03.11. - 03.12.2022

Galerija "Māksla XO"

Elizabetes iela 14, Rīga, LV 1010

MARKO MÄETAMM

They Say

Marko Mäetamm is one of the most prominent contemporary Estonian artists, he has twice represented Estonian National Pavillon at the Venice Art Biennale, and is endowed with sincere, witty black humor. At the center of his works lie the eternal issues of family life  and most topical themes evolving society today. The central character is often himself – or at least an alter-ego persona derived from Marko Mäetamm.
Since the beginning of his creative practice, Marko Mäetamm has been fascinated by various forms of art - paintings, photographs, animations, videos, installations, ceramics, etc., in which drawing and text most often play a decisive role. The choice of medium serves the idea. In one of the latest series of works, THEY SAY, Marko Mäetamm addresses his viewer and art critic in the most direct way.

“The inspiration for making the series THEY SAY comes, similarly to most of my other works, from real life.
As a freelance artist, sales are always important to me. And as a sensitive person I don’t feel too comfortable when the buyer starts to bargain and argue about the deal and say things I particularly don’t like to hear. Yet at the same time this is a part of being an artist - you do your thing, put it out in public and just get ready for what happens next.
From the beginning of my career till today I have heard people saying very different commentaries about why they cannot, unfortunately, buy my work. I say ‘unfortunately’ because it usually starts something like: I really like this work BUT…
So I started to collect these commentaries one day. This series is a selection of some of the most beautiful explanations about what is wrong with the work they would actually really like to buy.” – Marko Mäetamm

Marko Mäetamm (1965, Estonia) has studied printmaking at the Estonian Academy of Arts, where in 1993 he obtained Bachelor’s degree and in 1994 – Master’s degree. Since 1992, has been participating at exhibitions, organized 68 solo shows and participated in more than 150 group shows around the world. Marko Mäetamm has represented Estonia at the 50th and 52nd La Biennale di Venezia (2003, 2007, Venice, Italy). The artists has received various awards –Kristjan Raud annual art award (2000), Baltic Assembly prize (2009) and others. In 2008, Marko Mäetamm was awarded Order of the White Star V Class – the recognition for services rendered to the Estonian state. Artist’s works are in public collections: Kumu Art Museum (Tallinn, Estonia), Viinistu Art Museum (Viinistu, Estonia), Signet Bank (Riga, Latvia), BTA – Vienna Insurance Group Art Collection (Riga, Latvia), Aston University (Birmingham, UK), Colgate University (Hamilton, New York, USA)