Meeli Kõiva facts for kids
Meeli Kõiva (who also uses the name Mery Crystal Ra) was born on January 14, 1960, in Tartu, Estonia. She is an artist from Estonia and America. She is known for her amazing artworks using glass, light, and multimedia. She creates paintings, light sculptures, videos, and special stained glass art for buildings. Her art often explores how light moves through glass and deep ideas about our minds and bodies.
Her Artistic Journey
Meeli Kõiva studied art at the Estonian Academy of Arts. She learned about painting, glass, plastics, and lasers. She finished her studies in 1984. Her very first art show was in 1991 in Tallinn, Estonia. In 1994, she showed her art in Malmö, Sweden. She is also a member of the Estonian Association of Artists.
Meeli Kõiva loves to use colorful glass in buildings. She uses it in both regular buildings and religious places. She mixes architecture and interior design with glass, shiny surfaces, colors, and light. This creates a special "intriguing moment" for people who see her art. Lately, she also uses videos and other digital elements in her work.
One of her most famous artworks is Reactive River. This was shown in 2006 at the European Parliament building in Brussels, Belgium.
Meeli Kõiva has won awards for her work. In 2013 and 2014, she won the "Light In the city, Northern Light" competition. In 2015, she received the "Public Choice Video Award" from CODAworx. She was asked to speak at the closing event of the United Nations International Year of Light in 2016. This event was held in Mérida, Mexico. There, she also set up an art show called "Light for Peace."
Besides working with glass and light, Meeli Kõiva also paints. She makes jewelry too, using leather and glass.
Some of Her Artworks
- "Tele-echo," Tallinn TV Tower, Tallinn, Estonia, 1985
- "Scratching Horizon," The Port of Tallinn, Estonia, 1993
- "Wings," Supreme Court of Estonia, Tartu, Estonia, 1996
- "Reactive River," Main Building, European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium, 2006
- "Flying Sheets of Paper," Glaston Corporation, Tampere, Finland, 2012
- "Golden Gate Meets Golden Gateway," TETRA building, Mäetaguse Parish, Mäetaguse, Estonia, 2014
- "Parasite Beach," Estonian Mining Museum, Kohtla-Nõmme, Estonia, 2016
- "Light for Peace," International Year of Light 2015 closing ceremony, Mérida, Mexico, February 4–6, 2016.
Her Films
- Light for Peace, 2:42 min. [1]
- Parasite Beach, 4:39 min. [2]
- Golden Gate Meets Golden Gateway, 2:54 min. [3]
- Flying Sheets Of Paper, 3:14 min. [4]
- Human Touch /Serendipity Dating At Baldachin Bed [5]
