The artist himself is no longer here, but we are in a room enriched with his work. Time has stood still. The road to the artist’s studio goes through his work: on the white high walls of the gallery there are masterpieces in the nirvana of the spotlights, mostly from art museums and private collections, but the easels and walls have designs and sketches. You can smell oil and turpentine in the air.
Most of the works in the galleries are successful and completed works. However, behind each work there are a number of thoughts, experiments, designs, and sometimes failures. The road to one work can be long and can sometimes take years.
Raivo Korstnik (1932–1992) studied at ERKI in 1951–1957 and participated in exhibitions since 1957, including the legendary 1966 exhibition of young artists. Later, participation in his exhibitions became less active. Since 1961, he has worked as a drawing teacher at the Tallinn Pedagogical Institute, Tallinn University of Culture and ERKI.
“I remember that once when I wanted to study painting, it was recommended to go to Raivo Korstnik. It was said that it didn’t matter which school – the main thing that Raivo was teaching. And, well, he taught very well and as a young man it was the first time I managed to draw a real nude,” recalls Raoul Kurvitz, an artist who studied under Raivo.
The exhibition is curated and created by Maarja Korstnik and Meelis Tammemägi.
We thank Ene Korstnik, Jürgen-Kristoffer Korstnik and Siim Lootus, who also helped to create this exhibition.
The exhibition is organized in cooperation with Viinistu Art Museum, Art Museum of Estonia, Tartu Art Museum and University of Tartu Art Museum. The exhibition has been supported by the Cultural Endowment of Estonia.
The gallery can be entered between the pillars next to the Alexela Concert Hall.
