AED (Garden)

AED is a solo exhibition by Kerttu Siplane, inviting visitors on a sensory journey through materials and forms. The exhibition originates from an artist residency in 2021 in the Al Khateem Desert in the United Arab Emirates, where an unfamiliar environment evoked a sense of recognition and memories of the landscapes of the artist’s childhood in Saaremaa, Estonia. The paintings and installations bring together natural materials from the desert and Estonia, archaic geometric forms, and symbols from different cultures. The title AED refers both to the Estonian word for garden and to the United Arab Emirates dirham, opening up reflections on beauty, value, and transformation. The works were first exhibited in 2024 as part of the group exhibition Liivamerelainetus at Kuressaare Raegalerii.