The career of the young artist, who had first shown his works at an exhibition in 1914, went ever upwards. He had the chance to study art in Munich and to supplement his artistic knowledge on a thrilling journey to Italy. During World War I, he lived in Moscow and St Petersburg, the centres of Russia’s artistic life, established himself as a fertile illustrator and was one of the founders of the Pallas Art Society in 1918. Vabbe’s knowledge of the new art trends of Europe was therefore not merely based on his reading material but because he had grown up in the middle of the teeming art world. The writer August Gailit called him a passionate cornet who dancingly walked at the head of the echelon. After the birth of the Republic of Estonia, Vabbe was linked to the Pallas Art School and was a legendary teacher until its closing during the Soviet era. He taught many of the later luminaries of Estonian art: Johannes Võerahansu, Karin Luts, Karl Pärsimägi, Elmar Kits, Endel Kõks et al.
The present exhibition grew out of a larger overview of Vabbe’s oeuvre which took place in the Kumu Art Museum in 2020. In Tartu, the role of the Pallas Art School in Vabbe’s life is highlighted through the works of his students. The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated sweeping monograph of Ado Vabbe, which was the last research project of the recently departed art historian Tiiu Talvistu (1955–2020, she worked at the Tartu Art Museum from 1974 to 2016).
Curators: Tiiu Talvistu and Mary-Ann Talvistu
Exhibition design: Tiit Jürna
Graphic design: Tuuli Aule
Exhibtion co-ordinators: Kristlyn Liier and Magdaleena Maasik
Educational programme: Kristel Sibul
Owners of exhibited works: Art Museum of Estonia, Under and Tuglas Literature Centre of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, Theatre and Music Museum, Enn Kunila’s art collection, Gallery Rios Art, Stern family collection, Tartu Art Museum, University of Tartu Art Museum, Vaal Gallery, private collections.
Exhibition team: Indrek Aavik, Richard Adang, Nele Ambos, Tanel Asmer, Indrek Grigor, Mari Hiiemäe, Joanna Hoffmann, Darja Jefimova, Mare Joonsalu, Margus Joonsalu, Liisa Kaljula, Viktor Kiss, Rita Kroon, Jaanika Kuznetsova, Katrin Lõoke, Liivo Lõoke, Margit Pajupuu, Tõru-Tõnn Parts, Julia Polujanenkova, Anti Saar, Kristel Sibul, Elnara Taidre, Peeter Talvistu, Kristo Tamm, Ago Teedema, Urmo Teekivi, Uve Untera.
Supporters: Eesti Kultuurkapital, SA Postimees Fond
