A Shade Colder
| Editor | Kaarin Kivirähk (Editor-in-Chief) Keiu Krikmann (Managing Editor) |
|---|---|
| Categories | Contemporary art, Visual culture |
| Frequency | Bi-annual (print), quarterly (digital) |
| Publisher | Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) |
| Language | English |
| Website | www |
A Shade Colder is a contemporary art magazine and digital platform based in Tallinn, Estonia. Published by the Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA), it focuses on shared stories about visual culture in Central and Eastern Europe. The publication is internationally-focused and primarily written in English.[1][2]
History
The magazine was established in 2022 as a source of modern Estonian art journalism.[1]: para. 1 It was funded initially through a competition with the Ministry of Culture for a new art magazine as the winning idea.[3]: para. 3
It features artist interviews, analytical essays, fiction and reviews from Estonia and the broader Baltic and Nordic regions.[4] The publication's ongoing contributions to the local art landscape have been regularly featured.[5] It is primarily geared towards art professionals.[1]: cf Contributions are generally from [6]: cf
The Editor-in-Chief is Kaarin Kivirähk and the Managing Editor is Keiu Krikmann. The editorial board consists of Marika Agu, Maria Arusoo, and Sten Ojavee.[7]: cf Graphic design and layout of the magazine is done by Johanna Ruukholm and Martina Gofman of the studio Jojo&me.[1]: cf [8][9]: cf
Typography
The magazine has been noted for its "unique" layout and design.[6]: cf It is typeset with the fonts Aktsidents, Adieu, and Quadrant Slab. The logo is typeset in Slack.[10]
Content
Each issue of A Shade Colder is curated around a specific conceptual theme, such as "Practices in Dialogue" or "Uncertain Territories."[11][12] The magazine frequently features interviews with artists and essays on feminist art history and the impact of digital media on society.[13][14]
The magazine is an English-language platform for Estonian artists, curators and writers to reach a global audience.[15]: cf It typically releases one or two themed print issues per year. Digital copies are freely accessible online.[8][16]: para. 1 There is a digital version published four to five times a year and a print version that is published two times a year.[9]: cf [1]: cf [17]: cf The paper version can be found in bookstores in Estonia.[3]: cf
Selected publications
| Issue Theme | Publication Date | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Practices in Dialogue | October 2025 | [18] |
| Uncertain Territories | April 2025 | [19] |
| The Many Faces of You | April 2024 | [20] |
| The Shapes of Language | November 2023 | [21] |
| Flesh in Tension | July 2023 | [22] |
| Shifting Timelines | April 2023 | [23] |
Podcast
The magazine also publishes the Majickk Sound podcast. It is a contemporary art podcast hosted by curator Marika Agu. It is produced by the Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA) and is an extension of the magazine.[24]
The series features interviews with artists and composers. Each episode typically focuses on one artist, discussing their technical methodology and the philosophical underpinnings of their work.[24]
The series has featured figures in the Northern European sound art scene, such as John Grzinich, an American-Estonian artist and associate professor at the Estonian Academy of Arts to discuss acoustic ecology, field recording and Grzinich's work with environmental sounds in locations like the mining regions of Ida-Virumaa.[24] Agu also interviewed Dodomundo, a Vilnius-based DJ and artist. The conversation explores the physical and psychological effects of sound in club environments and the role of art galleries as social spaces.[24]
Media coverage
Fair pay
In the early 2020s, the Estonian contemporary art scene mobilized regarding fair remuneration for artists and freelance cultural workers. A tiered framework was introduced, linking recommended fee rates to estimated workloads using the national minimum wage and the cultural worker's minimum wage as baseline metrics. A Shade Colder committed that remuneration for contributors would adhere fully to the recommended fair pay model.[3]: cf [8]: cf
See also
References
Citations
- 1 2 3 4 5 Viilup 2022b.
- ↑ Miss Read 2026.
- 1 2 3 Varblane 2022.
- ↑ Eesti Rahvusringhääling 2023.
- ↑ Watson 2024.
- 1 2 Maarits 2023.
- ↑ Viilup 2024.
- 1 2 3 Ektermann & Triisberg 2023.
- 1 2 Estonian Academy of Arts 2022.
- ↑ Tüpokompanii 2026.
- ↑ Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art 2025.
- ↑ Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art 2024.
- ↑ Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art 2023.
- ↑ EAA 2026.
- ↑ Viilup 2022a.
- ↑ Krikmann & Kivirähk 2025.
- ↑ Tsapov 2022.
- ↑ A Shade Colder 2025a.
- ↑ A Shade Colder 2025b.
- ↑ A Shade Colder 2024.
- ↑ A Shade Colder 2023a.
- ↑ A Shade Colder 2023b.
- ↑ A Shade Colder 2023c.
- 1 2 3 4 Room for Reading 2026.
Sources
- Maarits, Merit (2023-01-09). "Ülevaade. Kunst sõja-aastal 2022". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (in Estonian). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
- Viilup, Kaspar (2024-04-24). "Tallinna graafikatriennaali kuraatoriks valiti Marika Agu". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (in Estonian). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
- Viilup, Kaspar (2022a). "Aprilli lõpus ilmub ingliskeelse Eesti kunsti ajakirja A Shade Colder avanumber". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (in Estonian). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
- Viilup, Kaspar (2022b). "Klassikaraadio "Kunstiministeeriumi" võtavad üle uued saatejuhid". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (in Estonian). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
- Varblane, Reet (2022-03-13). "Aprillis näeb ilmavalgust eestlaste loodud uus ingliskeelne kunstiajakiri". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (in Estonian). Retrieved 2026-07-24.
- A Shade Colder (October 2025a). "Practices in Dialogue". A Shade Colder.
- A Shade Colder (April 2025b). "Uncertain Territories". A Shade Colder.
- A Shade Colder (April 2024). "The Many Faces of You". A Shade Colder.
- A Shade Colder (November 2023a). "The Shapes of Language". A Shade Colder.
- A Shade Colder (July 2023b). "Flesh in Tension". A Shade Colder.
- A Shade Colder (April 2023c). "Shifting Timelines". A Shade Colder.
- EAA (5 May 2026). "A Shade Colder Spring 2026 issue". Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- Eesti Rahvusringhääling (2023-01-09). "Ülevaade. Kunst sõja-aastal 2022". Eesti Rahvusringhääling (in Estonian). Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- Ektermann, Maarin; Triisberg, Airi (28 April 2023). "Õiglase tasustamise ettepanek kunstiväljale. Aasta hiljem" [Proposal for fair remuneration in the art field: One year later]. Sirp (in Estonian).
- Estonian Academy of Arts (28 November 2022). "A Shade Colder – New Issue Out Now". Estonian Academy of Arts. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art (30 November 2023). "A Shade Colder new issue and publication launch in Tallinn". cca.ee. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art (9 May 2025). "A Shade Colder magazine Spring 2025 issue out now". Kaasaege Kunsti Eesti Keskus. Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art (30 April 2024). "A Shade Colder magazine launched its third print issue". Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- Krikmann, Keiu; Kivirähk, Kaarin (9 May 2025). "A Shade Colder magazine Spring 2025 issue out now". Kaasaege Kunsti Eesti Keskus. Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- Miss Read (2026-05-27). "A Shade Colder/Estonian Centre for Contemporary Art – Miss Read". missread.com. Retrieved 2026-05-27.
- Room for Reading (27 May 2026). "A Shade Colder — Issue 7, The Many Faces of You". Room for Reading. Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- Tsapov, Aleksander (25 April 2022). "Galerii: Eesti paviljoni avamine 59. Veneetsia biennaalil" [Gallery: Opening of the Estonian pavilion at the 59th Venice Biennale]. Müürileht (in Estonian). Retrieved 27 May 2026.
- Tüpokompanii (26 March 2026). "A Shade Colder". Fonts In Use. Retrieved 5 May 2026.
- Watson, Steve (June 2024). "A Shade Colder 7". STACK magazines. Retrieved 27 May 2026.