Garages will open their doors for the exhibition

A garage is more than simply a storage space for a car, it is a place for various activities, some paradoxically opposite. As a private area, a garage gives its owner a refuge to be on one’s own and do what one likes – be it repairing a car, making a painting, listening to music or, let’s be honest, drinking. It is a place to discover and express individuality, both in creative and destructive ways. However, in garage cooperatives, common in Tallinn, communication and neighbourliness are needed. Thus, a garage blends the public and the private, the individual and the collective.

This exhibition explores the paradoxicality of a garage, its history and mythology, through diverse garage stories, both archival and contemporary. In Tallinn, one can find different garages: historical buildings from the early 20th century and garage areas built during the Soviet period. While some still serve as parking places or warehouses, others are now workshops, places for hobbies and businesses. By gathering these stories, this exhibition seeks to understand the past, present and future of garages in our city.

Among others, the exhibition has been contributed to by Tauri Tuvikene, Professor of Urban Studies at the School of Humanities of Tallinn University, and Aleksandra Ianchenko, an artist and researcher at the School of Humanities.

The exhibition will remain open for two years, during which time public lectures and various workshop programs are planned.