Eesti kunsti oksjonid

Oil on canvas. 1983.
Signature: SP. 83. / “EKA“ 1983.a. 95×75 Õli, lõuend Sirje Protsin

Sirje Petersen, one of the leading painters of today’s Tartu art scene, began her career in the 1980s with personal, self-portrait allegorical compositions, demonstrating from the beginning an interest in synthesizing abstract conditional space and figurative motifs.

However, most of her paintings from her first decade were destroyed in a fire in the early 1990s, making each surviving piece an important addition to the artist’s creative heritage. The self-portrait painting “EKA” carries a mystical connotation. The emotional moment arises from the contrast of red and black tones, as the chosen primary colors.

The dynamic abstract figure in the middle of the composition adds an effect of depth, the gaze directed at the viewer notices youthful defiance, pride but also a slight sadness. Sirje Petersen’s honest and philosophical portrait looks back at us. The artist has been nominated for the Konrad Mägi Prize and chosen as the audience favorite at the 2019 Estonian Artists’ Association exhibition. This painting has also been shown at several exhibitions.

Text by Harry Liivrand, Katre Palm