Estonian modern culture
Situated between Eastern and Western Europe, Estonia is also culturally a border area, or a crossing point to be more exact. In the traditions of these parts, one can find elements originating from the East as well as the West, but mostly the Estonians consider themselves a northern people and conceptually bound to Scandinavia. Marginal and border cultures are where one can find the most interesting phenomena and combinations. In this regard, Estonia is a country of dozens of possibilities.
One of Estonia’s calling cards is undoubtedly modern classical music. Composers Arvo Pärt, Veljo Tormis and Erkki-Sven Tüür need not be introduced to the fans of more serious music. The same applies to conductors Neeme Järvi, Eri Klas and Tõnu Kaljuste, who work with different orchestras and choirs all over the world, as well as Anu Tali, who is attracting more and more attention. The music of Arvo Pärt and Veljo Tormis will be at the centre of attention in 2010 as both are celebrating important birthdays this year, and concerts in their honour will take place in many Estonian cities.
The role of music and singing has throughout the centuries been of utmost importance for the preservation of the Estonian nation. The tradition of great Song Festivals, which got its beginning in the swell of the national movement in the 19th century, has remained a distinctive cultural event up to the present day. The highlight of the festival is when nearly 25 000 Estonians congregate under the Song Festival Arch and all sing together.
In recent years, the Viljandi Folk Music Festival has become a popular event for all ages, while keeping alive and interpreting the traditional music of different peoples. Audiences are also drawn in by the jazz music festival Jazzkaar and the distinctive Birgitta Fesival, which brings together music and theatre.
The Estonian popular musicians making the most waves at the moment are the house music duo Rulers of the Deep, who have gained international recognition, and singer Kerli Kõiv, whose voice has been heard all over the USA. Estonia’s talented musicians are also highlighted during the annual Tallinn Music Week, during which the most prominent popular musicians take the stage.
The most anticipated and important art event of recent years was undoubtedly the opening of the new main building of the Art Museum of Estonia – KUMU Art Museum—at the beginning of 2006 in Kadriorg. For the first time in its nearly 90-year history, the Art Museum can display the entire permanent exhibition of Estonian art from the beginning of the 18th century up to the 1990s. Alongside the permanent exposition in KUMU, there is a gallery of modern art and a big exhibition hall, where Estonian as well as international art is exhibited. KUMU was awarded the European Museum of the Year Award in 2008.
Although visual arts know no language barriers, the path to international success for Estonians in this field has been a little bumpier than in music. Since 1997, an important role in introducing Estonian modern art has been played by the Venice Biennial, at which Estonia has been represented by the most internationally well-known Estonian artists Jaan Toomik and Ene-Liis Semper, as well as by Marco Laimre, Kaido Ole and Marko Mäetamm, among others. Among expatriate Estonian artists, Mark Kalev Kostabi and his Kostabi World in New York have attracted the most attention during the last decades.
Due to the Protestant tradition, Estonian culture has been regarded as centred on words rather than images. As a result, literature has been seen in a preferred position to the other arts. In the present kaleidoscopic scene of literature one can find several different trends. The works of Jaan Kross, the grand old man of Estonian literature who addressed the history and the fate of the Estonian people, are still popular and well-known. Jaan Kaplinski, a versatile prose writer, poet, essayist, and translator is also influential in his works. In the past decade, the fiction works of Tõnu Õnnepalu have evoked resonance. In Estonia, Andrus Kivirähk has become one of the most popular writers, writing his own style of Estonian mythology. The poetry of the young female poet Kristiina Ehin has been translated into several languages. Active young Estonian writers and poets have come together in various different groups. In addition to Estonian literature, translating has had a key role in the interpretation of classics of fiction, as well as on the history of culture. The problems of the preservation, development and modification of the Estonian language, spoken by less than a million people, as well as the creation of a proper vocabulary in all spheres of life, are becoming increasingly relevant in a modern and ever more open society. The cultural media fills the same role, since its readership is proportionally large compared to the population.
Estonian theatre, which has been influenced by both Russian and German schools of theatre, has strong traditions and is treasured by the public. The oldest Estonian theatre, the Vanemuine in Tartu, has retained its universality by staging drama and music, as well as dance performances. In addition to the Estonian Drama Theatre and the opera and ballet house Estonia, the Tallinn City Theatre has also become a top-level theatre, primarily thanks to its strong-willed leader, producer Elmo Nüganen. During recent years, the newest Estonian theatre NO99 has earned awards for its participation in many reputable theatre festivals. Many theatres and troupes that provide alternative types of performances have also joined the theatre landscape. One phenomenon and audience magnet is summer theatre, which each year discovers new performance spaces and opportunities for creating both light-hearted and dramatic productions outside of a conventional theatre space.
Estonian film production has also gained momentum over the past few years. In 2007 Veiko Õunpuu’s film “Autumn Ball” won the Venice Film Festival’s Orizzonti Prize, which is given for works presenting new directions in filmmaking. That same year Ilmar Raag’s film “Class” won the Europa Cinemas Label grand prize at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival and Kadri Kõusaar’s “Magnus” was the first Estonian film to make it into the competition programme at the Cannes Film Festival. Those aspiring to the film industry are educated at the Baltic Film and Media School in Tallinn, which is the only school in Northern Europe to offer English-language film instruction. The annual highlight of film scene is undoubtedly the international Black Nights Film Festival, which has developed into a meeting place for Estonian film lovers as well as for neighbouring film buffs. The festival will be bigger in 2010 than ever before, since the annual European Film Awards ceremony will also be taking place in Tallinn. The trademark of the Estonian film industry has for decades been animation, and its calling card Priit Pärn’s animated cartoons are considered among the best in the world.
In the last decade the Estonian living environment has undergone as many changes as the spiritual space. Architecture and urban renewal have been the topics of a lively discussion primarily in Tallinn, where the old town, included in the UNESCO list of World Heritage, and a new city space with mirror-glassed offices and bank buildings, hotels and malls stand side by side. In addition to the spiritual and physical environment, the role of the third space, virtual reality, is becoming more and more important in everyday life as well as in the cultural life of Estonians.
Anu Allas, art critic
Estonian Foreign Ministry