Artists in the Baltics resisted Russian oppression and expressed themselves under the threat of punishment.
By: Jim Boyle
It’s easy to take freedom of speech for granted in the United States. True, there have been certain forms of expression that cause so much anger, artists are forced to remove works of art and filmmakers forced to edit scenes. These are nothing compared to what artists in countries without a First Amendment have gone through.
A new exhibit at the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum in New Brunswick showcases the works of artists who created under duress. The Baltics: Nonconformist and Modernist Art During the Soviet Era runs through March 17 and concentrates on pieces produced in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania while they were under the influence of the Soviet government.
"Artists were under direct pressure from Moscow," says Jeffrey Wexler, a senior curator with the museum since 1977. "Any type of modernist art was not recognized by the government."
The exhibition features approximately 150 paintings and sculpture selected from the 3,200 Baltic works in the Zimmerli’s collections. The majority have been collected by Norton and Nancy Dodge, who spent years traveling to shows.
The Soviet oppression began almost immediately after the nation annexed the Baltic region in the 1940s. Before then, the area was evolving with the rest of the Western European countries.
"They were moving along in the context of modernism," says Mr. Wexler. "The Soviet policy stifled the natural development of the art. Many points of view were stepped on."
Russian officials wanted any Western cultural influences stamped out. Only art that promoted and celebrated Soviet Realism was declared official.
"If something was declared unofficial," says Mr. Wexler, "then it couldn’t be publicly displayed or sold."
The government had started a program of Sovietization. It wanted to create an overall Soviet society throughout the republics, making it more of a unified state. There was a very loose definition of anything that did not forward the cause.
"Anything that did not glorify or promote the government or society was unofficial," says Mr. Wexler. "That includes things that were very ordinary, such as landscapes or simple abstraction. They were just considered meaningless and unnecessary. Many (artists) were punished by losing their jobs or being thrown out of institutes. Some were exiled from the country."
Soviet power was centered in Moscow, and the surrounding area felt the most direct oppression. As a result, many of the nonconformist art from that section was mostly politically charged.
"They were the first to get into difficulties," says Mr. Wexler. "The Baltics were so far removed from Moscow, so it was bit better. It still wasn’t good, but there was some loosening. Exhibits were still closed, and people were still reprimanded."
There are some examples of political statements in the Baltic collection, but most of the artists at the time were more interested in exploring the modernist movements popular in the West. The region was highly susceptible to Western influences.
"They were closer physically than the rest of the Soviet Union," says Mr. Wexler. "They were only separated by water from Scandinavia. Material, such as magazines, would come in more frequently. They could also get Western television and radio more easily. They were better informed culturally."
Even though Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are grouped into one region, each had its own style, as the exhibit demonstrates.
"They were among the smallest geographic areas taken over by the Soviets," says Mr. Wexler. "They were overwhelmed by this much larger land mass and forced to adopt their ways. Each of these three countries had their own notions of national pride and identity. There was a great deal of distinction between their social standards and language."
The Baltics: Nonconformist and Modernist Art During the Soviet Era is on view at the Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, 71 Hamilton St., New Brunswick, through March 17. Hours: Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun. noon-5 p.m. Admission: $3; free to members, students, staff and children under 18. For information, call (732) 932-7237. On the Web: www.zimmerlimuseum.rutgers.edu