Helmi
Arrak
About
Helmi Arrak uses the term bedroom portraiture to describe the essence of her paintings — a mood of boredom, admiration, and dreaming, characteristic of her working environment (bedroom/studio), inevitably transfers into the works she creates. The portrayed figures appear as utilitarian objects — much like banana peels on a gallery floor — casually lying around on Instagram, in magazines, films, or books. These scattered items, like the entire bedroom, are inherently personal and intimate, and as deeply rooted in pop culture as the worship of an idol’s portrait.

As the flow of information accelerates, the lifespan of a cult figure grows ever shorter, and their very essence becomes increasingly elusive. Visitors to the exhibition might not recognize a single musician, artist, or actor among the gallery of portraits. All the more so because Helmi Arrak doesn’t offer realistic replicas of photos that have become cult images of celebrities, but rather a directly personal, expressive experience — spontaneous impressions of currently interesting figures, whose sketched portraits are stuck to the wall with pink chewing gum.

"It’s late, and I’m looking at social photos from a New York exhibition opening, where people are in full swing and sipping champagne. I imagine the audience entering a room where the floor is covered in a layer of glitter, and visitors stumble over golden yellow banana peels strewn about — marking the path to intimate portraits of faded hedonists, cosmopolitans, and benevolent demons. In one large piece, Aurel embraces his beloved; next to them, a famous writer gazes into the void..."

— Helmi Arrak

Exhibition views of "Portraits From The Bedroom" / Tartu Art House, Monumental Gallery / 2016 / Photos: Robert Laursoo
Media:
Helmi Arraku isikunäitus: „PORTRAITS FROM THE BEDROOM”,  
Müürileht, 2016