugal; Alefes Silva of Colombia; and Natalia Mirzoian of Armenia.

The exhibition runs until November 15, 2026.