Merike Hallik "White gold"

ARS Project Space 7.–28.02.2026

Mon–Fri 12–18, Sat 12–16

Opening on Friday 6 February at 18:00.

Merike Hallik: Since 1995, I have been fascinated by porcelain and bone china as a material. In this material, I have made numerous works using its whiteness, light and translucency.

The exhibition "White Gold" is an overview of my creative journey, better works made over time and new, larger porcelain forms, which includes into an overview exhibition of my creative path and position as an artist at the moment.

The focus of the exhibition is shaping and making sense of the impressions received from nature. Different landscapes, surfaces, structures and light have inspired their depiction. The exhibited works carry stored impressions, moments, feelings and mood. Each exhibited work is like a small moment in the rapid passage of time, a stored experience.

Porcelain in its delicate fragility hints at life, everything that surrounds us, and the need to notice, keep and value it. Reflections, experiences and responsibility born from nature are interwoven into a single whole in the exhibition. The life around us is also delicate, we must have enough wisdom to see, keep, protect and be present at every moment.

Works from 2000–2026.

Video filmed by Peeter Brambat at the exhibition from my first solo exhibition "White" in the gallery "Sammas" in 2001. Background music: Vangelis, Procession.

Merike Hallik (1965) graduated Estonian Academy of Arts, ceramics in 1990 (MA).

She has worked as a freelance artist as well as an art teacher and adult educator. 

Since 2019 at ARS Ceramic Centre, establishment, member of the board, CEO. Member of the Estonian Artist Association and Estonian Ceramists Association. Takes part in exhibitions since 1989. Participated in several international group exhibitions at home and abroad: in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Scotland, Norway, Croatia, Finland, Sweden, China, USA, Italy. Award-winning works: at the International Contemporary Ceramics Exhibition in Pavasaris, Vilnius, Lithuania (Silver diploma) 2022. At the international mini ceramics exhibition Lilliput ceramics Zagreb, Rovinj, Croatia (Diploma) 2007–2008.

She has had 20 solo exhibitions in Estonia, Finland, Croatia, the Czech Republic, including in Prague, at the Embassy of the Republic of Estonia in 2006.

Participated in symposia, conferences, residencies in the United States, Australia, China, Czech Republic, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia.

Works in collections: Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design, Black Ceramics Center, Vilnius, Lithuania, Cešky Krumlov Ceramics Center, Czech Republic, Art Center Plemenitaš, Croatia, Nobel Seafood Restaurant Collection, Shanghai, Haian, Republic of China and private collections around the world.

Exhibition designer: Kristjan Sisa

Photo/Graphic design: Tiit Rammul

Thank you! ARS Art Factory, Indrek Köster, Sten Saarits, Mart Vaarpuu, Liisa Kasema.

The exhibition is supported by the Estonian Cultural Foundation, the Estonian Artist Association and the Estonian Ceramists Association.