Jaak Kadarik’s photogram exhibition “The Laboratory of Mental Notation” will be on view at Artrovert Gallery (Ristiku 10, Tallinn; open Tue–Sat 12:00–18:00) until 28 February.
The Laboratory of Mental Notation approaches the photographic process as a metaphor for human consciousness. Through the concept of exposure, Kadarik presents photography not merely as a technical tool but as a perceptual and spiritual experience, where play, experimentation, and alert presence replace solemn seriousness. In photography, exposure refers to the act of light affecting a light-sensitive material in order to record an image. In Kadarik’s practice, this notion expands into sensory flashes—moments when perception awakens and begins to notice.
The works are created on half-century-old photographic paper produced in the Soviet Union. The models include century-old museum objects from the Mahtra Peasant Museum (scythes, sickles) and the Järvakandi Glass Museum (chemical laboratory glassware). The compositions also incorporate illuminated elements from the work of glass artist Eero Vaikre, as well as botanical ornamentation, children’s playroom objects, musical instruments, sewing machines, and other unexpected items. In this way, Kadarik moves beyond documentary practice toward broader generalizations that touch upon the intersections of the unconscious, consciousness, and science.
Jaak Kadarik (1957) is an Estonian photographer and amateur filmmaker who has been active since the 1980s. He has worked as both a technical and creative photographer in various companies, in journalism, and in museums, has freelanced extensively, and has held nearly thirty solo exhibitions. His work has illustrated fiction and poetry, and in addition to photography he has engaged in video art and painting. Kadarik is also a founding member of the Estonian photographers’ group Igavesti Sinu.
Read more on the exhibitions page of the Artrovert Gallery website.
