On Thursday, November 28 at 6:00 PM, the Estonian premiere of Tanja Muravskaja’s monograph “Tanja’s Gardens” (Lugemik, 2023) will take place at the FOKU pop-up gallery (Väike-Karja 10, Tallinn).
Artist Tanja Muravskaja and art historian Elnara Taidre will be in conversation at the book presentation. Tanja Muravskaja’s first monograph introduces the artist’s work from 2005–2022. The book was published by Lugemik in 2023 and designed by Indrek Sirkel.
Several works exhibited in the book have acquired a new dimension after the war started by Russia in Ukraine. Amomg other works the book also reproduces the video Three Sisters (2015), one of the most recognized works by Muravskaja where two cousins, one from Ukraine and the other from Russia, express their views on the Maidan revolution and the annexation of Crimea. The third sister (the title refers to a play on words, as in Ukrainian and Russian cousins are also called sisters) in the artwork is the artist herself, hidden behind the camera.

Based in Estonia, located on the border of Europe, the Muravskaja has always witnessed the constant feeling of danger in her society. She has photographed the soldiers of the allied forces of NATO who sometimes gather for practice nearby the Russian border. Alongside them are Estonian boys and girls: the youth corps of the Estonian Defence League.

Tanja Muravskaja is an artist who lives and works in Tallinn, Estonia. Her work proceeds from an analytic approach and psychological observation – be it the psychology of an individual, society, or a place. In her artworks, she tackles topics such as identity and memory and relationships between society and its members. While being concentrated on photography, the medium’s qualities, and its agency in contemporary art, she creates installations that evolve into total environments and embrace the viewer.
Elnara Taidre is an art historian, critic and curator. She works as head of the graphic arts department at the Art Museum of Estonia.

170  × 230 mm
248 pp
Offset printing
Sewn binding with a dustjacket
In English
Graphic design: Indrek Sirkel
Paper: Arctic the Volume White 115g/130g, Munken Lynx 90g/300g
Typefaces: AG Schoolbook
Printed by Tallinn Book Printers
Supported by Cultural Endowment of Estonia
Edition of 400
Published by Lugemik
ISBN 978-9916-9817-3-3
2023