Evald Okas
Encyclopedia
Evald Okas was an Estonia
n painter
, probably best known for his portraits of nudes.
, where he began his artistic career while studying at the State Art School. With the advent of World War II
and the Soviet invasion
and occupation of Estonia, he was subsequently mobilized into Soviet army, but, like many other Estonians, moved to work battalions in Kotlas, Russia
. When the Soviet officials decided to organize the artistic collectives in the Soviet rear in Yaroslavl, several Estonian artists, including Okas, were provided with an opportunity to leave the work battalions and join the artistic ensembles in 1942. The "Yaroslavl artists", as they became to be known, were also the founding members of the Soviet Estonian Artists Union established in 1943.
In Yaroslavl Okas befriended the rather well-known Estonian graphic artist Aino Bach and Richard Sagrits
who mentored Okas and helped him hone his skills as an artist. By Soviet regulations, however, all artists were expected to paint in the Social Realism
genre.
In 1947, Okas, with Elmar Kits and Richard Sagrits painted the ceiling of the Estonian National Opera
in the style of Socialist Realism
. By the late 1950s, Evald Okas was working mainly in the medium of charcoals and earning his living by sketching ex libris
- graphic designs that identify the owner of a book, usually pasted onto the inside cover. Around this time Okas was even given permission to travel; first, within the Soviet Republics, then later worldwide and exhibit works as far afield as Asia and Western Europe.
In 1954 he became the professor at the Estonian State Art Institute; in 1962 the corresponding member of the Academy of Arts of the Soviet Union and the full member of the Academy in 1975.
Evald Okas lived in Tallinn and was a member of the Estonian Artists’ Association.
His son Jüri Okas
is an architect, installation artst and printmaker.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, probably best known for his portraits of nudes.
Biography
Okas was born in TallinnTallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, where he began his artistic career while studying at the State Art School. With the advent of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and the Soviet invasion
Occupation of Baltic Republics
The occupation of the Baltic states refers to the military occupation of the three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania by the Soviet Union under the auspices of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact on 14 June 1940 followed by their incorporation into the USSR as constituent republics, unrecognised...
and occupation of Estonia, he was subsequently mobilized into Soviet army, but, like many other Estonians, moved to work battalions in Kotlas, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. When the Soviet officials decided to organize the artistic collectives in the Soviet rear in Yaroslavl, several Estonian artists, including Okas, were provided with an opportunity to leave the work battalions and join the artistic ensembles in 1942. The "Yaroslavl artists", as they became to be known, were also the founding members of the Soviet Estonian Artists Union established in 1943.
In Yaroslavl Okas befriended the rather well-known Estonian graphic artist Aino Bach and Richard Sagrits
Richard Sagrits
Richard Sagrits was an Estonian painter.Sagrits was an author of the ceiling painting of the Estonian National Opera in the style of Socialist Realism....
who mentored Okas and helped him hone his skills as an artist. By Soviet regulations, however, all artists were expected to paint in the Social Realism
Social realism
Social Realism, also known as Socio-Realism, is an artistic movement, expressed in the visual and other realist arts, which depicts social and racial injustice, economic hardship, through unvarnished pictures of life's struggles; often depicting working class activities as heroic...
genre.
In 1947, Okas, with Elmar Kits and Richard Sagrits painted the ceiling of the Estonian National Opera
Estonian National Opera
Estonian National Opera is the national opera company of Estonia. The company is based at the Estonia Theatre in Tallinn.-History:The song and drama society "Estonia" was founded in 1870...
in the style of Socialist Realism
Socialist realism
Socialist realism is a style of realistic art which was developed in the Soviet Union and became a dominant style in other communist countries. Socialist realism is a teleologically-oriented style having its purpose the furtherance of the goals of socialism and communism...
. By the late 1950s, Evald Okas was working mainly in the medium of charcoals and earning his living by sketching ex libris
Ex Libris
Ex Libris is a Latin phrase, meaning literally, "from the books". It is often used to indicate ownership of a book, as in "from the books of..." or from the library of...Ex Libris may also refer to:...
- graphic designs that identify the owner of a book, usually pasted onto the inside cover. Around this time Okas was even given permission to travel; first, within the Soviet Republics, then later worldwide and exhibit works as far afield as Asia and Western Europe.
In 1954 he became the professor at the Estonian State Art Institute; in 1962 the corresponding member of the Academy of Arts of the Soviet Union and the full member of the Academy in 1975.
Evald Okas lived in Tallinn and was a member of the Estonian Artists’ Association.
His son Jüri Okas
Jüri Okas
Jüri Okas is a notable Estonian architect, installation artst and printmaker.From 1957 to 1968 Jüri Okas studied in the 46th Secondary School of Tallinn . From 1968 to 1970 he studied in the Tallinn Polytechnic Institute...
is an architect, installation artst and printmaker.