ANGEL’S WING

From 13 September until December 2024, the café hall of the Karlova Theatre in Tartu hosted a solo exhibition by the artist Toomas Pikhof entitled ‘Inglitiivul’ – a display of abstract paintings inspired by the work of Andres Dvinjaninov.

‘Inglitiivul’ is not merely an exhibition of paintings, but a dialogue between two art forms. Whilst theatre tells stories through words, movement and emotions, in the paintings these same themes are translated into the language of colours, forms and rhythms. The works on display do not depict specific scenes or characters, but seek to convey the moods, inner states and thoughts that have moved the artist over the years through her encounters with Dvinjaninov’s work.

The exhibition’s title, ‘On the Wings of an Angel’, refers to trust in life and the courage to move forward even when the journey is not fully visible. It is a symbol of the human spirit’s inner flight – the moment when, despite one’s fears, one decides to step into the unknown. Thus, all the paintings in the exhibition form an interconnected whole, centred on the human spiritual journey, growth and transformation.

Through the abstract style of expression, the viewer is given the opportunity to create their own meanings. The works do not provide definitive answers, but invite the viewer to pause, look and feel. For some, ‘The Invisible Line’ may represent the boundary between the past and the future; for others, the moment before a crucial decision. ‘Risk’ speaks of the courage to take the first step into the unknown, ‘Awakening’ of finding one’s inner light, and ‘Around the World’ of humanity’s endless desire to discover both the world and oneself.

The painting ‘On the Wings of an Angel’, which forms the centrepiece of the exhibition, encapsulates the core idea of the entire exhibition – trust, hope and inner freedom. It is an image that unites all the works and conveys the idea that there comes a moment in every person’s life when they must trust their heart.

Toomas Pikhof’s work brings together the emotional depth of theatre and the expansiveness of abstract painting. The exhibition ‘On the Wings of an Angel’ was an invitation to slow one’s pace, let one’s imagination soar, and discover, through colours and forms, stories that cannot always be told in words.

The artist has said of the exhibition: “Every journey begins with an awakening. Every dream requires taking a risk. And sometimes a person travels the furthest when they fly on the wings of an angel.”