V.A.S. Bio 1995
The Victorian Artists Society NEWSLETTER
August / September 1995 Edition
“GUNNAR NEEME F.V.A.S. LIFE MEMBER”
Written by David H. Roper F.V.A.S. P.P.V.A.S.
Born 76 years ago in Estonia, Gunnar Neeme arrived in Australia with his wife in April 1949 as a migrant, after the hostilities, which devastated his homeland during World War 2 and the subsequent occupation of his country by the Russians.
A short two months after arriving in Melbourne, he joined the Victorian Artists Society and has remained a member to this day.
During his long association with the Victorian Artists Society, he has been a teacher, an exhibiting member of the council for over ten years, a respected art judge and adjudicator. In 1992 he was elected a Fellow of the Society and in 1994 was made an Honorary life member.
One of the great gifts that Gunnar possesses, apart from his obvious ability in the field of art, has been his willingness to impart his knowledge to others, encouraging them in the pursuit of excellence as artists.
A man of many talents, we find him a published author, poet and playwright, a philosopher and artist / sculptor. Having trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Tartu in Estonia he followed this up with further studies in Germany with later engagements at Estonian and American schools. He founded the UNRRA Art Studio for art lovers and has participated in many National and International Art Exhibitions.
Since arriving in Australia in 1949, he has worked as a graphic artist, book illustrator, art teacher and working on commission, to mention but a few of his activities.
He has participated in many Exhibitions both in Australia and overseas as well as nine travelling exhibitions and literary recital programs for Estonian communities in Australia. He has been a winner in over 50 Australian and overseas Art Awards. As a poet his published books of poetry and have been twice included in literature exhibitions in the U.S.A.
Gunnar’s art work covers a vast spectrum, sculpture, oils, watercolour, hand printing and graphic design. All “Estonian House” buildings in Australia are decorated with his murals and carvings: One mural in Sydney measures 16m x 4.5m. His works can be found in private and corporate collections in many countries, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, France, England, Germany, Canada, U.S.A., Peru, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and all states in Australia.
In 1993, Gunnar held an exhibition in the University of Tartu library, in Estonia exactly 50 years after his last exhibition in Tartu as a student in 1943. Unfortunately he was not able to travel to Estonia for the opening, and it is ironic that on the very night of the opening of that exhibition, Gunnar suffered a heart attack in Melbourne and was admitted to Monash Medical Centre.
Later this year 1995 in the National Theatre in Tartu, Estonia, his new commissioned work is to be again to be hung and exhibited.
In 1994 he was awarded the prestigious “Dr Fr. F. Kreutzwald Memorial Medallion” for a new artistic interpretation of the National Epic Story “Kalevipoeg in Artistic Vision” which introduced the Estonian National Epic to Western countries, and the world in general.
The National Epic Story was traditionally kept alive for centuries in the form of songs until around 1800 when Dr Fr. R. Kreutzwald collected the songs and published them in 1852.
This story has been illustrated by almost every Estonian artist or used as an idea. Gunnar’s collection of drawings of this epic story is the most comprehensive and unique in its approach and style for he has not only pictured the story but has also created an artistic impression of the “Golden Age” of Estonia and the Estonians.
This year 1995 Gunnar completed a special collection of 200 drawings extending this self same subject for the Kreutzwald Memorial Museum, which will be the subject of the exhibition in Tartu that was mentioned earlier. These drawings took two years to complete, during a time when Gunnar suffered ill health and a major heart operation. These drawings should have now arrived in Estonia ready for showing later this year.
He never seems to tire of work. Not long ago he undertook to design twelve panels for a Quilt Blanket for the Estonian National Museum. The design of these panels represent the ornamental impressions of the twelve respective Districts of Estonia.
You would think that a person in their late seventies would sit down and take it easy, not Gunnar. He is still busy in his studio with his two Labradors sitting at his feet, editing a historical survey of Estonians in Australia. This then is a brief pen of a quite remarkable man and a member of the Victorian Artists Society.
* * * * * * *
V.A.S. Bio 1995
The Victorian Artists Society NEWSLETTER
August / September 1995 Edition
“GUNNAR NEEME F.V.A.S. LIFE MEMBER”
Written by David H. Roper F.V.A.S. P.P.V.A.S.
Born 76 years ago in Estonia, Gunnar Neeme arrived in Australia with his wife in April 1949 as a migrant, after the hostilities, which devastated his homeland during World War 2 and the subsequent occupation of his country by the Russians.
A short two months after arriving in Melbourne, he joined the Victorian Artists Society and has remained a member to this day.
During his long association with the Victorian Artists Society, he has been a teacher, an exhibiting member of the council for over ten years, a respected art judge and adjudicator. In 1992 he was elected a Fellow of the Society and in 1994 was made an Honorary life member.
One of the great gifts that Gunnar possesses, apart from his obvious ability in the field of art, has been his willingness to impart his knowledge to others, encouraging them in the pursuit of excellence as artists.
A man of many talents, we find him a published author, poet and playwright, a philosopher and artist / sculptor. Having trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Tartu in Estonia he followed this up with further studies in Germany with later engagements at Estonian and American schools. He founded the UNRRA Art Studio for art lovers and has participated in many National and International Art Exhibitions.
Since arriving in Australia in 1949, he has worked as a graphic artist, book illustrator, art teacher and working on commission, to mention but a few of his activities.
He has participated in many Exhibitions both in Australia and overseas as well as nine travelling exhibitions and literary recital programs for Estonian communities in Australia. He has been a winner in over 50 Australian and overseas Art Awards. As a poet his published books of poetry and have been twice included in literature exhibitions in the U.S.A.
Gunnar’s art work covers a vast spectrum, sculpture, oils, watercolour, hand printing and graphic design. All “Estonian House” buildings in Australia are decorated with his murals and carvings: One mural in Sydney measures 16m x 4.5m. His works can be found in private and corporate collections in many countries, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Holland, France, England, Germany, Canada, U.S.A., Peru, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and all states in Australia.
In 1993, Gunnar held an exhibition in the University of Tartu library, in Estonia exactly 50 years after his last exhibition in Tartu as a student in 1943. Unfortunately he was not able to travel to Estonia for the opening, and it is ironic that on the very night of the opening of that exhibition, Gunnar suffered a heart attack in Melbourne and was admitted to Monash Medical Centre.
Later this year 1995 in the National Theatre in Tartu, Estonia, his new commissioned work is to be again to be hung and exhibited.
In 1994 he was awarded the prestigious “Dr Fr. F. Kreutzwald Memorial Medallion” for a new artistic interpretation of the National Epic Story “Kalevipoeg in Artistic Vision” which introduced the Estonian National Epic to Western countries, and the world in general.
The National Epic Story was traditionally kept alive for centuries in the form of songs until around 1800 when Dr Fr. R. Kreutzwald collected the songs and published them in 1852.
This story has been illustrated by almost every Estonian artist or used as an idea. Gunnar’s collection of drawings of this epic story is the most comprehensive and unique in its approach and style for he has not only pictured the story but has also created an artistic impression of the “Golden Age” of Estonia and the Estonians.
This year 1995 Gunnar completed a special collection of 200 drawings extending this self same subject for the Kreutzwald Memorial Museum, which will be the subject of the exhibition in Tartu that was mentioned earlier. These drawings took two years to complete, during a time when Gunnar suffered ill health and a major heart operation. These drawings should have now arrived in Estonia ready for showing later this year.
He never seems to tire of work. Not long ago he undertook to design twelve panels for a Quilt Blanket for the Estonian National Museum. The design of these panels represent the ornamental impressions of the twelve respective Districts of Estonia.
You would think that a person in their late seventies would sit down and take it easy, not Gunnar. He is still busy in his studio with his two Labradors sitting at his feet, editing a historical survey of Estonians in Australia. This then is a brief pen of a quite remarkable man and a member of the Victorian Artists Society.
* * * * * * *
