Karin Luts: Pictures from Travels
The innovative painter and printmaker Karin Luts (1904–1993) was one of the most important Estonian artists of the 20th century. In the 1920s, she studied at the Pallas Art School, where her teachers included Konrad Mägi and Ado Vabbe. Luts was the first Estonian woman artist to actively participate in art life not only through her works, but also through her writings and art criticism.
Travelling played a very important role in Karin Luts’s life. It was necessary to educate herself and to preserve her creative vigour, but also to distract herself from everyday worries. Luts did not consider the views and landscapes she made during her travels to be true art, but something similar to photography. Yet these works are an important part of her oeuvre, expressing her genuine emotions on paper.
Artworks displayed
Gallery
Curator Mare Joonsalu on the exhibition:
The exhibition displays works from the travels from different periods of Karin Luts’ life accompanied by quotes from her diaries, as well as a film based on the diary entries, which provides insight into the artist’s everyday life; she talks about difficulties and her journey to becoming a successful artist.
Karin Luts first spent time abroad in 1928–1929, when she travelled to Paris on a scholarship from the Pallas Art School. Like all Pallas students, Luts considered contact with the world art to be the best education. She visited museums and galleries, and studied drawing with André Lhote at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière. Her lack of money and the need to work prevented Luts from fully enjoying her stay in Paris. Only a few sketches and several self-portraits are known, in which she depicts herself as sad and thin and with a slightly runny nose. Luts returned to Paris ten years later. Then she also visited Italy. The impressions she gained from the trip were inspiration for two magnificent paintings: Venice Motif and Comédie Française.
In 1944, Karin Luts fled to Sweden with her husband Peeter Arumaa. Later, while living in Sweden, Luts spent all of her summers in various parts of Europe. Her favourite countries were France, Spain and above all the old cultural hub of Italy, which also satisfied her interest in the latest contemporary art with the Venice Biennale held every two years.
The closest destination for her travels was Ven: a small Swedish island in the middle of the Sound (Øresund). The artist often stayed there with her husband, but she preferred to be alone and work in peace. The island’s environment was very inspiring for Luts, leading to several compositions with maritime and summer themes.
The exhibition takes place in cooperation with the Tartu Art Museum.
Curator: Mare Joonsalu (Tartmus)
Exhibition design and graphic design: Angelika Schneider
Coordinator: Tiiu Saadoja
Exhibition technician: Siim Hiis
Public and education programmes: Frederik Klanberg
Selection of diary entries featured in the accompanying film: Katrin Kivimaa
Exhibition team:
Liis-Marel Aak, Richard Adang, Nele Ambos, Andres Amos, Darja Andrejeva, Jan Andresson, Rando Arand, Tanel Asmer, Kaarel Eelma, Pärtel Eelma, Erik Hallik, Joanna Hoffmann, Torm Isok, Liisa Kaljula, Rene Kriisa, Johannes-Markus Krull, Ats Kruusing, Kersti Kuldna-Türkson, Markus Gregori Kullamaa, Kaja Kährik, Hele-Mai Madisson, Tõnis Medri, Aleksandra Murre, Marit Must, Eve Mutso, Kadri Mägi, Kelli Neitsov, Norman Orro, Mare Pedanik, Johann Põldra, Renita Raudsepp, Polina Richter, Kaidi Saavan, Inga Salurand, Mati Schönberg, Allan Talu, Peeter Talvistu, Ants Tammik, Ago Teedema, Kristiina Tiideberg, Tanel Topaasia, Uve Untera
We thank:
Estonian Literary Museum, Mait Talts
In collaboration with:
Tartu Art Museum
