Crystal Grid

[...] How to give structure to something that itself is lacking one? How to present something like that? This is a question of visibility and making visible. What are the means for making visible something that always remains invisible? More precisely: the thing that remains invisible in real life, but of which we can get a glimpse in “Crystal Grid”, is the structure of capitalism. But how to display something like that?—Neeme Lopp Paul Kuimet’s new book presents two series by the artist– “Crystal Grid” (2020–2023) and an ensuing series of assemblages “What It Is to Be What You Are Not (2022).” The works are connected by a set of geometric shapes from a grid that is based on the roof structure of the central transept of the Crystal Palace, erected for the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. While the photographic material of the “Crystal Grid” collages has been photographed in different botanical gardens around the world, the assemblages of the “What It Is to Be What You Are Not” series use images exposed to light-sensitive paper in the darkness of a photo lab together with leaves collected in the Tallinn Botanic Garden. Juxtaposed, the works raise different questions about the notions of place, form and representation in photography. Paul Kuimet is an artist who works with photography, 16 mm film, and installation comprising of these media. He has recently exhibited at Tartu Art Museum (2023), 8th Artishok Biennale at Tallinn Botanic Garden (2022), WIELS Project Space, Brussels (2021), FUGA: Budapest Centre of Architecture (2021), KogoGallery, Tartu (2020), and Tallinn Art Hall (2020)