Keiu Krikmann, Aleksandra Kiskonen and Ellen Vene to start working at Estonian, Finnish and Nordic Pavilions at the 58th Venice biennial

The partners of the Nordic-Baltic Curatorial Research Programme (NBC) announce the participants of the exhibition assistant exchange programme 2019: Keiu Krikmann, Aleksandra Kiskonen and Ellen Vene who will start working at three national pavilions at the 58th Venice Biennale. The participants were selected via an open call that received 58 applications.

Keiu Krikmann (1988) who will be  working with the Nordic Pavilion team, is an Estonian curator, writer and translator. She  has previously worked at the Estonian Academy of Arts gallery as gallerist-programme manager (2016–2018) and has taught courses in 20th and 21st century design theory of  at the Estonian Academy of Arts. Keiu is also a programme manager at the  Tallinn Applied Art Triennial and coordinator and and curator at the online project space Konstanet.

Aleksandra Kiskonen (1986) will be working  with the Estonian Pavilion team. Aleksandra is a writer, curator and researcher based in Helsinki. She is pondering on friendship, feminism, public engagement and questions related to ecology. Currently she is working in Trophic Verses, an artistic exploration by artist Teemu Lehmusruusu into the life and phenomena in and around soil. Additionally, she produces the ongoing project Patsastellaan – Parties for public Sculpture. Aleksandra holds a PhD in Law (2015, University of Turku), Bachelor of Arts in Aesthetics (2016, University of Helsinki) and is enrolled in the Praxis Master´s Programme (Exhibition Studies) at the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki.

Ellen Vene (1990) will be working at the Finnish Pavilion. She is an Estonian artist and event manager and  has previously worked at the studios of Merike Estna and Donna Huanca. She is organising Mägede Hääl festival, has worked as programme manager and co-owner of Lekker club.

The NBC partners are the Center for Contemporary Arts, EstoniaFrame Contemporary Art Finland, and CRIS, The Nordic Art Association, Sweden. The Exhibition Assistant Exchange Programme is an opportunity for emerging curators and art professionals to gain work experience and be part of preparing and producing a major art event. The programme offers paid internship opportunities for young art professionals and promotes co-operation between the Nordic and Baltic countries. The programme lasts for three years, the next assistant exchange programme open call will be announced in 2020. The programme is supported by Nordic Culture Point.

NBC assistants 2019 (from left): Aleksandra Kiskonen, Ellen Vene, Keiu Krikmann. Photo: Kent Märjamaa