Artistic direction, concept and production design of the artworks "Clouds" and "Portal"

for Artius public space,

Narva mnt 5 in Tallinn, Estonia.

Opened in 2026.

Artius is the former Foorum shopping centre in the heart of Tallinn, refreshed in early
2026. “My task was to give the entire space a new sense of life, and I saw this as a
dialogue with the dark wooden surfaces and angular forms created by Hannes Praks
in 2006. The new identity is bright, soft in form and full of light, with a gallery-like feel
down to the smallest detail. I designed the entrance to the centre as an empowering
mirror installation, titled “Portal”, covering the walls and ceiling. The atrium composition
“Clouds” consists of colourful plexiglass clouds that appear to float playfully in the air.

I was inspired by the round skylights in the atrium ceiling, which remind me of aeroplane
windows. When things feel difficult, I remind myself that above the clouds the sun
is always shining. I like to think of the Artius space in this way: if the skylights are the
aeroplane, then beyond the colourful clouds, at the visitor’s level in the atrium,
the bright sun is always shining,” says Marit Ilison.

Photos by Kristjan Mõru