The exhibition The Forest Whispers presents the relationship with nature, the forest, and its meaning through the perspectives of 55 jewelry artists and 6 students of Estonian contemporary jewelry. The jewelry pieces open up views on the connection to the forest and nature through different lenses: mythology, a spiritual bond with the forest, and the use of natural materials or ideas drawn from nature.

Experiences of nature unfold in many ways when spending time there: wandering, sitting, listening, lingering, drawing, photographing, swimming, berry-picking, and mushroom gathering. A home can also be located close to nature. Through the hands of the artists, experiences, observations, dreams, traditions, and ancient knowledge have been conveyed into the jewelry.

The exhibition invites visitors to delve into Estonia’s jewelry history, mythology, and relationship with nature. In Estonia, jewelry art is highly valued and reflects the Estonian cultural landscape in a particularly vivid way.

Most of the jewelry pieces in The Forest Whispers exhibition were previously shown at the Estonian National Museum’s exhibition Mets vastab, allikas kõnetab (The Forest Answers, the Spring Speaks) from October 20, 2023, to March 31, 2024. The curator for that exhibition, and again for this one, is Doctor of Arts Kärt Summatavet, who has also authored parts of the exhibition texts.

Museo Kruunu conducted a survey among the exhibition's jewelry artists about their relationship with nature and the forest, and how it has influenced their works. The exhibition interprets the relationship with the forest through the insights gained from this survey. This information is also reflected against the Finnish connection to forests and research on the effects of forests.

As you explore the exhibition, we invite you to reflect on your own relationship with nature and the forest. Share your insights with us.

Exhibition Team

Essi Pullinen, Team Lead
Johanna Järviniemi
Rami Laitinen
Ida-Lina Brinkas
Kärt Summatavet, Exhibition Curator
Grete Ahtola, Embassy of Estonia in Finland