The Ritual Art of Siim-Tanel Annus

During his time as a student, Siim-Tanel Annus became a member of an influential circle of artists and theorists, grouped around Tonis Vint. Although he had already undergone a long artistic development, he was still thought of as a 'young artist.' He is thus a 'phenomenon,' without age, without period, and outside trends. From the beginning he has created drawings - sensitive, abstract images composed of tiny dots. Later he created geometric forms in black and white. He threw himself into performance art before it became common in Estonia in the 1980s; his 'garden parties' caused scandals. Birds, sun, moon, energy, earth, water, air - all these were personified in his performances, as his pictures had been intended to represent 'Light in Paradise.' His actions are ritualistic, rich in symbolism, but everything is subordinate to the creation of a visual image by the artist.