Windsor Contemporary Art Fair

On 11-13th of November I will be showing my latest works at Windsor Contemporary Art Fair (http://www.windsorcontemporaryartfair.co.uk) at Royal Windsor Racecourse.

Exhibition in Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn is my hometown where I spent my childhood before Estonia became part of the EU. Therefore, I was very pleased to exhibit in the Old Town's tower together with two Estonian and two Belarusian artists and photographers. The exhibition is part of the International cultural project "Show Belarus - Show Europe" that fell on the events of Tallinn - European Capital of Culture 2011.

The exhibition takes place at the Hellemann tower gallery within its medieval walls on M??rivahe street. Until December 2011 Hellemann gallery represents my earliest works from the anti-trafficking theme (see previous posts about exhibition in London). Should you be interested in any of these paintings kindly contact gallery director Lea Adrikorn +372 56646598 to discuss further. Alternatively, contact me in the UK.

I'd like to thank Oleg Koltun for organising this exhibition... back home.

Art Symposium in Grobming, Austria

This art symposium was organized by Slovenian artist Lojze Kalinsek in association with St. Georg hotel warmly hosting and deliciously feeding the artists. With support of the municipality of Grobming we have visited great surrounding mountains including Dachstein's glacier and got inspired by the beautiful nature of Austria

All the artists had dedicated three days to local school children teaching and creating together. I brought up some portraiture workshops. It was my first time working with children from foreign county. Furthermore, I had no previous experience teaching a group. However, it came out to be a lot of fun! The emotional exchange we had was extraordinary experience for me. The kids reminded me of dolphins who first carefully sense your soul then letting you closer but just as long as they're comfortable. I felt privileged to see that they are so sure about who they are unlike many adults I know.

Finally, Master-class from the old master Gerd Messmann was invaluable experience; his impressive techniques have made huge impact in my every painting. I also was honoured to work along my favourite living artist and old friend Elsa Martini.

Art Symposium in Transylvania, Romania

A breathtaking journey to learn about secrets of fortified buildings of Transylvania. Once in 2009 I had to make a work about the subject for the exhibition in Louvre. This year I was brought to this stunning region with a small group of International artists. The art camp was placed at the Cross-Country Farm, where the Transylvania International Horse Show takes place. The closest town is Sighisoara - the home of Vlad Tepes Dracul.
Then the art camp went to Biertan and was warmly hosted by the fortified church in a house between its walls. We went to see mysterious symbols inside other Transylvania's churches. In the church of Richis (Reichesdorf) I was surprised to see the image of the Green Man opposite Jesus image as a symbol of changes in the religion.

Romania with its kind people and outstanding history is highly recommended for a visit.

The Govanhill Baths Auction, Glasgow

My oil painting "Chase", created during the UNESCO Art Camp in Andorra in 2010, was recently sold at a charity auction in Glasgow, Scotland. I would like to thank the buyer for his bid (bathsauction.com/scatalogue.html). Govanhill Community Trust involved sources of aesthetic enjoyment to raise funds for restoring Govanhill Baths (bathsauction.com/index.html).
I encourage all emerging artists to participate in charity auctions. Give your art, so as many people as possible will see it, especially if you share the ideas and values of the organisers

UNESCO Art Camp Exhibition in Lisbon and Madrid

Artworks created in the Art Camp 2010 and some paintings from the collection of Andorran UNESCO Commission went to exhibitions in Portugal and Spain. The Embassy of Andorra in Madrid hosted one of the exhibitions, while the other part of the collection we worked on last year is now at the Museu da Cidade in Lisbon. For information about the Art Camp travelling exhibition, visit www.artcampcolorsplaneta.blogspot.com

Oil Painting: High Street & Peascod Street from the Castle Hill, Windsor (2010)

"Highly Commended" in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead's Census 2011 cover competition. Judges said that they "loved the painting but felt that adding text on top would detract from its beauty". I was kindly presented with a RBWM medal by the council.

The Second International UNESCO Art Camp in Andorra

High in Pyrenees Mountains among wet clouds 40 International UNESCO artists collaborated in order to exchange ideas, cultures, history and values.

Just like two years ago, the Andorran National Commission for UNESCO in the head of Jean-Michel Armengol has organized an art event in the mark of International year of the approach of cultures. The Art Camp took place in one of the most beautiful towns of Andorra - Ordino, from 18 to 29 of July 2010. The program for the art camp involved daily creating in workshops for the final exhibition which artists have donated to the UNESCO of Andorra.

I have made 9 works in one week: 3 of them are now travelling with the UNESCO exhibition around the Europe, other 3 of them I have donated to local people, two of them I took home, one was sold when paint's fresh.

The local press was absolutely thrilled about the Art Camp! Here are just some of the articles:
http://www.rtva.ad/cercar.aspx?cerca=art%20camp

One of the organizers of the camp, Sumra Sallis, said, "It's hard to imagine a better forum to bring people together and break down the perceptional boundaries in an atmosphere of mutual co-operation and respect."

MANIFEST ART CAMP, " Colors for the Planet ", Ordino 2010

We the artists of the World, state the following:
We join with the General Assembly of the United Nations, author of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in proclaiming 2010 the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures.
We adhere to the objectives of making the characteristic features of our etnographic reality known to the world, with respect to the other peoples of the planet and desire to learn from them.
We will use our imagination to find the right ways of rapprochement between different cultures, preserving all the diversity that enriches our human condition.
We will play a key role in building a world where the cultural differences will not be an obstacle for understanding and solidarity between the peoples that populate the Earth.
For these reasons, We the undersigned, undertake by means of artistic expression, to promote the cultural diversity that constitutes our common heritage that we must value, to preserve the Earth for the benefit of all, and to stimulate the imagination of the people to make Earth a more peaceful, healthier and fairer place for future generations.

January 2010

Many thanks to the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption of Israel for organizing a special Commission for returning residents - artists. The Commission and the Ministry have recognized me as an "excellent" artist with the following assistance.
www.moia.gov.il

A Group Exhibition "Autonomous Stream". Castle Werfen, Salsburg, Austria.

On 27th of August 2009 the new association "ART Ist International Art network Salzburg" presented the exhibition `Autonomous stream` with the participation of 9 artists: Ashraf Abbas (Egypt), Ana Zoe Pop ( Romania), Elsa Martini (Albania), Erwin Maria Hafner (Austria), Istvan Balog (Romania), Lojze Kalin?ek (Slovenia), Patrick Cauvin (Haiti), Suela Qoshja (Albania) and me - Margarita Vul (Estonia/Israel).

As I am waiting for the baby birth I could not come to Austria to be in the opening, but have sent my panting to this exhibition. I was asked from the organizers to create something that reveals now richness to me. And the subject was very relevant for me in these days.

Richness is a period before you see what you already have... When the Devil of Loneliness is looking at you and when you think that soon what you will get will make your loneliness disappear. It is the moment before you build your house on your land, before you see the light in your life, before you see what you're already holding. It is when you think you're not alone, you've got something or someone, and that makes you a real rich person.

Exhibition in Louvre, Paris

Participation in a small group exhibition at Carrousel du Louvre in Paris. It was a part of International Heritage Show, which brought together all the players of the heritage world. The Heritage and Sponsorship themes of the event were fairly relevant to my activities.

My oil painting of Biertan Church was left to travel around European cities to represent the cultural heritage of Transylvania.

Thanks to Nicoleta Zagura I had an opportunity to visit easily the most popular and beautiful places in Paris such as Rodin Museum, The Pantheon, Mus?e d'Orsay, Notre Dame de Paris, Mus?e National du Moyen Age and many more. I was deeply inspired by Champs- ?lys?es and the Louvre.

International Art Camp in Andorra 2008.

The International Art Camp in Ordino, Andorra took place between 23rd of July and 3rd of August 2008 in reason for celebration the International Year of the Planet Earth organized by the Andorran National Commission of UNESCO.
Around 40 artists from around the world came to participate in that magical event. Each day was starting early at 8:00 for intensive workshops in studios. Each evening was dedicated to the presentation of one or few countries and their cultures.

I was representing Estonia. Next to me - Jean Michel Armengol, general secretary of Andorran UNESCO.

As the 2008 was the International Year of the Planet Earth many workshops were dedicated to the environment that we live in. All the artists collaborated to realize a tree's wood made from recycled iron. The sculpture is now fixed as public sculpture in Ordino.

I have made a palm tree with the rusty chain as a hammock for the little man from the old wrench and painted in the Estonian national flag colors.

Intercultural exchange: me in African dress giving a painting I drew for Sama (Burkina Faso). As you can see, no need for knowing each others native tongues.

"Carmen came back from shopping" was inspired by strict and strong character of the hotel receptionist Carmen. The painting was given as a thankful gift to the hotel Prats in Ordino.

"Men's Toys". The painting is given to the Andorran UNESCO.

The flowers from the Andorran mountains. The painting is given to the Art Camp photographers Dorte and Jorgen.

The European fairy tale about love and support. The painting is given to the Andorran UNESCO.

The painting is given to Andorran UNESCO.

Aurel and Nicoleta Zagura, one of the organizers of the Art Camp. The painting is given them as a gift.

For 12 days a small village Ordino has been occupied by artists working in studios, balconies, cultural centers and parks.

Ordino landscape: houses and mountains are in harmony.

My common project with Angel from Macedonia. The idea: two different artists on one canvas, two different cultures working together, two different genders finding a compromise. It was the first abstract work for both of us. The painting is given to Andorran UNESCO.

I went to Andorran Art Camp with a few canvases, oil colors, brushes, books and brochures about Tallinn, flag of Estonia, and I came back with statue of African elephant, national dress from Burkina Faso, braids in my hair, iron stone from the Andorran mountains, great friends from Andorra, Albania, Austria, Malaysia, Macedonia, Romania, and the strong motivation to use more arts in my social activities.

On the opening of "Pascal 4"in Troubadour Gallery I was and surrounded my friends from England. The place was not suitable for exhibitions, because the gallery was located upstairs and was not noticeable from the street...
The Framers Gallery at Artefact on the contrary was a proper gallery with excellent services, location, promotion, visitors and staff. I would like to thank the manager of The Artefact Irena Molenys for her help and efforts to support "Pascal 4".
Very special thanks to my satellite Alex for giving me a man's hand in all the preparations.
Thanks to all the guests for visiting and dedicating a few moments to think and talk about the issue of human trafficking and the intercultural dialogue.

Press Release

Art For People: Oil Painting Exhibition "Pascal 4"

Young and open-minded half Estonian and half Israeli artist Margarita Vul is visiting London to exhibit her oil paintings. Margarita is currently in her second year of studying international affairs at university in Estonia. She also has been chosen by the Estonian National Commission for UNESCO to participate in the International Art camp "Colors For The Planet" in Andorra in July 2008, representing Estonia to discuss finding a universal language for intercultural dialogue, together with thirty artists from five continents.
During ten days in June, Margarita will exhibit more than 30 pictures featuring different techniques, each with their own unique message to the public. The aim of the exhibition is to promote the global issue of human trafficking, which is a huge international industry affecting mostly women and children. Hundreds of thousands of people get sold and resold each year. Part of the exhibition will showcase how this appalling business affects the society and has some kind of influence on every individual.
A percentage of the profits raised from the sale of pictures in the "Pascal 4" exhibition will go to charities supporting young victims of sexual slavery.
The exhibition will take place in 2 galleries:

11th - 15th of June 2008

Troubadour Gallery
265 Old Brompton Road, London SW5 9JA
Opening hours:
Wednesday - Sunday: 10.30am - midnight

16th - 21st of June 2008

Framers Gallery at Artefact
36 Windmill Street, London W1T 2JT
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 10.00am-5.30pm
Saturday: 11.00am-5.00pm

On January 2004 I went to the military service in the IDF combat unit. The childhood suddenly changed into a harsh environment, the reality, which most of the even adult people cannot imagine.
The place where I was assigned was called "Pascal 4". It was my name on a radio-transceiver, my conscience of the service, the center of my activity. For me it was the best and the most expensive experience of my life. I understood from the Israelis that there it is not about trying to stay alive, but trying to stay human. In this environment, my opportunity to be creative was taken away due to the amount and type of work that I had to do. Now after 5 years I started to paint again…for people.

I'm currently organizing an art exhibition I called "Pascal 4" in Central London, where I'm going to represent my new oil paintings.

Attention of the exhibition visitors will be drawn upon human trafficking and the issue of sexual slavery in the modern world.

Thus part of profit raised from sale of my pictures will go to charity and to support young victims of sexual slavery.

There is an ignorance and lack of strong public reaction on this matter. By doing this I want to raise the attention of the public, thus making people to approach this topic with importance, rather than a problem, which will disappear in time. The message is plain and up to the point: if a problem arises and it doesn't concern you, doesn't always mean that you are safe