Finnish–Estonian Art at the 007 Manor

Text Timo Raussi
Photo Ilkka Porkka

The exhibition of works by painter Raija Merilä, who moved from Finland to Estonia ten years ago, has recently opened for the first time in Lääne-Viru County at Jäneda Manor, located 70 km from Tallinn. Among the approximately 50 works on display are, alongside traditional oil paintings, creative solutions that demonstrate the productivity of the artist even in her retirement years. Some of the works are created solely with a palette knife, while others feature added three-dimensional effects achieved through acrylic and plaster base layers as well as decorative sand.

At the “Figurative Paintings” exhibition, visitors can explore the artist’s perspectives on the human body and figures, space, and mythological elves and elf maidens. The larger oil paintings are displayed in the main hall on the first floor of the manor, in the lobby corridor on the second floor, while the smaller works are exhibited on the walls of the Jäneda Library located in the same premises.

Jäneda Manor, and therefore the exhibition as well, is open to the public without the need to book a guided tour, in accordance with the library’s opening hours: during the winter season on weekdays from Monday to Thursday, 10:00–18:00.

Jäneda Manor and its current main building, which even features castle-like elements, is one of the newest—if not the very newest—examples of Estonia’s Baltic-German heritage. It was built in 1913–1915 by Johann von Benckendorff, and after his death his wife went on to live an adventurous life—by chance, by choice, or perhaps unwillingly—becoming the lover of such literary legends as Maxim Gorky and H. G. Wells. And that is not all…

The widowed lady also had connections with a figure involved in British foreign policy and espionage, even becoming indirectly entangled in an assassination attempt on Lenin. The literary father of James Bond, Ian Fleming, is known to have drawn inspiration from these events and to have used them when creating the character of the world’s most famous agent. For groups interested in art and Estonia’s own Mata Hari, it is therefore worth inquiring about a meeting with the local guide Enno Must, who can often guide visitors even on weekends.

Raija Merilä’s art exhibition is on display at Jäneda Manor until 30 May. On the preceding weekend, 23–24 May, Jäneda will host its annual large garden and plant days, an event that locals have for some twenty springs already referred to as a shadow event of the Türi Flower Market.

To learn more about this and similar topics
Art Exhibition Culture events Jäneda Manor Raija Merilä Virumaa