Virtual exhibition
Christmas cards for the Literature Centre designed by Maarja Undusk, 2003-2024
Between 2003 and 2024, the artist Maarja Undusk has designed the Under and Tuglas Literature Centre`s Christmas cards. She has found inspiration in Marie Under, Artur Adson, Elo Tuglas, Friedebert Tuglas, the spirit of Siuru, and the artworks, photographs and books from the Literature Centre`s collections.
2017 marked the centenary of one of the most important modernist groups in Estonian cultural history (the so-called „Siuru“). The 2017 Christmas card envisioned Chrismas Night as experienced by the members of „Siuru.“
The composition of the card makes use of Gori`s work „Dead Fountain“, which belongs to the Under and Tuglas Literature Centre`s art collection. Christmas card 2009
The text of the Chrismas card reads: „So you are not completely alone. Someone wakes you, goads you. Somewhere in time and space…“ (Friedebert Tuglas). Christmas card 2003
The inspiration for the 2004 Christmas card was motifs from the artworks of Nikolai Triik.
The card features Agathe Veeber’s work „Naine raamatuga“ (Woman with a Book) (1977), from the art collection of the Under and Tuglas Literature Centre. Christmas card 2016. Omnis mundi creatura quasi liber et pictura...
The card features Artur Adson’s drawing of a house in Nõmme (1958) used as a background for a photograph of Friedebert Tuglas. After Marie Under and Artur Adson fled to Sweden, Friedebert and Elo Tuglas moved into the house, where the museum of the Under and Tuglas Literature Centre is now located. Christmas card 2014
The card features a photograph of Friedebert Tuglas with his Great Dane, Darling, in front of his home in Nõmme. The dog was inherited by the Tuglases from Elo’s sister, who was deported to Siberia in 1940. Christmas card 2015
The 2019 Christmas card is inspired by Friedebert Tuglas’s short story Popi and Huhuu, with Ants Laikmaa’s pastel portrait of a young Marie Under on the wall.
In 2010, Mati Karmin’s sculpture of Marie Under was unveiled in front of the National Library of Estonia in Tallinn. The 2010 Christmas card features a fragment of the snow-covered sculpture.
The photograph shows Marie Under in 1917, depicted on the card as the angel of Siuru. Christmas card 2007
The home of Marie and Artur Adson, and the post-war residence of Elo and Friedebert Tuglas, with the extension of the museum section. Christmas card 2005
Christmas card 2013
Miniature books from the collection of Elo and Friedebert Tuglas. Christmas card 2011
The card features Juhan Raudsepp’s plaster portrait of Friedebert Tuglas (1946) and a cup painted by Anu Ivask (1968), gifted to the Tuglases on their golden wedding anniversary by Adda and Leonhard Mardna. Christmas card 2012
Christmas card 2006
Christmas card 2018