(Original article on tribuna.ee)

An exhibition dedicated to the centenary of the renowned Estonian artist Ülo Sooster, one of the major figures of unofficial Soviet art, has opened at the Mikkel Museum of Private Collections in Tallinn. 

For Ülo Sooster (1924–1970), who was born on the island of Hiiumaa and received his artistic education in Tartu, Moscow became a second home after his return from Stalin's labor camps in the mid-1950s. It was there that he created the majority of his paintings and graphic works.

During his lifetime, Sooster never held a solo exhibition, and the wider public only became aware of him after his death. Today, his name is gaining increasing recognition, with his work being studied and exhibited more frequently.

The exhibition, "Ülo Sooster: A View from Private Collections," will remain open at the Mikkel Museum until May 4 of next year. One of the exhibition’s curators, Elnara Taidre, shared insights into the preparation of the exhibition with Tribuna.ee at the opening reception. Meanwhile, the artist’s son, Tenno Sooster, spoke about the legacy of his father’s work.

From Private Collections

According to Elnara Taidre, Ülo Sooster was both an exceptional painter and a masterful draftsman, and the exhibition aims to reflect both aspects of his talent. Visitors should be able to see how he used various artistic means to create his unique mythology, complete with its own symbols and archetypes.

"We already knew some of the collectors who own Sooster's works," said Elnara. "Some of them had direct contact with the artist himself or his friends and acquired these works as gifts. Others began collecting Sooster’s works after discovering him on their own, while some came to appreciate him only recently. Local galleries that deal with art also helped us in our search for those who own works by the Estonian artist."

"We already knew some of the collectors who own Sooster's works," said Elnara. "Some of them had direct contact with the artist himself or his friends and acquired these works as gifts. Others began collecting Sooster’s works after discovering him on their own, while some came to appreciate him only recently. Local galleries that deal with art also helped us in our search for those who own works by the Estonian artist."

"The work to organize the exhibition, ‘Ülo Sooster: A View from Private Collections,’ took about a year, which is very little time for such an extensive exhibition," noted Elnara. "At the same time, we were also preparing a comprehensive monograph on the artist, spanning 300 pages with around 400 illustrations, which we presented at the opening."

Seeing the Familiar with Fresh Eyes 

The curator explained that the book "Ülo Sooster" is not an exhibition catalog but a true monograph aimed not only at introducing works from private collections, which are unfamiliar to the public, but also at revisiting the artist's more well-known pieces with fresh perspectives. It combines different facets of his work — from free-form art to book illustration and animation.

"Sooster was a highly versatile artist who worked on various themes in different styles, from surrealism to abstraction," Elnara continued. "We hope that the book will spark a renewed interest in the artist and his works. The essays are concise and provide diverse perspectives on Sooster’s art from seven authors from different countries."

Elnara admitted that she always enjoys observing how artists engage with materials, and in this sense, any solo exhibition offers such an opportunity. At the exhibition dedicated to Ülo Sooster, viewers can appreciate both his richly layered paintings and his remarkable drawings, where he alternates between precise realism and expressive illustration, capturing a striking image with just a few swift pen strokes.

"Though Sooster lived and worked in Moscow for many years, the roots of his art are in Estonia," Elnara said. "In his works, one can discern the influence of the Pallas art school in Tartu, to which he belonged, as well as the imagery inspired by childhood memories of his home island, Hiiumaa. The fish, egg, and juniper are part of Sooster’s personal mythology. Through them, he tells stories that speak to human nature, the world around us, and the cosmos — addressing philosophical themes that resonate both broadly and in the context of Estonia’s fate and its art."

The Legacy

In an interview with Tribuna.ee, Sooster’s son Tenno mentioned that he and his family have always taken an interest in tracking where Ülo Sooster's works are located — in which museums and collections. With the establishment of the Sooster Foundation to mark the artist's centenary, this endeavor has become more focused. A website, www.sooster.ee, now showcases 1,200 of Sooster’s works, including paintings, drawings, photographs, and various articles and comments.

"We’re open to collaboration with anyone who has any materials related to Ülo Sooster or his works," Tenno said. "Recently, we discovered that several collections in Italy and Spain also hold my father’s paintings. In the National Gallery of the Czech Republic, one of his works was recently found in storage — it had been brought there by a Czech art historian and later bequeathed to the gallery."

According to Tenno, the largest collection of Sooster’s works is held by the Tartu Art Museum. After his death, his family, along with his friends, artists Kabakov, Sobolev, Zhitovsky, and Yankilevsky, discussed what to do with what he left behind. It was impossible to give everything to Moscow museums, so they decided that since Sooster was Estonian, he should be represented in Estonia.

"Negotiations with museums in Tallinn and Tartu began," Tenno recalled. "In the end, we entrusted many of my father’s works to Tartu, and the Tartu Museum even bought some pieces. This transfer took place in 1971, the same year the Tartu Art Museum held the first retrospective of Ülo Sooster, introducing his work to the public."

A second transfer of Sooster's works happened in 1989–1990 when his family decided to emigrate to Israel. Much of what remained with them was also sent to Tartu, meaning a large portion of Ülo Sooster’s work is now in Estonia. Yet, it turns out that many of his works are still scattered around the world, including in Russia.

"The ‘Vellum’ gallery in Moscow, led by Lyubov Agafonova, recently opened the exhibition ‘Ülo Sooster: To the 100th Anniversary of the Moscow Surrealist,’" added Tenno. "It features around 50 of his works, both paintings and drawings. During the opening, my daughter and I joined the event via video link to greet the organizers and congratulate the attendees. Many people came to the vernissage. So, Sooster’s name is also being heard in Moscow, where his art is valued."

Alexander Aisberg,  24/10/2024