Artists are often asked, ”What kind of work do you do?” A difficult question, the answer is easier to show than say.

To keep it simple I would say,” Both abstract and representational work”. In reality it’s more complex. Most often it’s a blend of both. The terms, Abstraction and Representation, refer to how space is represented on a two-dimensional surface like canvas. The movement between both abstraction and representation is a constant in my work. It all comes down to choosing the most useful form for my purpose at the time.

The art philosophies that have had the most influence on me are Surrealism and it’s offshoot Abstract Expressionism. As for artists who have had real staying power for me - Paul Cezanne and Willem de Kooning. Influences also come from fields such as physics, history, philosophy, psychology, Estonian folk religion and popular art forms like music, film, animation and comics.

There are recurring symbols in my work such as figures, masks, animals, birds, fish and abstract symbols of processes like spirals. I don’t pretend to know what they mean - maybe I don’t want to know. They are comforting and come back like old friends with shared history.

In my view, works of art are like self-portraits, even if they are not a likeness of the artist. A work of art portrays the artist’s likeness by what is valued enough to include. Over time an artist’s body of work becomes a complete self-portrait.

So, here it is - the ideas, memories, dreams and reflections, distilled from the chaos of my life.