Kõne: Meeli Kõiva-Vällo näituse avamisel

Tuesday, 21.02.2006, 12:20 / SEISUKOHAD / RSS

M. Mikko MEP at the opening of Meeli Kõiva’s exhibition at the European
Parliament, 21 February 2006
Kallid sõbrad,
Dear friends,
I will start with a few sentences in Estonian, before switching
back to English that everyone present can understand.
Mul on hea meel tervitada kaasmaalasi Meeli Vällo-Kõiva näituse
avamisel Euroopa Parlamendis. See on esimene Eesti näitus siin Eesti
Euroopa Liidu liikmeks saamisest saadik. Ma loodan et see ei jää
viimaseks, et Eesti ning meie kunst saab hästi esindatud. Mul on eriti hea
meel, et esimene eesti kunstnik, kes esineb europarlamendis, on
naiskunstnik. Naiskunstnik, kes kasutab kõige modernsemaid materjale ja
meetodeid. Nii esindame kõige paremini Eesti kui tulevikumaa kuvandit
Euroopas. Palju õnne, Meeli!
Women have not always been ahead in producing culture. It is
an achievement of the recent decades. At the time of the French
Revolution or even the end of the 19th century, men were main
producers and consumers of art.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to introduce Estonian art to this house today. I
spent a lot of thought on what kind of art would represent Estonia
the best. To show paintings is simple and usual. Graphics are not
rare either. We have seen sculpture many times. So what could
Estonia, what could New Europe offer?
It has been the 21st century for quite a few years already and I
decided to showcase what in my mind represents the Estonian
contribution best. The key words here are future, dynamism and
woman.
M. Mikko MEP at the opening of Meeli Kõiva’s exhibition at the European
Parliament, 21 February 2006
I think our artist today, Meeli Kõiva-Vällo, uses the most
modern and difficult materials. Glass as a matter is not as masculine
as iron or bronze might be, but it is extremely difficult to work with.
Using light diodes is also a very complicated undertaking. I think she
does it remarkably well.
More female artists will naturally mean that more women will
be engaged in the administration of arts. Every little step counts. I
am glad that I could make a practical contribution to one of these
steps with bringing this exhibition to the European Parliament.
This exhibition is dedicated to the Estonian Independence Day,
February the 24th. 88 years ago, we achieved our independence for
the first time and prospered for 20 years until Hitler and Stalin
divided Europe and then went to war over it.
Under 50 years of Soviet occupation Estonia never stopped
dreaming of independence. In 1991 we fought for our freedom for the
second time in a century – and we were victorious.
Freedom is a strong, sweet and important word. We must
treasure that everywhere in Europe and defend it everywhere in the
world.

Thank you and enjoy the exhibition!