An exhibit by Estonian artist, Leonhard Lapin was opened at Charles Krause Art Gallery on the 7th of May and will stay open until the 30th of June The Gallery is open on weekends and by appointment. For more information and contact information, please visit the Gallery´s website: http://www.charleskrausereporting.com/.
The exhibit shows a selection of pieces from the artist’s series of graphic works entitled “Machines” done in the 1970s.
Lapin is one of the best-known Estonian artists internationally. His main themes are taking note of language and space as well as the relationships between nature, machines and people. In recent years, his materials have included one of the most well-known contemporary symbols—the bar codes printed onto packages.
Leonhard Lapin graduated from the architecture department of the Estonian Academy of Arts in 1971, but the majority of his works fall into the category of fine arts. In occupied Estonia Lapin became a critic of the Soviet cultural policy; his art blazed a trail for an entire generation of artists. At the beginning of his career he found inspiration for his works from Russian avant-garde and constructivism and from American pop art.
Together with his colleagues, in 1968 Lapin formed the SOUP 69 artists’ group, which organised exhibits that tried to push the envelope. The boundaries were found very fast. The headstrong artist wound up on a blacklist; museums and other official circles no longer bought his works. Lapin began to design private homes, which provided him with enough financial resources to create art.