Marko Mäetamm

A cheerful work by the 27-year-old artist from a time when the concerns of the post-Soviet transitional society seemed temporary and a free Estonia was looming before his eyes, where at the level of the individual the future seemed hopeful. The style of depiction (background patterns) and motif (nude female) of the graphic sheet would seem to refer to the artistic values of the previous era, such as Henri Matisse’s flat painting style and French esprit. However, the title Iivi firmly places the work in Estonia, not in France or elsewhere. Lithography is an old and specific graphics technique that is performed using large stone slabs, which today are not found in an easy way. In Estonia, lithography has been carried out with the help of museum equipment, initially in Pärnu, and later in Tallinn, by the Lithography Centre. Many artists, including Marko Mäetamm, have been able to use unique printing opportunities in this field.