On February 11, a new exhibit was opened at VEMU Estonian Museum Canada. Artist Liisa Kruusmägi and curator Anneliis Lepp from Estonia discussed the origins of the exhibition via Zoom.
“Memories from Altai Krai” narrates the tale of the artist’s ancestors who, facing a shortage of land at the end of the 19th century, embarked on a challenging journey to Siberia. Driven by the hope for a better life, they traversed a long and arduous path to Barnaul County in Altai Krai, Central Asia. After numerous stops, they eventually found their home in the midst of the expansive steppe, flanked by mountains, where they, along with other families, founded a village named Estonia.
Comprising of drawings, the exhibition draws inspiration from the diary of Liisa Kruusmägi’s grandmother, which encapsulates fragments of memories from their time in Estonia Village, portraying it as a period filled with strenuous labour but also moments of enjoyment. It was an era marked by both joy and human loss.