Vano Allsalu's solo exhibition "Selected Constraints"

On 23 July at 6:00 PM, the painter Vano Allsalu will open his solo exhibition Selected Constraints (curated by Liisi Kõuhkna) at the Draakon Gallery, which can be seen as a continuation of his 2014 exhibition Motive at the same gallery. Undoubtedly, both the artist and the world have changed during this time, yet the questions of (artistic) freedom, the artist's message and motivation remain relevant.

The recurring themes in Vano Allsalu's practice range from the forces of nature to mythological constructions and states of mind, addressing, on one hand, the intimately personal, and offering, on the other, interpretations of both the cultural and social fields. In his work, the artist relies on the mental threads underlying the visible image structure, the connections between visual and verbal material, as well as the emergence of meaning at the boundary between the abstract and the figurative. In the exhibition Motive, which took place twelve years ago, Allsalu focused on the connections between motivation and the depicted subject matter: in Estonian the word "motiiv" means both motive and motif, naturally combining both words. Questions about the deeper understanding of creative freedom were also the focus of Allsalu's works in the recent exhibition Errare humanum est. Painting in the Age of Artificial Intelligence at the Galleri Duerr in Stockholm (curated by Stella Mõttus). Continuing his journey of self-reflection, the artist is once again challenging, and this time also purposefully narrowing, the boundaries of his freedom.

Vano Allsalu: „As an artist, I've always been completely free in terms of subject matter and form, as well as technique and colour. Lately, though, I've started to feel that this freedom has begun to limit me. So I've been exploring the problems and possibilities that come with it, deliberately introducing some constraints and rules. One could say that the paintings in this exhibition are, in a way, exercises in achieving less freedom. Among other things, I've been working with a more economical visual language and clearer contrasts, taking a critical look at complex forms while also bringing the simplest elements into play. Mental economy is mirrored in material economy: the exhibition also includes a painting made using only the leftover paint from the other works."

Liisi Kõuhkna: "Freedom in art is a broad concept. Theodor Adorno has written that the true power of art lies in its autonomy: it exists separately from the art market and challenges the dominant ideologies. According to Adorno, art is not a direct reflection of reality, but an expression of its tensions and contradictions, suggesting alternative ways of thinking and being. Physical, thematic and stylistic limitations on artistic creation can open up a new framework for one's creative practice. In the context of this exhibition, this can be seen as a functional philosophical concept, in which the stricter boundaries imposed by the artist have become an organic part of the artistic process.

Vano has said that his paintings are but mere documentations of his creative process. It is possible to step very close to the works and contemplate how many repeated gestures the artist has made, trying to guess how fast the works have been painted, and how many layers have been applied. I imagine myself in the artist's shoes, trying to envision how it would feel to make the same movements and how long it might take. How would I feel afterwards? The artworks have a strong physical and empirical presence. The colours seem to satisfy certain thirsts and appetites. Viewed up close, one can find fragments of nature, e.g. rays of light or different landscapes and weather.

Although the finished painting is ultimately a static object, the artist believes that his intellectual and emotional experiences encountered during the painting process are stored as layers and impressions that can later be retraced by a sensitive and curious eye. In this way, the exhibition Selected Constraints invites the viewer to also observe how the earlier layers of the artist's practice have acquired new meanings through his introspective experiments.

Throughout the exhibition, the works are accompanied by a sense of authenticity and respect that asks nothing of the viewer. Allsalu invites us on a visual journey of discovery: to ponder, speculate, stray and uncover. The artist's question can guide you on your way: "Can the temporary restriction of freedom – or any other benefit – serve as a healing form of fasting, or does it inevitably endanger the fundamental values we hold dear?"

Vano Allsalu (b. 1967) graduated from the Estonian Academy of Arts with a degree in painting and has since taught painting at the University of Tartu, the Estonian Academy of Arts and Sally Studio. Allsalu has been a member of the Estonian Artists' Association since 1992. From 2013 to 2019, he was the president of the Estonian Artists' Association and then its vice-president until 2025; he is also a member of the board of the Estonian Painters Association, the Council of the Art Museum of Estonia and the Pallas Council of Advisors. Vano Allsalu's works can be found in the collections of the Art Museum of Estonia, Tartu Art Museum, Akzo Nobel, the Bank of Estonia and the National Library of Estonia, as well as in several private collections in Estonia and abroad.

Location: Draakon Gallery, Pikk Street 18, Tallinn
Open to visitors: 24.07.–23.08.2026; Wed, Fri–Sun 12:00–18:00, Thu 12:00–19:00
Curator: Liisi Kõuhkna
Graphic design: Cristopher Siniväli
Exhibition installation: Hans-Otto Ojaste
Special thanks: Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Estonian Artist's Association, Draakon Gallery and Mari Volens.

Contacts:
Liisi Kõuhkna liisi.kouhkna@eaa.ee, 56665255
Vano Allsalu vano@kunstikeskus.ee, 5130555

The gallery is managed by the Estonian Artists' Association.
Exhibitions at Draakon Gallery are supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia, the Estonian Ministry of Culture, and Liviko AS.