“Songs of the Sea” by Teresa Gruber
Opening: 18.10.2025, 6 – 9 pm

roam projects
Lindenstraße 91
10969 Berlin

During her research on Estonian culture and traditions, Regilaul especially caught her attention. She was drawn to the deeply rooted tradition of these songs, passed down from generation to generation – sometimes about cyclical transformational processes in nature, sometimes about mythological imagery, but also about daily life and the profane.

Structured in simple eight-syllable lines across four verses, it may seem simplistic, but it holds a quiet complexity. The monotonous singing, the repetition, the parallelism, and the centuries-old tradition of passing it down over many generations – within all of this seems to lie a distinctive power that is difficult to grasp.

From this exploration Gruber developed multilayered geometric objects during her KOOS art residency at Käesalu Art Centre, to create an analogy to the repeating structure of Regilaul phrases and lines. By assembling shapes in rhythmic geometric formations, verses are translated into a visual metaphor. At the end of her residency, she presented the exhibition „Whispering Willows“ at Käesalu Art Centre, created in collaboration with Sarah Epping. Afterwards, Teresa Gruber opened her solo exhibition, titled “Songs of the Sea” at TYPA Rõdugalerii in Tartu as a conclusion of the KOOS residency. 

For her series „Reflections on home“ artist Teresa Gruber was exploring places from her past and the memories related to it. The works are a reflection on the immediacy of her perception and actions as a child. An attempt to translate the vague feeling of memories into a physical form, to make them tangible and preserve them. She examines the concept of home – not only as a physical location but even more as an internal state of safety and belonging. 

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The residency’s name, KOOS translates to together—inspired by the richness of the Estonian language—also resonates on a political level, engaging with the complex shared history of Estonia and Germany. By transforming spaces such as the Käesalu manor house, once a symbol of German occupation, into vibrant cultural hubs, KOOS underscores the values of democracy, collaboration, and cultural diversity that lie at the heart of the European Union. 

The KOOS residency fosters sustainable artistic practice through international cultural exchange between Estonia and Germany. Dedicated to creating meaningful connections between local and international cultural scenes, KOOS is the result of long-term collaborations and a shared commitment to supporting artists and cultural protagonists of all kinds in extending their global reach. 

Organizers & Partners:
TYPA – Paper and Print Art Centre
Käesalu Art Center
Deutsch-Estnische Gesellschaft Berlin e.V.
MTÜ Eesti-Saksa Kunstikoostöö

Funded by:
German Embassy Tallinn
Estonian Cultural Endowment (KULKA)
LEADER Estonia, Lääne Harju Koostöökogu, EU ÜPP 2023-2027 Strateegiakava sekkumise „LEADER-kogukonna juhitud kohalik areng“ raames toetatud tegevused

Past Projects