MANIA GRANDIOSA. From Tallinn to Paris.

MANIA GRANDIOSA. From Tallinn to Paris by Karl Joonas Alamaa and Lisette Sivard was the world’s longest runway, from 4 July until 8 July 2023. A runway spanning over 125 kilometres and lasting five days was created for ten models, stretching from Tallinn Airport to the Estonian village of Pariisi in Northeastern Estonia. In the Estonian language, the name of this small village ‘Pariisi’ is equivalent to the metropolitan city of Paris. The endurance performance was like a pilgrimage to the Mecca of fashion, which thousands of people undertake every year in the hope of finally reaching their goal. The all-magenta garments designed as hiking haute couture are the only physical symbols left from the ephemeral fashion performance.

In the installation, the entire magenta capsule, combined with static yet moving figures, attempts to convey the fanatical and bittersweet essence of the world’s longest fashion show. Isolated significantly from the outside world, the capsule draws attention to the prevalent trivial absurdities in society and illustrates how they divert our focus away from the larger issues. 

The installation is complemented by a video work showcasing footage from the road of MANIA GRANDIOSA. From Tallinn to Paris, depicting the reality of the burdensome performative road from Tallinn to Paris. This is the reality of the self-made world created by the models, in which the challenges of reality and physicality stand in stark contrast to the captivating image presented to the public.

MANIA GRANDIOSA. From Tallinn to Paris is a statement on the art scene and the ideals, as well as on values of a small Northeastern European country. Due to the history of the Baltics, the mentality of being suppressed and the need to work hard to be seen is still very present: the mindset that ‘Where there’s a will, there’s a way’ and the only sure way to find satisfaction and happiness is through hard work. If we add the hunger for achievement and the desire for competition that is widespread in the fashion and art scene, the work takes on the complex and everyday components of the cultural creatives of a small country and ties them together into a self-ironic-critical whole. The longest, the hardest, the greatest – because by acting like that one should get far. What if instead of the fashion capital and cultural metropolis, a country home awaits after a difficult ordeal?

Artists: Karl Joonas Alamaa and Lisette Sivard

Models: Karl Birnbaum, Loora Kaubi, Johann Kööp, Andreas Kübar, Mirjam Mõttus, Rolands Pēterkops, Alana Proosa, Piret Puppart, Anne Vetik, Edgar Vunš

Drone footage videographer: Sten Saarits

Acknowledgements: Cristopher Siniväli, Olivia Soans, Mikk Lahesalu, Agnes Isabelle Veevo, Henri Hütt, Getriin Kotsar, Sten Saarits, Egle Ehtjen, Jane Treima, Anna Ovtšinnikova, Elo Vahtrik, Rudolf Korp

The installation is open as part of the art festival I Don’t Get It until August 18th and is located nearby the Roheline saal.