Rein Sikk: Why is Tallinn afraid of Kalevipoeg and the Horse with Oinas?

Journalist Rein Sikk argues that Tallinn is an unreasonably cautious city when it comes to sculptures. In rural areas, artworks are received with enthusiasm, but in the capital, controversies arise around every new statue. Sikk suggests that the Estonian president could organize sculpture work camps that would fill urban spaces with new attractions.

Journalist Rein Sikk expressed his opinion on Vikerradio that Tallinn behaves too timidly regarding sculptures-disputes erupt over every new work, while in rural areas artworks are received with joy and praise.

Two Controversial Sculptures

Recently, the Kalevipoeg sculpture created by Tauno Kangro sparked controversy: critics found that the figure of a sailor with a boat was too large and too ugly for the coast. Now the spotlight is on the equestrian sculpture of Alma Ostra-Oinas created by Flo Kasemaa, which faces contradictory objections-the work is allegedly too small, and the figures of Oinas's companions, other feminists, disappear in the large ensemble.

Sikk notes that the situation is quite different outside Tallinn. Simson, from Seakula, and Latvian sculptor Edvins Krumins have created many works in iron romanticism: a rat for Rakvere, a hedgehog for Jõhvi, a horse for Kadrina, and a dog for the Mining Museum. Additionally, Simson has crafted flying squirrels and kissing weather vanes for the spa in Kurro, and nobody complains.

The Countryside Flourishes with Folk Art

Wooden sculptures adorning bus stops in South Estonia have already attracted a kind of tourist trail in their own right. The collection of 60 fly agaric mushrooms gathered in the Heimatli museum, as well as the wind chime collection that opened this year at Iisaku museum, offer joy without a single protest wave.

Soon this list will be joined by the glowing Hollywood-style letters "Jõhviwood" being built on Kukruse hill in East Virumaa-why not this artwork as well?

The President's Work Camp Idea

Sikk asks whether Tallinn's sculpture environment problem might actually lie in having too few artworks and nothing to compare them to. Tallinn is neither Rome nor Florence, where every step ends in front of some statue, nor Oslo's Vigeland Park, where there are hundreds of sculptures, nor American Loveland, where the public space is adorned with over 500 works.

Therefore, based on the experience of rural residents, Sikk makes a proposal: the Estonian president has been organizing brainstorming sessions for schoolchildren for five years now, which produce hundreds of brilliant works. Why not also organize sculpture work camps? Both schoolchildren and adult art enthusiasts could create works from any materials and send them to Kadriorg, resulting in an unprecedented exhibition.

Such a work camp competition would enrich both young people's and adults' artistic taste and creative skills, Kadriorg park would acquire a dignified sculpture collection, and the president could later distribute the selected works throughout Estonia. Most importantly, though, becoming familiar with many different sculptures at once would develop Tallinners' taste-perhaps then they would stop being afraid of either Kalevipoeg, nor the horse, nor Oinas.