Eesti kunsti oksjonid

Oil on canvas. 2017.
Signature: J. Arrak 2017 / “Trepi tipus” 2017 (veebruar) õli, l. 54×65 cm.

Since no one in Estonian art has so consistently depicted a barefoot man in a monk’s robe and with a long beard, who could have a similar role to, for example, Gandalf in “The Lord of the Rings” or Obi-Wan Kenobi in “Star Wars”, one cannot help but feel when looking at them that Jüri Arrak (1936-2022) has taken it upon himself to remind us of an important archetype called the Wise Man.

He is sent to us as a teacher; in the old days they were called prophets. A wise, experienced and far-sighted man who needs to live alone; a hermit who goes to the desert to remain there in contemplation and harmony with nature. It is said that when we get to a point in life where we feel like we are running into a complete dead end and cannot find a way out of it, such a teacher may appear either in a dream or in a vision to give us a hint on how to move forward.

Arrak places the Wise Man at the top of the stairs, where he kindly sees and helps all his disciples and fellow humans.

Text: Vappu Thurlow