Siim-Tanel Annus 1960 423. 1991

or decades, Siim-Tanel Annus, who has created abstract works with geometric forms, writes: “The work is inspired by what I saw and experienced in the Old City of Jerusalem. The southern atmosphere there—endless narrow streets, passages, and cellars with doors and windows—conceals mysterious corridors and stairs descending into depth, which in turn end at some closed door or hatch.

All of this was very powerful, especially considering the stories told by the local inhabitants, which were at times contradictory and filled with myths and various beliefs. I was fascinated by the ever-deeper secrets behind doors and hatches. It felt like searching for God, where one senses an ever-growing closeness, yet as a mortal, one can never reach Him. It is no coincidence that the term ‘Jerusalem syndrome’ is often used to describe visitors to the city who become overwhelmed by such experiences.

After this journey, the series ‘Gates of Jerusalem’ was born, which also includes the work offered at auction. This piece is additionally titled number 423 (for clarification: in the 1980s I used a numbering system for my works, where each artistic act received its own number—whether a small postcard, a painting, or a large-scale performance).”