UFO inaugurates year of culture

  • 2011-01-05
  • From wire reports

TALLINN - Approximately 15,000 people came to the center of Tallinn on Jan. 1 to mark the city’s new title as European Capital of Culture for 2011, reports news agency LETA. The highlight moment of the opening ceremony of European Capital of Culture at Theater Square in Tallinn was the arrival of a UFO. The UFO, hanging from a 100 meter crane, was purpose-built of steel, plywood and foil for the Capital of Culture opening ceremony.

Immediately before the arrival of the UFO the spectators saw a video clip in which the giants of European culture - the Coliseum of Rome, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Brandenburg Gates in Berlin - landed in the new European Capital of Culture.
The clip was produced by creative director Andrus Koresaar and Produktsioonigrupp.

“Every capital of culture throughout the 25 years has attempted to amaze with something unprecedented during the opening ceremony. But considering the different budgets, we are not so wealthy as to import big international names. So we decided to take a more creative path,” commented the creative director of the opening ceremony, Foundation Tallinn 2011 program director Jaanus Rohumaa. “Half-jokingly, we could say we sent invitations to very far away and received a reply - our invitation reached the universe,” added Rohumaa.

Together with the team of three, the UFO weighed almost 1,000 kg. In addition to Andres Mirme, who came out of the machine dressed as an alien to wave to the people, the flying saucer also housed two helpers, Oliver Kulpsoo and Priit Kukk, who took care of the lights and laser rays of the UFO. The UFO was designed by Enar Tarmo, the technical director of Von Krahl theater and Stunts; it was built by Management OU.

The opening ceremony of European Capital of Culture Tallinn 2011 was prepared by Tallinn 2011 Foundation, National Opera Estonia and Estonian Public Broadcasting. The main director was Jaanus Rohumaa, producer Eva Saar, designer Katrin Sipelgas. Technical support was by Royal Service, Eventech and Meeskond.
The European Capital of Culture Tallinn 2011 program started on Jan. 1 with a series of alternative and club music events in Metro Plaza ‘Club 2011.’

On Jan. 2 the best of the Ljubljana Biennale exhibition was opened in Kumu as well as Urmas Viik’s installation ‘Mr. Luik’s Hummer’ at Tallinn airport, both of which are introductions to the XV Tallinn Print Triennial opening on Jan. 20.
Also on Jan. 2 the first part of a TV series by Jaan Tootsen, telling the stories of Tallinn’s people, ‘One Story’ was aired on Estonian TV.