Walking to Utopia and Thinking About Art Along the Way

This reflective essay offers a unique perspective on the transformative potential of urban exploration during periods of restricted access, such as lockdowns. The author describes how the closure of shops, cafés, and art galleries in Tallinn's old town during the pandemic created an environment that encouraged deeper engagement with visual art and imaginative thinking. The walk, initially purposeful, evolved into a meandering experience filled with images, ideas, and utopian reflections, demonstrating how spatial constraints can foster creative and philosophical exploration. The essay highlights the interplay between physical movement, visual art, and mental processes, suggesting that such conditions can lead to new ways of seeing and being.

Ulvi Haagensen. (2021). Walking to Utopia and Thinking About Art Along the Way. RUUKKU - Studies in Artistic Research, (17). https://doi.org/10.22501/ruu.1123907