Nowhere is not as good as at home, 2017

Plywood, canvas/egg tempera

The artist´s comment on the artwork: “A year ago I participated in the exhibition “A Place Where Everything is Better”. The organizer of the exhibition, Gundega Evelone, asked artists to think about a Latvian myth that life in Estonia is better than in Latvia. I made three paintings with three tales about it. The exhibition took place in border city Valga and also in Riga.
Here is the 3rd tale-memory. It is written also in Latvian and Estonian language.

Nowhere is not as good as at home.
Once upon a time parents decided, that one of their three children have to become an Estonian. They chose their youngest son, he had bright head. Monster little Bell was sent to Estonian primary school. Classmates gave Indrikis new nickname – Ikrs (in latvian it means name for fish egg). Anyway, he didn’t find friends in this school. When he finished ninth grade, his marks were among highest in the class, but his hair were not blonde at all. Ikrs grew bigger and realized – it was not his idea to become estonian. Then he found more pleasure in sleeping under blanket, pasta food and watchin TV series. Family just sighed then, gazed significantly and remained to herself – let’s wait, let’s wait, he will grow up one day! Ikrs also waited. He waited for encounter with the big, unknown empty void. Sometimes I hear that encounter is going on successfully. I don’t see him often at home. Now he calls himself Indriko and the Boss. The end of fairy tale with sequel.

Nekur nav tik labi kā mājās.
Reiz sen senos laikos vecāki izlēma, ka vienam no viņu trīs bērniem jākļūst par Igauni. Izvēlēts tika jaunākais dēls, viņam bija gaiša galva. Briesmoni Zvaniņu aizsūtīja uz Igauņu pamatskolu. Klasesbiedri Indriķi iesauca par Ikru, bet draugus šai skolā viņš neatrada. Beidzot 9. klasi, Ikra atzīmes bija vienas no labākajām klasē, bet mati nemaz vairs nebija gaiši. Ikrs auga lielāks un saprata – par igauni pats nemaz nav gribējis kļūt. Foršāk izrādījās gulēt caurām dienām zem segas, ēst makaronus un skatīties visādas sērijas un asus sižetus. Ģimene nopūtās, zīmīgi saskatījās un sev atgādināja – gaidām, gaidām, drīz izaugs! Ikrs arī gaidīja. Gaidīja, kad sastapsies ar lielo, nezināmo tukšumu. Šad tad gadās dzirdēt, ka mana brāļa sastapšanās noritot veiksmīgi. Mājās satieku reti. Tagad viņš sevi dēvē par Indriko un Bosu. Pasakas beigas ar turpinājumu.

Kuskil pole nii hea kui kodus
Kord otsustasid vanemad, et üks nende kolmest lapsest peab saama eestlaseks. Nad valisid välja oma noorima poja, kel oli helge pea. Koletis Kelluke saadeti Eesti põhikooli. Klassikaaslased andsid Indrikisele uue hüüdnime – Ikrs (läti keeles tähendab see kalamarja). Igatahes ei leidnud ta koolist sõpru. Kui ta lõpetas üheksanda klassi, olid tal kõige kõrgemad hinded, aga heledaid juukseid polnud tal ikka. Ikrs kasvas suuremaks ja sai aru, et eestlaseks saamine polnud üldse tema idee. Ta tundis mõnu päevad otsa magamisest, pasta söömisest ja teleseriaalide vaatamisest. Perekond vaid ohkas, vaatas teda uurivalt ja mõtles – ootame, ootame, küll ta kasvab kord suureks! Ikrs ootas ka. Ta ootas kohtumist suure ja tundmatu tühjusega. Vahel ma kuulen, et see kohtumine on läinud hästi. Kodus näen ma teda harva. Ta kutsub ennast nüüd Indrikoks ja Bossiks. Muinasjutt jätkub.”