Johannes Veski

master chambers presents
Johannes Veski

We met Johannes at 9.00 AM on Wednesday in Telliskivi Creative City (Tallinn, Estonia) where he had been working and preparing for the day from 6.00 AM. The smell of freshly baked bread filled the air while Johannes continued to work on preparing Black sourdough croissants.

The pace in the studio got quite high when familiar customers started to come by for the love of Aarde Bakery. They said it’s the best bread they have ever had. Johannes served them enthusiastically and kept up with the work in between as I documented the process. Time went quickly and so did the bread.

Aarde Bakery : Website Instagram
Photography & Interview : Silver Mikiver

How did you develop your passion?

My parents are lifelong restauranteurs and good honest food has always been an important part of our household. As a theatre and film director and multi-media artist, I needed a well-deserved break from the world of storytelling via performative means.

The decision was to find my “vacation” in something very tangible, necessary, and straightforward. Bread is all of those things. Bread as a staple of many food cultures engaged me with many aspects - the specifics of preparing it as well as its part in the grand narrative of humankind.

‘‘ I enjoy making, eating, and offering good, honest food. I love stories that come with the ingredients, and the recipes. The history of food. Food is a fundamental part of our culture. ‘‘

‘‘ I bake bread and make sandwiches. ‘‘

‘‘ To me, bread stands out as something very straightforward. Compared to my previous endeavors, solving any challenges related to bread has been an enjoyment thanks to the brick-by-brick vibe that it gives me.

Today, with the obscene amount of information available in the section on “how to bake bread”, it’s only a question of motivation. It wasn’t as straightforward with film or theatre. ’’

‘‘ Knowing what you are doing and why creates a meaningful life. ‘‘

‘‘ Immediate feedback of people tasting the bread and going …mmmm, this is the best bread in the world. Hearing this every day is really fulfilling. ‘‘

‘‘ Mastery is perfection in technique. ‘‘

How to pursue your inner calling?

Be honest.

captured on film ©Silver Mikiver