Estonian artist's vivid abstract works fill Viinistu harbor's former water-tank gallery
An exhibition of Estonian abstract expressionist Andres Sütevaka's work is on display at Viinistu Art Harbor's Barrel Gallery, housed in repurposed water tanks on Estonia's northern coast, running through September 4.
In the former fishing village of Viinistu, east of Tallinn on Estonia's northern coast, an unusual gallery occupies a set of repurposed water tanks at the local art harbor. The Barrel Gallery is currently showing an exhibition by painter Andres Sütevaka titled "There is a Masquerade in This Endless Melting Night," bringing together works from the past several years.
The gallery forms part of Estonia's first public-private art museum. Gallerist and curator Tiiu Truus said the rough, industrial setting is a particularly fitting backdrop for Sütevaka's expressive paintings, calling it the best possible location for showcasing his work.
A painter's process
Sütevaka has worked in an abstract expressionist style for two decades. He described his approach to painting as resembling a game of chess, placing one color, then pausing to reflect before deciding how to combine the next.
Much of his signature texture comes from a technique of his own devising: he pours several liters of a textured material onto a canvas laid on the floor, then has only minutes to shape the composition using large spatulas. After the material dries for about a day, he refines the surface further, removing sections with a palette knife.
Years in Barcelona
Sütevaka lived in Barcelona from 2014 to 2021, and curator Truus said the influence of those years is unmistakable in his work, especially in his bold, exuberant use of color. She noted that this kind of vivid color combination sets him apart from other Estonian artists and reflects a distinctly Spanish sensibility.
The exhibition remains open at Barrel Gallery in Viinistu through September 4.
