Jaanus Samma
Jaanus Samma is a visual artist from Estonia. His body of work includes photos, installations and videos with topics that have been grounded in the study of urban space and the subjective experiences of it. Over the years his interests have moved towards gender studies investigating into the representation of male sexuality and ways of portraying this by artistic means.
His fields of interest include history, ethnography and museology as well as the narratives used at the intersection of the three. In queering national heritage, he has found ways of broadening the perspectives on identity formation and offered alternative ways of contextualising the past. Samma’s practice relies on fieldwork – interviews and archive research – to produce subjective artistic output based on his findings.
Samma is currently taking part in the DAAD residency program, Berlin. In 2015, he represented Estonia at the 56th Venice Biennale with his project “NSFW. A Chairman’s Tale”. In 2013, he was awarded the Köler Prize by the Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia.
Samma’s recent solo exhibitions include "Elisarion" with Elisar von Kupffer, Kumu Art Museum, Tallinn (2024), "Iron Men" curated by Krist Gruijthuijsen in EKKM, Tallinn (2023); "Still Lifes on National Motifs" in Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design (2022); "Otherness, Desire, the Vernacular" with Carlos Motta in Temnikova & Kasela Gallery, Tallinn (2021); "Museum Display", CFAlive, Milan, "Outhouse by the Church”, curated by Eugenio Viola, Nomas Foundation, Rome (2018); "Sõnumid – Viestejä", The Aine Art Museum, Tornio (2018); "Dialogue. Mare Vint and Jaanus Samma", KUMU Art Museum, Tallinn (2017–2018); “Not Suitable For Work. A Chairman’s Tale”, curated by Eugenio Viola, Museum of Occupations, Tallinn (2016); “Unrest", Gotlands Konstmuseum (2015) and "The Hair Sucks Sweater Shop", Tallinn Art Hall Gallery (2014).
His works have been featured in group exhibitions including "As Though We Hid the Sun in a Sea of Stories", HKW, Berlin, 34th Ljubljana Biennale of Graphic Arts, Slovenia (2023); Survival Kit 14 Long-distance Friendships, Riga (2023); 14th Kaunas Biennial, Momentum 12, Galleri F 15, Moss (2023); Art in the Age of the Anthropocene, Kumu Art Museum, Tallinn (2022); The Latvian Collection, Malmö Art Museum (2022); "and suddenly it all blossoms", The 2nd Riga International Biennial of Contemporary Art curated by Rebecca Lamarche-Vadel “There and Back Again. Contemporary art from the Baltic Sea region”, Kiasma, Helsinki (2018-2019); “The State is not a Work of Art”, curated by Katerina Gregos, Tallinn Art Hall (2018); "Queerly Classed", curated by Yevgeniy Fiks and Olga Kopenkina, Franklin Street Works, Connecticut (2017); “Masters Peasants Peasants Masters”, BWA Sokól, Nowy Sacz (2016); “Kunstnerbøger – Vildt Voksende”, Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen (2016); “Is This the Museum That We Wanted?”, Tartu Art Museum (2014); “Corporal Punishment”, Contemporary Art Museum of Estonia, Tallinn (2012); “Untold Stories”, Tallinn Art Hall (2011) and Luleå Art Biennial (2009)
Selected works
View: ,![4816.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/4816.t1.jpg?v=1714925668)
Portrait of a Hero
installation 130×50cm 2023
![4816.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/4816._.jpg?v=1714925668)
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Sons of Kalev
silkscreen 66×66cm 2022
![4527.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/4527._.jpg?v=1714056059)
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Jockstrap with a Black Waistband
screenprint 65×65cm 2021
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Jockstrap with a Red Waistband
screenprint 65×65cm 2021
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Personal Mythology
pictorial rug, wool 170×120cm 2021
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Pattern no 15
crayon, Indian ink 21×21cm 2020
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Pattern no 9
crayon, Indian ink, watercolour 21×21cm 2020
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Pattern no 10
crayon, Indian ink, framed 21×21cm 2020
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Pattern no 12
crayon, watercolour 21×21cm 2020
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Pieces of Antiquity
marble 12×5×5cm 2020
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Pieces of Antiquity
marble 12×6×6cm 2020
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Pieces of Antiquity
marble 10×6×6cm 2020
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Pieces of Antiquity
marble 10×5×5cm 2020
![3488.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/3488._.jpg?v=1639063372)
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Reconstructed Histories. Belts
handwoven belts, background textile manufactured by Sindi Broadcloth Factory 93×123cm 2019
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Reconstructed Histories. Mittens, Stockings
handwoven tapestry, background textile manufactured by Sindi Broadcloth Factory 93×123cm 2019
![3158.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/3158._.jpg?v=1652435500)
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Museum Display (Stargazing). Dairy Utensils
watercolour, pigment print 63×41×20cm 2019
![3160.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/3160._.jpg?v=1709131627)
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Museum Display (Stargazing). Mittens, Stockings, Birchbark Shoes
watercolour, pigment print 63×41×20cm 2019
![3204.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/3204._.jpg?v=1709131666)
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Museum Display (Stargazing). Section of the Antiquities Hall
watercolour, pigment print 63×41×20cm 2019
![3205.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/3205._.jpg?v=1688632332)
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Collection of Toilet Pulls IV
porcelain toilet pulls, showcase 91×91×5cm 2018
![2521.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/2521._.jpg?v=1709131695)
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Collection of Toilet Pulls II
porcelain toilet pulls, showcase 117×117×5cm 2018
![2523.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/2523._.jpg?v=1709131715)
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Collection of Toilet Pulls III
porcelain toilet pulls, showcase 91×91×9cm 2018
![2522.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/2522._.jpg?v=1616065443)
![1948.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1948.t1.jpg?v=1693385811)
Flaminio Station I
digital print, ceramic tiles, metal frame, rubber toilet pulls, chains 178×121cm 2017
![1948.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1948._.jpg?v=1693385811)
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Flaminio Station II
digital print, ceramic tiles, metal frame, rubber toilet pulls, chains 178×121cm 2017
![1949.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1949._.jpg?v=1713436948)
![1850.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1850.t1.jpg?v=1706790453)
Study of a Squat Toilet I, from series "Study of a Toilet"
collage, ink, paper 34×25cm 2016
![1850.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1850._.jpg?v=1706790453)
![1851.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1851.t1.jpg?v=1595603362)
Study of a Sink, from series "Study of a Toilet"
collage, ink, paper 34×25cm 2016
![1851.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1851._.jpg?v=1595603362)
![3125.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/3125.t1.jpg?v=1712737344)
Study of a Soap Dispenser from series "Study of a Toilet"
ink, paper, collage 34×25cm 2018
![3125.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/3125._.jpg?v=1712737344)
![3123.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/3123.t1.jpg?v=1707216764)
Study of a Squatty Potty from series "Study of a Toilet"
ink, paper, collage 34×25cm 2018
![3123.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/3123._.jpg?v=1707216764)
![1333.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1333.t1.jpg?v=1594748446)
Swimming Pools 2. No 12
photo on foam board embroidered with plastic and stone sequins, wooden frame 17×25cm 2015
![1333.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1333._.jpg?v=1594748446)
![1331.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1331.t1.jpg?v=1594748459)
Swimming Pools 2. No 11
photo on foam board embroidered with glass bugle beads, wooden frame 17×25cm 2015
![1331.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1331._.jpg?v=1594748459)
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Swimming Pools 2. No 14
photo on foam board embroidered with cup sequins and glass beads, wooden frame 17×25cm 2015
![1332.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1332._.jpg?v=1594748472)
![1432.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1432.t1.jpg?v=1594748495)
Swimming Pools 2. No 18
photo on foam board embroidered with glass bugle beads and crystal beads, wooden frame 17×25cm 2016
![1432.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1432._.jpg?v=1594748495)
![491.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1432.imgs.491._.jpg?v=1594748495)
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![952.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/952.t1.jpg?v=1706873648)
3.50 from series "A Chairman's Tale"
pigment print, edition of 5 120×92cm 2015
![952.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/952._.jpg?v=1706873648)
![2919.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/952.imgs.2919._.jpg?v=1706873648)
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Trial #1 from series "A Chairman's Tale"
pigment print, edition of 5 120×92cm 2015
![954.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/954._.jpg?v=1707083669)
![2920.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/954.imgs.2920._.jpg?v=1707083669)
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Trial #2 from series "A Chairman's Tale"
pigment print, edition of 5 120×92cm 2015
![955.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/955._.jpg?v=1706873433)
![953.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/953.t1.jpg?v=1707213699)
Public Toilet from series "A Chairman's Tale"
pigment print, edition of 5 120×92cm 2015
![953.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/953._.jpg?v=1707213699)
![956.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/956.t1.jpg?v=1706873688)
Trial #3 from series "A Chairman's Tale"
pigment print, edition of 5 120×92cm 2015
![956.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/956._.jpg?v=1706873688)
![957.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/957.t1.jpg?v=1706873728)
Trial #4 from series "A Chairman's Tale"
pigment print, edition of 5 120×92cm 2015
![957.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/957._.jpg?v=1706873728)
![1034.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1034.t1.jpg?v=1614260506)
Trial from series "A Chairman's Tale", video still
video 2015
![1034.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1034._.jpg?v=1614260506)
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Public Toilet from series "A Chairman's Tale", video still
video 2015
![1032.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1032._.jpg?v=1614260420)
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3.50 from series "A Chairman's Tale", video still
video 2015
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Forensic Medical Examination from series "A Chairman's Tale", video still
video 2015
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From series “The Hair Sucks Sweater Shop"
hand knitted, mohair, silk, cotton 2015
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![1070.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1070.t1.jpg?v=1512575191)
Sweater from series “The Hair Sucks Sweater Shop"
hand knitted, mohair, silk, size - S 2015
![1070.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1070._.jpg?v=1512575191)
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From series “The Hair Sucks Sweater Shop"
hand knitted, cotton, size - M 2015
![1068.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1068._.jpg?v=1512575176)
![1064.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1064.t1.jpg?v=1702650243)
Fags (pink on gray) from series “The Hair Sucks Sweater Shop"
hand knitted, wool, cotton, size - L 2015
![1064.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1064._.jpg?v=1702650243)
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Yeah! Yeah! from series “The Hair Sucks Sweater Shop"
hand knitted, size L 2015
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Insert your ... from “The Hair Sucks Sweater Shop"
hand knitted, silk, linen, size - L 2015
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Chairman. The Opera
pigment print, framed, edition 5+2 ap 50×75cm 2013
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"A Cow" from series AAFAGC (Applied Art for a Gay Club)
aluminum composite 40×60cm 2011
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"Hunt" from series AAFAGC (Applied Art for a Gay Club)
aluminum composite 60×40cm 2011
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"A Cow II" from series AAFAGC (Applied Art for a Gay Club)
aluminum composite 40×60cm 2011
![1043.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1043._.jpg?v=1594748754)
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"Mowing" from series AAFAGC (Applied Art for a Gay Club)
aluminum composite 40×60cm 2011
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"On the Sea I" from series AAFAGC (Applied Art for a Gay Club)
aluminum composite 40×60cm 2011
![1052.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1052._.jpg?v=1594748790)
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"On the Sea II" from series AAFAGC (Applied Art for a Gay Club)
aluminum composite 40×60cm 2011
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"Plowing" from series AAFAGC (Applied Art for a Gay Club)
aluminum composite 40×60cm 2011
![1056.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1056._.jpg?v=1594748835)
![1051.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1051.t1.jpg?v=1433754326)
"Sawing" from series AAFAGC (Applied Art for a Gay Club)
aluminum composite 60×40cm 2011
![1051.{$ext}](/axs_site/content/module.art/1051._.jpg?v=1433754326)