"Beetroot Washing Machine" is part of the Tartu 2024 European Capital of Culture flagship program. It is a joint exhibition project of the Estonian Road Museum, the Estonian Museum of Agriculture, and the Tartu City Museum and tells the story of invention, ingenuity, and recycling.
The exhibition aims to shed light on the hitherto little-studied and collected tradition of do-it-yourself, as well as on the incredible diversity of creativity and skills developed during the Soviet period (1945-1991), say the exhibition organizers.
"The three museums offer a broad overview of everyday Soviet life, with an emphasis on the special tradition of imaginative home-making, which until now was hidden in garages, sheds, apartments, attics, and cellars. These stories and objects speak of aspirations that have evolved in limited circumstances, striving for a better and more comfortable life," comments Paavo Kroon, exhibition manager of the Estonian Road Museum.
"We want to show how everyday ingenuity and creativity can still provide a better quality of life today and in the future. Making things at home and fixing things is the basis of any innovation. In the context of big and worrying problems, DIY is a real and quick solution that is accessible to everyone," adds Kroon.
The exhibition opens on August 16 at 16:00.
