Jaan Toomik was born in Tartu, Estonia and lives and works in Tallinn, Estonia
Jaan Toomik uses repetitive structures to alter the state of consciousness of viewers, to make them more receptive step by step. His video installations are aimed at neutralizing ego and also often compensate the narcissistic character of video-medium. To achieve that he often submits himself and audience to the melody of chant, to the rules of landscape or to mechanic action
He began as a painter in the late 1980’s, and received a wide recognition during the 1990s with site-specific installations and video works. The works by Jaan Toomik were shown at the most important exhibitions representing Eastern European and Baltic art, they were exhibited in many large international forums of contemporary art such as Manifesta I, Sao Paulo biennial and la biennale di Venezia to mention just few. They have been included in the programs of international video and short film festivals. Jaan Toomik has made solo exhibitions in New York, Stockholm, Helsinki, London and elsewhere, his name figures in the recent monographs on the late 20th century art
Recent exhibitions include 2006: ‘Art, Life & Confusion’, Belgrade Cultural Centre, Serbia; ‘Licht.Kunst mit Licht und Lichtdesign’, Lüdenscheid, Germany; ‘Human Game’, Stazione Leopoldo of Florence Italy; ‘Videokunst aus dem baltikum’, Kunstraum Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany; ‘4.Berlin Biennial’, Germany. 2005: ‘4+4 paintings’, Vaal Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia (solo); ‘Videoworks’, Museum of Contemporary in Bucharest, Romania (solo); ‘Recent works’, Gallery of the Tallinn Art Hall, Estonia (solo); ‘Videos’, Circulo de Bellas Artes, Madrid, Spain