Olev Subbi (1930 – 2013): “Neljas võõras linn” (2001)

Olev Subbi (1930 – 2013) is a renowned artist, best known for his work “Neljas võõras linn” (2001). This piece, created with acrylic, oil, and masonite, measures 90 x 120 cm and is signed ‘Subbi 01’ at the bottom center. The artwork was previously part of a private collection in Spain and is documented in the artist’s painting catalog SUBBI (compiled by Eero Epner, OÜ Sperare, 2006, no.318, p. 259). Subbi painted the first “Võõra linn” in 1992. The series reflects the opportunities to travel that opened up in independent Estonia, although the motifs are not specific. The composition is harmonious. Born in Tartu in 1930, Subbi received his art education at ERKI, graduating in 1962 with a degree in painting. His first solo exhibition took place four years later. Subbi, a classic of Estonian painting, has received significant recognition, including the Konrad Mäe medal and the Kristjan Raud Art Prize. His works, often surrealistic or abstract, are generally conservative in painting technique but are highly personal interpretations of the motifs and themes of 1930s Estonian art (human in landscape and space), achieving harmony between human and nature. His nudes have also won great acclaim.