Evi Tihemets

Junipers

1965

In this small painting, 33-year-old Evi Tihemets attained a beautiful picturesque generalisation for junipers sparkling in the sun. Junipers were a favourite motif in Estonian art in the 1960s; they have been boldly generalised into abstract images, especially by Ülo Sooster. Evi finds a happy moment built on the realistic foundation of a self-appropriate and very convincing solution that combines tradition and innovation, which makes a poetic summary of a juniper shimmering in sunlight. There is visionary generalisation in the thickly painted surfaces and textures which are painterly, rather than flat like in print art.