News > Interview with Jaanus Vaiksoo and Jüri Mildeberg

Interview with Jaanus Vaiksoo and Jüri Mildeberg

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The presentation of Jaanus Vaiksoo’s new book Loode-Eesti Regionaalhaigla Elulood and the exhibition of Jüri Mildeberg’s witty illustrations took place on Tuesday, 7 August 2018, in Haus Gallery. The exhibition will remain open until 8 September, with it also being possible to review and purchase the book from the gallery.

The collection of poetry and prose published to date by writer and literary historian Jaanus Vaiksoo is quite impressive in terms of the volume. Book illustrator and painter Jüri Mildeberg has been delighting us with his creations for more than 20 years. His work is enriching homes in Estonia and elsewhere around the world. With the help of Terje Metsavas, Haus Gallery is taking a look into the stories behind the fresh creation from and cooperation between two friends.

Echo of the book. Interview with Jaanus Vaiksoo:

Your collection of poetry and prose published to date is quite impressive. How did the idea for the recently published book of poetry and cooperation with the popular and beloved artist Jüri Mildeberg come about?

Mildeberg had already been planning for years to do a book, where I would write short stories or poems to accompany his portraits. But that idea stalled at the time because of me. Last year, I just happened to find a couple of these attempts on my computer and the idea simply started to take shape. Everything went pretty quickly from there. Jüri also created a new series of types, which he has graciously placed in wooden boxes at the exhibition. So things happen when they are supposed to.

Even though you have previously written for children, is this book, with its humorous and exciting poems, meant for adults?

Well, yes, those epigrams are definitely not meant for children. But that is the way it is in our everyday lives. As parents or teachers we don’t talk about everything in front of children; and so it is that a children’s author is an entirely normal person when among his friends, relatives and acquaintances.

How important is it to acknowledge and convey our colourful lives through poems-stories? This is not simply curiosity about the doings of others...

A person is a person, regardless of the person they are. We all possess a lot of life experience and at the same time an incredible amount of naivety, wisdom and stupid mistakes, greatness and lowness. All of this makes life slightly absurd when viewed from the sidelines, but also makes it incredibly interesting. What is the difference between boastful family man Kassiaru Jaska, from Truth and Justice, who stood in the tavern barefoot, on the threshold of the master’s chamber, with a crisp 100 rouble note between each toe, and Donald Trump, the bloviating President of the United States? In truth, nothing. Simply that one was an arrogant Estonian farmer in a Tammsaare novel and the other is currently running the world. All of this seems so silly at times, but it is actually taking place around us and with us.

What is amazing is your skill in using scarce rows and humour to convey the nature of the characters in a seasoned manner. Were you like an x-ray to your sources? And then there are those funny names!

Actually, there were no specific sources. When I was dealing with the idea for the book, a name would jump into my mind from time to time, which would begin to take shape in the verses. With this game you never know what type of name will develop.

Let’s take a look ahead – what’s next? What are you planning in your thoughts or what do you already have sitting in the drawer?

I am currently finishing a children’s book, which I first began writing many years ago and is connected to the book Isade Unejuttudesse. I have now written a sequel to it and want to release it as a separate book.

Visual tonal colours of the exhibition. Interview with Jüri Mildeberg:

An exhibition of your humorous illustrations was recently opened at Haus Gallery, which can also be seen in Jaanus Vaiksoo’s recently published book Loode-Eesti Regionaalhaigla Elulood. You have appeared previously at Haus Gallery with an exhibition – a couple of years ago with illustrations for Indrek Koff’s book. How does such cooperation come about – who selects whom or invites one to cooperate?

I guess it is kind of like dance night – if there are many women then the woman can ask you to dance, but usually it is the man who does the asking. True story, when it comes to providing illustrations for the text, first there is a discussion, which is followed by the drawing of pictures. For some reason the opposite doesn't seem to want to work. And our work with Jaanus – Jaanus wrote poems and then asked whether any ideas popped into my head... The answer was yes, and I came up with the pictures!

You have illustrated a number of children’s books, worked together with several newspapers and painted, created bookplates, wooden sculptures, etc. What, out of all that you have created, is especially close to your heart and what presents a challenge? Is there anywhere left to go, to test, to create? 

Everything can be developed further, everything can be made new, everything is a challenge, a true story; I always look forward to tomorrow! Not that I don’t like yesterday. I look back and make my peace with it, and sometimes I laugh and see that it was good. But my interests and expectations are tied to future works and activities!

And being close to the heart – there is something of a malicious thread in there, because how do I say to my child that, see, you are dearer to me than others are! Maybe you are dearer, but that must not be disclosed!

Your illustrated books have earnt a number of prizes and attention. Does that bolster you or shake you? Is the best reward the love of the people towards your creative works?

Of course the love of the people is great, but I am actually moved much more by the story of a thing or even an expert’s story! I received praise for this exhibition from Maie Helm, Eve Kask, and Jarõna Ilo, which was truly great to hear! They are formidable, and if someone like that is singing your praises, then your tail begins to wag, even if you don’t have one.

When it comes to your creative works people talk about warmth and merry humour, friendliness and secrets. Perhaps this is also all of your personal characteristics in unison?

Well, they also say that the best humourists are the most depressing and bitter people in the world! Even so, I myself describe my own style as pleasant realism, in that it is like life, but positive and great!

But the secrecy within comes on its own, because I perform my work to a large extent without careful consideration or cultivation, almost as if they are wild growths, children of nature. And they are full of secrets!

Your specific style is so powerful and eloquent – it is as if you have created your own mythical world, ruled by unlimited fantasy. Where does all of this flow into you from? Where do you obtain your inspiration?

In the case of style – see the above point. Regarding sources and obtaining inspiration – it is important that the artist has space, time, a balanced diet, microflora that is, for the most part healthy, and a stable psyche.

Oh, and that you have been involved in creating for a while and in some way you are able to motivate yourself to get moving. And then out of that great joy you just do and do, and at one point you notice that there is a mystical world and fantasy. I like to say that inspiration is very often overestimated. In most cases it is something else entirely!

You have participated in exhibitions around the world, with personal exhibitions held in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Holland, the United States, Japan, and France. Are you working on anything now or where do you dream of going next? 

Life has taught me that there is no surer way of ruining one’s plans than if you discuss and declare them beforehand. The more you have talked and boasted about them the more likely they are to fall through or be shot down. So, I, personally, do not reveal my plans or what I have only partially completed!

Even so, I would like to make my own Panopticon – ‘Kunstkamera’. And that would be such a cool place – as opposed to Peter I, who enticed the residents of the city to visit his museum with a shot of vodka, so that before viewing the bastards, one’s heart became willing – I would offer a stiff drink to those who are leaving, so that they do not suffer a heart attack from the elation!

In truth, I’m not working on any books or exhibitions or anything else at the moment! I am enjoying a typical southern summer. And it is wonderful!

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