Kumu’s First Children’s Art Exhibition
Text Susanna Poikela Photos Art Museum of Estonia
Olga Terri (1916–2011). Tu and Fairytales. 1963. Oil on canvas. Art Museum of Estonia
Starting Friday, 17 October, Kumu will host the exhibition “Tu and Minakaru”, created especially for children. This playful exhibition expands on the permanent exhibition “Landscapes of Identity: Estonian Art 1700–1945” and invites visitors to explore, along with the characters Tu and Minakaru, how art reflects who we are, and helps us to better understand ourselves and others.
The exhibition features over 30 works from the collections of the Art Museum of Estonia. It includes paintings by beloved artists such as Johann Köler, Paul Raud, Karl Pärsimägi, Konrad Mägi, and Olga Terri, as well as sculptures by prominent Estonian sculptors like Jaan Koort and Ferdi Sannamees, and contemporary sculptor Edith Karlson. Children from the Kumu Art Studio were involved in selecting the artworks.
“For twenty years, Kumu’s education department has organised hundreds of lessons and public events, created activity zones and worksheets for exhibitions, but a dedicated exhibition for children had not yet been realised. Now that big dream has finally come true,” says Anu Lüsi, curator of Kumu’s education programmes.
“Although the exhibition’s main target group is younger schoolchildren, we of course welcome all children and adults. We’re happy that this exhibition allows us to showcase many interesting works from the Art Museum of Estonia’s collection,” adds Darja Andrejeva, curator of the painting collection at the Art Museum of Estonia, and co-curator of the exhibition.
The entire exhibition is built at a child’s eye level. The multi-layered space offers opportunities to move around and experience the art from above and below, near and far, standing and lying down. While exploring the exhibition, visitors can also fill out a MINAPASS—a themed activity booklet related to the artworks and topics.
From 18 to 26 October, daily family events will be held: exhibition tours, joint MINAPASS adventures, and themed workshops in Kumu’s education department, where participants can create a personal crown, draw a self-portrait, and much more.
The exhibition “Tu and Minakaru” will be open until autumn 2027. It was created for Kumu’s 20th anniversary in 2026, so that the milestone can be celebrated with children.
To learn more about this and similar topicsArt Art Exhibitions Art Exhibitions in Tallinn children’s events events Exhibitions Kumu with children in Tallinn
