Siret Roots

Painter, graphic artist, designer.
Born August 3rd, 1980 in Otepää, currently living and working in Tartu, Estonia.
Website: http://www.siretroots.com, e-mail: siret.roots@mail.ee.

Education:
1996-2001 Tartu Art School. Major: graphic design. Diploma thesis: "Three Emotions Of Being Alone" (oil on canvas, 3 paintings 100x150 cm). Thesis supervisor: Helle Vahersalu.
1986-1996 Otepää Secondary School.

Solo Exhibitions
2009 Tartu Public Library, Tartu, Estonia, Ordinary Women, (ink)
2008 Luunja Cultural Centre. Luunja, Estonia, Summer Memories, (oil)
2008 Võru Town Gallery, Võru, Estonia, Moments, (oil, ink)
2007 Luunja Public Library, Luunja, Estonia, Extra-Time, (ink).
2007 Tartu Public Library, Tartu, Estonia, Some windows, (oil).
2007 Luunja Cultural Centre, Luunja, Estonia, One Afternoon, (oil).
2004 Tampere Maja, Tartu, Estonia, Four Years of Rhythm & Blues, (photography).
2003 Rogosi Manor, Võrumaa, Estonia, A One-Day Exhibit (oil).

Group Exhibitions
2006 Tartu Artists’ House, Tartu, Estonia, All Together (oil, ink).
2006 Y-Gallery, Tartu, Estonia, Keeniused (oil, mixed media).
2004 Illusioon, Tartu, Estonia, Woman & Woman (mixed media).
2000 Tam-Tan House, Tartu, Estonia, Coffee Shop (oil).

Illustrations:
2004 Travisarid, a book of poems by Elläi Tuulepäälse, Kentaur, Tartu, Estonia (ink).
2002 The Gemini Diaries, an audio CD by Liisi Koikson, Metronom Productions, Tartu, Estonia (oil).

Related Experience:
2001-2007 Graphic design and photography for various music-related projects: logos, CD covers, posters, T-shirts, websites, etc. Artists worked with include Liisi Koikson, Zone, Sobe, Vello Orumets, Kristo Käo & Jorma Puusaag, Vaido Petser, Maria Kirsi, Red Vibe, Päka, Alaska Kalan, Bullfrog Brown, and many others.
2002 Moon in the Mind, music video for Sobe, Metronom Productions, Tartu, Estonia (animation).
2002 Metronoom, pilot episode for TV Series, Metronom Productions, Tartu, Estonia (director of photography).
2002 As I Burn For You, music video for Sobe, Metronom Productions, Tartu, Estonia (animation, co-director).
2002 Headstrong, music video for Liisi Koikson, Metronom Productions, Tartu, Estonia (animation).

Collections:
Various private collections in Estonia, Germany, Finland, Denmark, and England.

Artist's Statement

Colours are not symbols to be interpreted, they are tools for the feel of a moment. My favourite colour is red, but I believe myself to be quite successful in showing that its meaning depends on the context rather than what it has historically come to signify.

My favourite techniques are oil and canvas and ink and dip pen. It is easier to convey emotions in oil and colour; it leaves a stronger impression on the public even if they only catch one glimpse of the work. With the dip pen, I can weave in my roots and memories of past generations, apply my interpretations of their mythological patterns and symbols. The symbols are still there in oil, but with oil, it is the colour that dominates -- I myself am more strongly present in those works, and so is the world of today. My graphics tend to be symbolistic and conceptual, my paintings impressionistic and emotional.

As I am more interested in the universe within, I have given up anatomical drawing; even in my art school days, my best work was always done when the model had gone... To see within, we look within. I express the way I feel things, not the way I see them -- after all, to appreciate the surface, all one has to do is open one's eyes. And anyone can do that.