DON’T CALL ME SACRED

I was invited to take part in a group exhibition, at The Põlva Cultural Centre, that responds to the question, “What is sacred?” To me, the concept of the sacred is a problematic one, as it entangles things that are sacrosanct, with faith, mystery, purity, or idealistic expectations.

The closest many of us come to an experience of the sacred is in so-called communion with nature. However, even when in a state of sensual arousal, inspired by forces of nature, we must remember that the sacred is a human concept, and be careful not to confuse the situation with two-way communication.

With “Don’t Call Me Sacred”, I’m pushing against the reduction of earth’s intricate ecosystem to problematic visions of (“mother”) nature, seen either as the Holy Madonna or a voluptuous fruit, ripe for the plucking. I’m looking for a tenderness towards the earth that flirts with notions of the sacred but is undermined by humans’ clumsiness when it comes to our own power. Non-human species inspire in us not only worship and lust but also ordinary inconvenience and unremarkable love. In de-escalating attitudes that idolise or objectify nature, we can go on with the everyday business of admiration and respect.

The group show “Teekond Taevaparki”, curated by Evelyn Grzinich, opened at 5pm on the 8th of August, at Põlva Cultural Centre, and ran until the 1st of November, 2025.

Project supported by The Cultural Endowment of Estonia.