Valev Laube ’18 is a digital media studies major, a violinist, and a social media enthusiast. But when he introduces himself in class, he says simply, “I am an independent artist.”
A native of Estonia, Laube already has an impressive portfolio and rich experience in digital art production. He has exhibited work in both the United States and Canada. Last March, he served as the creative director of the Estonian Cultural Days in New York City, and was a video artist in a performing art piece, “Reflection Spectrum.”
Recently he has worked on another show that he will perform on October 29 at the New York Estonian House, in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan. Inspired by Estonian-born American architect Louis Kahn, “the show aims to explore how our physical surroundings can change artistic perceptions,” Laube says. “It is also about how we interact with the space we live in.”
The interactive live performance will feature video as well as direct conversation between the audience and the artists. Laube will take charge of audio effects as well as manage all operational details.
The performance is supported by the Foundation for Estonian Arts and Letters, the longest running Estonian foundation that assists creative people in the United States with connections to Estonia and its culture. As the youngest e-board member of the foundation, Laube represents musicians and digital artists, finding new ways to promote Estonian culture, and multiculturalism in general.
Laube came to Rochester intending to pursue the arts. Since he arrived, he’s picked up violin, honed his graphic design skills, and actively participated in many cultural groups. He says he enjoys wandering around the art and music library stacks to search for books he might like. He’s recently added to his own shelf Super-Modified: The Behance Book of Creative Work (Gestalten).
“Rochester works for me,” he says.
