Vello Vinn's visionary etchings have made him a prominent figure in Estonian graphic art. Born in 1939, Vinn trained in the Art Room at Tartu University, where he made "a bunch of bookplates" still hiding in their archives. In 1963 he moved to the State Art Institute of the Estonian SSR to study glass art, which he thought would be somewhat easier for him as he lacked strong drawing skills. In '68 he graduated and promptly ditched glass for print. His specialty is drypoint.
In the early 70s—the first of his "prime" periods; he seems to currently be in another—Vinn exhibited in solo and group shows and racked up numerous Estonian and international awards. He would go on to illustrate books (see my recent post on his children's book Umbluu), make collages, and in the nineties participate in the Estonian Para-Surrealist movement. The piece from 2010 below will show you that he's still going strong.
Though I haven't found any collections of Vinn's work (in print or online), I discovered a handful of images in Eesti kunstnikud / Artists of Estonia (2007, Center for Contemporary Arts, Estonia). In an essay in this book, Juri Hain stresses Vinn's uniqueness and refers to him as "a curiosity in Estonian graphic art," though I don't think this is a knock. Indeed it appears no one in Estonia has attempted to imitate him. When I get to Tallinn I'll try to find out more.
Vello Vinn, Time I, from the series Wings, 1972
Vello Vinn, Monument, from the series Wings, 1972
Vello Vinn, Urban View, 1974
Vello Vinn, Rockets, 1971
Vello Vinn, Sandglass, 1970
Vello Vinn, Station I, II, III, 1973
Station II (larger)
Vello Vinn, Crayfish, 1968
Vello Vinn, Shift, 1977
Vello Vinn, Clock III, 1976
Vello Vinn, 1978, from an auction site
Vello Vinn, "Minu pisirinnas, sinu esirinnas, ka ühisrinde all, ta sees ja sügaval" (from an auction site)
Vello Vinn, Hyper-Super, 1989
Vello Vinn, Kaksipidine, 2010 via
