A German banana (sprayed by Der Bananensprayer) outside a gallery on Sophienstraße in Berlin. Photo: Riina Kindlam
Only the odd unrenovated facade is a reminder of what once was; to the untrained eye it is just another stylish midtown (Mitte) neighbourhood. But the banana, like this one by the door of Asperger Gallery on Sophienstraße, has become a bit of a desired symbol of prestige left by Der Bananensprayer Thomas Baumgärtel, who in 1986 began tagging what he considers to be the most interesting art spaces in European cities as well as in New York and Moscow. The press has called it “the unofficial logo of the art scene”.
Lithuanian-owned Giedre Bartelt Galerie in the same neighbourhood is currently featuring Estonian photographer Peeter Maria Laurits's and producer/director Ain Mäeots’s slightly scandalous “Mullatoidurestoran” (Earth Food Restaurant), part of the Kulturjahr der Zehn or Cultural Year of the Ten (new European Union member states). The large-scale photographs show staged scenes of the peaceful hours following the violent end of human civilization on our planet, when people have become “food for the earth”. But no banana outside the door – yet.
An Estonian apple (Yummy IV, 100 x 100 cm, 2003, painted in oil and grafittied by Laurentsius), hanging indoors on Tina tänav in Tallinn’s Kadriorg. Photo: Priit Grepp
And around the corner, yet more art from Estland at Galerie Artlonga: Moscow-born, Estonian Academy of Art graduate Valeri Vinogradov’s “Siberiaad”, poking fun at the Soviet system and its continuing legacy in Russia ends its solo run Oct. 1st to be replaced on the 2nd by Laurentsius’s (Lauri Sillak’s) “Tutti-Frutti” and then some. The artist does not work alone: just before the opening of an exhibition he scribbles a naughty graffiti worm emerging from each carefully executed piece of fruit, (every museum guard's nightmare). Both Vinogradov's and Laurentsius's works were among those which fetched substancial figures at a recent art auction for the Tallinn Children’s Hospital.
If you missed Das MoMa in Berlin, the Museum of Modern Art in New York’s exhibition in the German capital, which had line-ups encircling the Nationalgalerie all summer, then the city does have another permanent NYC offshoot, the Deutsche Guggenheim Berlin on Unter den Linden. Works by the famed late American photographer Robert Mapplethorpe can be seen there for two more weeks.
Photography seems to be the current “medium darling” in Berlin, both at the Art Forum art fair, private galleries and yet another new neighbours event "E.U. Positive" (Kunst aus dem Neuen Europa), on at the Akademie der Künste until November. Tallinn printmaker Eve Kask’s contribution consists of portrait photos of all the people living in her suburban Lasnamäe apartment building entitled “Kärberi 37”, Kaido Ole and Marko Mäetamm throw some digital in their mix(ed media) for their continuing saga of John Smith, begun at the Venice Biennial two years ago and three videos by Kai Kaljo as well as two by Marco Laimre are running alongside the works of 42 artists from the 10 new EU member states. The exhibition got its name from Laimre’s performance (in a wedding dress) of 2001. Could the message be “I’m getting married to Europa”?
That brings the number of Estonian artists currently exhibiting in Berlin to at least 8, including a wonderful discovery at the State Museum’s Gemäldegalerie: Michel Sittow, born in Reval 1469, died in Reval 1525/6, “Maria mit dem Kind” (Virgin Mary with the Child), 1515/18.
Michel Sittow, Maria mit dem Kind, 1515/18, the German State Museum’s Gemäldegalerie
The son of an artist, born of „Germanic-Scandinavian stock“, Michel Sittow is the only artist Tallinn has produced whose works can be seen at the National Gallery in Washington D.C., the London National Gallery (Portrait of King Henry VII), in Copenhagen (Portrait of King Christian II), Paris, Moscow, Los Angeles and elsewhere. Having first received instruction from his father, Sittow studied under Northern Renaissance master Hans Memling as part of his apprenticeship in Brugges. Specializing in small devotional works and considered one of the best portraitists of his time, (he used to give saints and the Virgin Mary the features of his clients), Sittow rose to became the court painter to Spain’s Queen Isabella, Margarete of Austria and others. Upon returning to Tallinn he became a citizen of the town and towards the end of his life headed the St. Canute (Kanuti) Guild. Unfortunately, the works of his Tallinn period have been sold abroad or destroyed. Only four figures of saints on the Passion of Christ altarpiece in St. Nicholas (Niguliste) Church are believed to be his work. There is a plaque on the façade of the house at Rataskaevu 20/22 in Tallinn’s old town where the master lived and worked.
“When Siim Kallas accepted his important post in Brussels to do right by Estonia and Europe, Michel Sittow had already been there and done that five hundred years ago.” – Art historian and critic Harry Liivrand in his article “Michel Sittow – meie esimene eurooplane” (our first European), Eesti Ekspress, 13.05.2004
