Paul Kuimet. Photo: Rebeca Žukovits

In the second half of May Kai Cinema will present a carefully curated film program by Paul Kuimet, created in dialogue with Exploded View, his exhibition with Magnhild Øen Nordahl. The screenings will take place over four evenings, May 16–17 and May 23–24, as part of the exhibition’s public program.

Each screening opens with an introduction by the artist, in which Kuimet will share insights into his film selections and offer viewers perspectives on what to pay attention to while watching. ‘The program brings together films by directors who have been important to me at different periods, spanning both mainstream and more experimental cinema,’ Kuimet says. 

The program features Nordic humor, contemporary cinema classics, and a special evening dedicated to artists’ films. Screenings include the feature films The Other Side of Hope (Aki Kaurismäki, 2017) and Elephant (Gus Van Sant, 2003), alongside the documentary Karl’s Perfect Day (Rirkrit Tiravanija, 2017).

Still from Tris Vonna-Michell's film 'River Thames: Spooling & Splicing' 

The feature films in the program, The Other Side of Hope and Elephant, address significant social issues through the distinctive artistic approaches of their renowned directors. The Other Side of Hope is one of Kaurismäki’s most political works, examining the European refugee crisis through his characteristic blend of melancholy and Nordic humor. Gus Van Sant’s Elephant, meanwhile, explores adolescence, mental health, isolation, and gun violence, investigating the roots of violence through an observational and deliberately detached perspective. The themes of both films remain highly relevant in contemporary Estonian society. 

A distinctive feature of Kuimet’s program is the inclusion of artists’ films on the big screen. On May 17, the special screening Fragments: Artists’ Short Films will present works by five contemporary artists in a single evening: Mum’s Cards (2018) by Luke Fowler, River Thames: Spooling & Splicing (2026) by Tris Vonna-Michell, Embarkation (2011) by Sini Pelkki, Dear D (2015) by Marge Monko, and Brussels, 2016 (2017) by Sara Sejin Chang. Kuimet, who also works with film himself, notes: ‘On one hand, I wanted the selected films to expand the themes explored in the exhibition, such as archives, parenthood, the role of the artist and the responsibilities that come with it. On the other hand, I wanted the screening of artist’s films to give greater visibility to the more exploratory forms of moving image, which are still rarely presented in Estonia.’

The program concludes with Karl’s Perfect Day by internationally acclaimed Thai artist and filmmaker Rirkrit Tiravanija. This poetic and hybrid documentary follows a seemingly simple day in the life of Swedish poet Karl Holmqvist, who lives in Berlin. Tiravanija employs a Warholian observational method to highlight the rhythm of everyday moments and the poetics of small gestures that shape a person’s so-called ‘perfect day’. Tiravanija is also participating in this year’s Venice Biennale, where he is leading an international collaborative project for the Qatar Pavilion.

Still from Gus Van Sant's film 'Elephant'

Cinema screenings are accessible with a same-day exhibition ticket. All films will be screened with English subtitles or, in the case of English-language films, without subtitles.

🎟 Tickets can be purchased in advance here or at the venue before each screening. A limited number of full program passes is also available. Please note that seating capacity is limited.

For more information, please visit: www.kai.center

The exhibition ‘Exploded View’ is on view until August 9th.