Eesti kunsti oksjonid

Lithography on paper. 1993.
Bottom left: PROGRAMMEERIJAD / lito 10/12 / M. Mäetamm ’93

Marko Mäetamm (b. 1965), a graphic and multimedia artist with international reach, has represented Estonia at the Venice Biennale twice, in 2003 with Kaido Ole and four years later with a solo exhibition. His distinctly unique style, which speaks directly and honestly about the absurd moments of everyday life, appeals to art lovers across cultures. That is why, in the past six months alone, Mäetamm has had solo exhibitions in Paris and Vilnius, not to mention his previous successful performances both abroad and in front of domestic audiences.

The rare “Programmers” (only 12 prints!) in front of us is a visual document from the 1990s about which the artist gives the following explanation: “Cool guys are programming in a cool office. I hadn’t seen computers with my own eyes yet, so this wonder looks quite sci-fi, a bit like an optimistic 60s space age style. The floor-to-ceiling window overlooks the city where illuminated advertisements forcefully buttress the lust of every man, especially the Soviet dream of owning a Mercedes Benz, every artist’s Pamir mountain peak in the early 90s, the Vaal Gallery, and one of the first, if not the very first, commercial banks in Estonia, UBB. Those who remember, remember. I remember it well because I had the royalties for one of my first pieces sold abroad transferred there. The day after the money was deposited in UBB, the bank went bankrupt. I received the money thanks to a half-acquaintance who worked at the bank, who gave it to me, literally brought it out through the back door. Those were the days! And the promised land – the USA, far away on the other side of the globe, of course! What else could you see from that computer?”

Text: Katre Palm, Marko Mäetamm