The Soviet Absurd: Estonian art of the 1960s against the backdrop of existentialism
The Soviet Absurd: Estonian art of the 1960s against the backdrop of existentialism

Summary/Abstract: The article examines existentialism as one possible backdrop to Estonian art of the 1960s through three topics that emerged in art writing: the 'philosophical' nature of art, the question of 'artistic image' and the essence of man. Relying on a model created by Martin Esslin, existentialism and the perception of the absurd are partially differentiated. The article also points out the peculiarity of the perception of the absurd in the Cold War-era countries of the Eastern bloc, focusing on 'moderate modernism' ('rough style') and the impact of surrealism in Estonian painting and graphic art.

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