Postcolonial theory as a means to understand Estonian art history

ABSTRACT

This article analyzes Estonian art scene in the Soviet era from the postcolonial perspective. The first objective is to consider whether it is appropriate to call the Soviet occupation of Estonia colonialism. Second, the article points to how postcolonial theory can elucidate the history of Estonian visual art during and after the Soviet occupation. The period of Soviet colonialism in Estonia was not uniform; in the fine arts, several different rhetorical regimes existed simultaneously: pro-authority, Western avant-garde orientated, and a national-conservative discourse. The article also investigates how the Soviet colonial situation shaped the institutional and economic environment of Estonian art.

KEYWORDS:

• Occupation
• annexation
• colonialism
• empire
• Estonian art
• socialist realism
• avant-garde
• Soviet Union

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

This article was supported by Estonian Science Foundation [grant number 9362].

Notes on contributors

Jaak Kangilaski

Jaak Kangilaski studied history and art history at Tartu University from 1958 to 1963 and completed postgraduate studies at the Leningrad Hermitage between 1964 and 1967. He earned his PhD in 1969 and was a lecturer of art history at Tartu University from 1967 until 1971. In 1971, he was appointed an associate professor of art history at the Art Institute of Estonian SSR (presently the Estonian Academy of Art). In1989, Jaak Kangilaski was elected the Rector (the President) of the Estonian Academy of Art. Kangilaski served as a professor of art history at Tartu University from 1995 to 2002, the Vice Rector of Tartu University from 2003 to 2006, and was named professor emeritus by Tartu University in 2006.