UltraMarine

51 artists from Estonia, Europe, US, Australia and Asia are invited to show their work in a century old shipyard. UltraMarine exhibition will be accompanied by an 80-page catalogue which will be published for the opening of the exhibition. 

The exhibition is initiated by four fellow jewellery artist: Merle Kasonen, Julia Maria Künnap, Maarja Niinemägi and Kertu Tuberg.

UltraMarine is part of the programme of the European Capital of Culture Tallinn 2011.

UltraMarine as a word derivates from Latin ultra + marinus and means ’over the sea’ or ’beyond the sea’.
Ultramarine is a fiery blue pigment extracted from lapis lazuli, one of the oldest precious stones used in jewellery for thousands of years. Lapis lazuli or lazurite was imported to Europe from Middle Asia by sea via Venice, hence the name ’beyond the sea’.
Ultramarine was a rare and valuable colorant, as expensive as gold leaf because of its remote origin and complex production process. Medieval masters often used that exotic pigment for the uppermost colour layer only. Sometimes just the robes of Virgin Mary and li’l Jesus were painted using the priceless blue.
UltraMarine is a solo sailor’s route across the sea, an artist’s dialogue with a material that takes place while she works at her desk. One can spy a knowing smile on the countenance of she who has arrived at her destination – for the joy of surpassing oneself is the greatest pleasure of all. A co-conspirator knows the feeling well. The sea unites; the land divides.

UltraMarine is bluer than the sea.