"Origin" by Liisi Örd and Martin Urb

The joint exhibition is a dialogue between the artists, where light is not merely a depictable phenomenon, but the origin of space and perception. The work of both artists stems from silence, observation, and the experience of space—where inner and outer landscapes intertwine, and spatial and emotional perception merge.

In Liisi Örd’s works, nature unfolds as an inner phenomenon. The light in her paintings does not come from outside but seems to rise from the landscape itself—from fog, forest, and water. Through thick layers of paint and intense colour, the artist creates atmospheres in which nature transforms into a perceptual space—a threshold between the external and the internal.

In Martin Urb’s paintings, light enters the interior. It penetrates through a window, pauses on furniture, a table, or a wall, and turns an everyday environment into a breathing and contemplative space. The room is not merely physical but becomes a state—a space of silence and focus.

At the heart of “Origin” is the convergence of two worlds: the reciprocal reflection of outer and inner space. While Örd elevates light into the language of landscape, Urb translates it into the quietude of everyday interiors.

Liisi Örd (b. 1984) is an Estonian painter whose work combines abstract forms, strong texture, and inner worlds inspired by nature. Her paintings explore light, space, and sensory states, offering viewers meditative visual experiences. Örd holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Painting Department of the University of Tartu and has exhibited widely in solo and group exhibitions across Estonia.

Martin Urb (b. 1981) is an Estonian painter known for his smooth and softened hyperrealism. He studied at the Painting Department of Tartu Art College from 2004–2008 and later completed a master’s degree in painting at the University of Tartu. Primarily associated with paintings of the world of engines, he has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including together with Liisi Örd at the exhibition “Fragment 5.10” at Tartu Art House (2018).

Supporters: Cultural Endowment of Estonia, Viljandi Town Council