It happened in the nineties. Innocent in itself, yet a remarkable story. A very respected curator at the time invited me to participate in a large group exhibition at Salt Storage in Tallinn. They wanted two or three works painted on plexiglass. So I made it. 

At that time, I made artwork with a clear message, nothing ethereal or abstract. It was essential that the work was readable and had a clear message. I went to the grand opening, and what did I see!? My artwork was hanging on the wall, with the back side facing out! Like a series of inexplicably confused color spots! I was horrified; why had this happened? Wasn’t it clear which side is the picture and which is just a black work surface? At the front is the title and signature of the painting and all! The curator proudly announced that he found the reverse sides of the images to be much more interesting. Of course, it was clear that he didn’t like my work. But why did he want them in the first place? Of course, this curator saw my face as long as a fiddle and, out of mercy, let the works be turned the right way, but the deed was done, and of course, I will remember such a thing for life.

More weird stories have happened since then. For example, in 2019, performance artist Mare Tralla, who holds the status of a pioneer of Estonian feminist art, threw off all her clothes during a crowded opening, protesting against my works, claiming they were too sexist. However, the curator had chosen my work the same way as Tralla’s. That act was, of course, frightening at first. I understood it was a provocation, and she tried to label me as a chauvinist pig. But as always, with such things, a little later, it all turned into a really inspiring creative energy. But it opened my naive and people-trusting eyes as well.

Or a curious story from my exhibition at the Vaal gallery in the spring of 2022, where a person who showed potential interest in buying one of the works asked the gallerist if she would know how long Mäetamm would live: “When he might be dying?”. The gallerist replied that he didn’t know: “Mäetamm seems to be relatively healthy, walks with quick steps, is not overweight, and, according to rumors, even does interval training.” 

Would a person want me to die soon? The buyer changed his mind, and the deal was broken. For me, it’s also a rejection story.