New Navitrolla exhibition “Magic Plants of Magic Land” opens at Tallinn Botanic Garden

From 12 February to 31 March, Navitrolla’s painting exhibition “Magic Plants of Magic Land”, specially created for the Tallinn Botanic Garden, will be on display in the Palm House.

The exhibition consists of 12 works depicting magical plants. The names of the main characters are presented in both Võro and Estonian. For example, there are such lovely specimens as the Kõnolõja or the Talking Birch, Meil hallõ um lill jah, also known as Lily Melancholy, and the Priiusõtäht or Freedom Star, perfectly matching the spirit of February and Estonian Independence Day.

Navitrolla found inspiration in the Karula National Park. “Many years ago, I found myself in Karula National Park,” he tells us. “Something inexplicable told me then that this was my place. A few years later, I found myself the owner of a plot of land and a dilapidated house in the middle of a thicket. In that very same place. The nature of Karula National Park expanded my senses in many ways. Wandering around the area, I found strange plants. I had never seen or heard them before. Nature here is full of magic plants! The idea of making a small catalogue and exhibition of these plants has stayed with me for the last twenty years. I collected the most famous and spectacular specimens for the first Magic Land exhibition.”

During the exhibition, the Tallinn Botanic Garden will be transformed into Magic Land. The flag of Magic Land will be raised on the square in front of the Palm House.

Navitrolla is an Estonian painter known mainly for his unique style of painting, which combines elements of surrealism and naïve art. In addition to paintings, Navitrolla’s works include drypoint and lithograph print series completed over the decades, as well as sculptures in his later work. The artist describes his style as “naviism”.

The Tallinn Botanic Garden Palm House is open during the winter season from 11:00-16:00, except for Wednesdays, when it is open from 11:00-19:00.