Karl Joonas Alamaa he/they (2000) is an Estonian artist and designer, who has studied fashion at the Estonian Academy of Arts and acquired their Master’s in costume design at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp. In 2025 they will start their two year research project at The Royal Academy of Fine Art Antwerp, Belgium.
Alamaa is interested in personal and collective power — how the strength of individuals can oppose authority and politics. In their practice, they often engage with the notion of mundanity, exploring the potential of everyday phenomena and small actions to create change, working with historical archival materials, personal memories, and experiences. It is often characteristic of them to approach topics through sensitive and controversial angles of North-Eastern European recent history. Alamaa is a laureate of the Mathilde Horlait-Dapsens Prize, JAT Prize, Future Proef Award, Eduard Wiiralt Stipend and a nominee for Silver Needle 2021 and 2024.
karljoonas.com
Instagram: @karljoonasalamaa
(portrait by Jane Treima)