Estonia marks 50 years of Lennart Meri's 'Silverwhite' with immersive exhibition

The Estonian Maritime Museum has unveiled a new exhibition at Tallinn Seaplane Harbor marking half a century since the publication of Lennart Meri's book "Hõbevalge," known in English as "Silverwhite." First released in 1976 while Estonia was still under Soviet occupation, the book blends history, research, myth and imagination, and has since become a cornerstone of Estonian cultural heritage.

Curator Martti Helde said the aim of the anniversary show, called "Silverwhite 50," is to encourage people to revisit the book and uncover its many layers. Visitors move through a sequence of spaces that retrace the route of the ancient Greek explorer Pytheas from the Mediterranean to the island of Saaremaa, ending with the story of the Kaali meteorite, a lasting fixture in Estonian cultural memory, and touching on the enduring mystery of the island of Ultima Thule.

A personalized soundscape

Central to the exhibition is NOUS Sonic, an Austrian-made sound system making its debut in the Baltic and Nordic region. Soundscapes created by Finnish artist Janne Laine, delivered through headphones, shift depending on each visitor's movements, pauses and choices. According to museum director Urmas Dresen, this means no two visitors experience the exhibition in exactly the same way.

The show also displays rare artifacts, pieces from Meri's own family collection, and fragments of the meteorite itself. It is designed to appeal both to longtime readers of the book and to newcomers, inviting exploration rather than offering fixed conclusions.

Before entering politics, Lennart Meri worked as a traveler, author and documentary filmmaker. Following the restoration of Estonia's independence, he was elected the country's first president in 1992 and reelected in 1996, serving a total of two terms over ten years. Since its original 1976 release, "Silverwhite" has been translated into Finnish (1983), Italian (2016), Russian (2020) and English (2025). A new 50th-anniversary Estonian edition is also planned, alongside an ongoing film adaptation of the book. "Silverwhite 50" will remain open to the public at Tallinn Seaplane Harbor through October 31, 2027.