Nude Photo Exhibition “Näitus nr. 7”

Text Stewart Johnson
Photo aktifoto.net

The photography exhibition “Näitus nr. 7” by Olavi Sõna is an art event in Tallinn that explores the human body, emotion, and visual storytelling through contemporary nude photography. The exhibition opens on 1 May at 18:00, and is held at Köieparadiis, at Tartu mnt 80j. There will be additional dates throughout May, but the opening event is free of charge, while later visits will cost a symbolic €5.

This exhibition represents the artist’s seventh major showcase, and brings together both new works and selected pieces from previous years. A central aspect of the exhibition is its focus on group compositions, where multiple people, sometimes up to twenty, appear within a single frame. These images are often created during specially organised sessions, resulting in layered visual narratives that combine individual stories into a shared composition.

A defining artistic element throughout the exhibition is the use of shibari, the Japanese art of rope bondage. In Sõna’s work, this is not presented as a purely physical or decorative practice, but rather as a visual and symbolic tool that frames themes such as control, vulnerability, trust, and release. The photographs use light, shadow, and form to emphasise these themes, turning the human body into both a subject and medium of expression.

The exhibition engages with a wide emotional spectrum. It explores human experiences including vulnerability, intimacy, tension, and self-discovery, while also highlighting beauty and connection. Some works are carefully staged, while others capture spontaneous, unfiltered moments, adding a sense of authenticity and immediacy. For many of the participants, the sessions represented a first encounter both with rope art, and with nude photography, which contributes to the honesty and depth of the images.

Due to its content, the exhibition is intended for adult audiences.

More information, and a sample of the artist’s works, can be found in Estonian here.

To learn more about this and similar topics
Events in Tallinn nude photography Olavi Sõna Photo Exhibition Photography shibari