Aleksandra Ianchenko ⎜Venice (estonia)

Aleksandra Ianchenko is a visual artist, researcher and curator. She holds a doctoral degree from Tallinn University (Estonia) and Åbo Akademi University (Finland). PhD thesis “Estranging Trams: Atmospheres of Trams in Art” combines artistic methods with theories from urban and mobility studies. Previously, Aleksandra received two Master’s degrees in Monumental and Decorative Arts and Art Management. Following the ideas of estrangement or ostranenie, Aleksandra is interested in introducing the strange into the mundane by creating colourful painterly worlds under the alias of ANISA KUNST. As a researcher, she is engaged in developing arts-based methods, such as on-site sketching as an observational means and exhibition-making to present research findings. This aligns with her extensive experience in curating, organising, and designing exhibitions that combine historical materials, academic research, and art. 

Previously, she worked with the topic of garages as a co-curator of the exhibition “Garaaž. Гараж. Garage”, currently on display in the People’s Museum of Tallinn (3.10.2024—1.1.2026). A garage is more than a storage for cars; it is a cultural phenomenon, a place for social gathering and solitary engagement, for both creative and deviant practices. Based on this understanding, she is going to explore garage areas in Kulgu using sketching as an artistic and ethnographic tool. Sketching helps to observe the location, allowing for capturing its immediate impressions in a laconic, expressive graphic form. Sketching can also foster communication, be it from person to person or in a group, as during a sketching workshop. In Kulgu, she is planning to make sketches of the location, garages and their owners. The resulting sketches will be arranged in a postcard set or a similar graphic product that features drawings along with a short story or quotes by garage owners. 

Photo by Piret Räni.