Kinodvor Gallery
30. 11.–8. 12.

With her humorous animations, the Animateka 2024 artist-in-residence, Estonian self-taught animator Chintis Lundgren takes us through the dynamics of interpersonal relations, the backdrop for the main protagonists on their way to achieving personal integrity and sexual authenticity. The display includes original drawings from the animations Life with Herman H. Rott (2015), Manivald (2017), and Toomas Beneath the Valley of the Wild Wolves (2019).

Animation history is littered with anthropomorphic characters, many of which can be cloying and barely resemble their human or animal counterparts. In the work of Chintis Lundgren, however, these characters are a tad different. They are essentially humans in animal costumes—much like participants at a furry orgy, where identities are temporarily obscured. It feels as though these characters are not fully realized; the animal masks serve as a guise en route to self-acceptance.

Self-taught, Lundgren quickly made her mark in the animation world with a series of brief and unusual commissioned works for the Estonian Ornithological Society. One could instantly recognize that touch of Estonian absurdity, but also a unique visual style, often placing animal characters in absurd, distinctly human situations.

“They’re simple to draw, and I’m a bit lazy,” Lundgren admits. “But they’re also easier to relate to than human characters, allowing you to laugh at yourself. Anyone can see themselves in a fox or a rabbit, but a bald man with a mustache? That character would resonate only with other bald, mustached men.”

Lundgren’s aesthetic choices reflect her personal preferences. “Experiencing a perfectly balanced monochrome picture gives me a strange sense of satisfaction. Too many colors in one frame disturbs me. Right now, I’m drawn to various shades of reds and pinks; I can’t quite explain it, but I just like it.”

At the core of Lundgren’s work is a search of sorts for sexual identity, love and the complexities of finding and maintaining relationships.

Life with Herman H. Rott (2015) presents a variation on The Odd Couple, showcasing the chaotic love affair between Herman, a slovenly rat, and a fastidious cat. It humorously yet uncomfortably captures the volatility and challenges of sustaining a relationship.

A unique and refreshing aspect of Lindgren’s work is the straightforward way in which sexuality is explored. Virtually all of her characters are sexually liberal and/or openly bisexual. In Lundgren’s world, it’s no big deal. There is no judgment. This is just who these people are.

In Manivald (2017), a 33-year-old man living with his mother faces upheaval when Toomas, a handsome handyman, arrives to fix the washing machine, but ends up fixing them (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). This absurd yet heartfelt narrative portrays an emotionally starved generation while satirizing the sometimes unhealthy dynamics between parents and their adult children.

Toomas Beneath the Valley of the Wild Wolves (2019), is inspired by Russ Meyer’s campy flair—particularly his 1970 feature, Beyond the Valley of the Dolls—with a touch of Sergio Leone’s cinematic style. The film blends camp and matrimonial melodrama, featuring deadpan character designs, intentionally eye-rolling double entendres, and a standout performance by Draško Ivezić as the hilariously deep-voiced Toomas. The result is a genuinely funny and morally ambiguous film that lingers in the memory.

The other day I was riding the bus and I overheard a passerby mumbling on her phone that “we expect love to be the source of our greatest joys, but it is often one of the most reliable routes to misery.” The stranger went on to add that through pop culture and mass media we are inundated with idealized portrayals of love, leading many to believe it should be effortless—filled with daily bouquets, fine wine, and earth-shattering orgasms. When reality proves otherwise, the instinct is to flee in search of something better or perfect. But, it’s delusional to expect two unique beings, thrown together with countless responsibilities, to harmonize effortlessly. Love is not a magical potion but an art that requires constant learning, practice, and effort.

Chris Robinson