“Dances of Life” Hommage´ B. Notke Dance of Death.
T. Talve – InSEA 2003-2014+

The Dances of Tõnu Talve
Tõnu Talve is a contemporary Estonian artist with whom I had the pleasure of working with for some exhibition and performance work in 2011. The specific event mentioned was an annual fair where Tõnu used UNI Mitsubishi Pencil Posca markers to paint with. Tõnu had an astonishing idea of making a replicate of Bernt Notkes “Dance of Death” only in a modern perspective, with youthful life nurturing young females instead of “death” and calling it “Dance of Life”. So was reborn the first piece of the ongoing process and painting: Dance of Life with Berit. In the final piece there can be sensed the presence of all the participants and their unity and oneness. Energy released and the positive synergy merged in the performance event can be felt in the atmosphere of the painting. Although it is not possible to comprehend this piece in the form of rational explanations and to understand the full depth of it we need to step out of the boundaries of materialism, it is important to describe the artist’s background and previous work more thoroughly. Talve is an artist, who aims to explore the limits and joints of metaphysical painting, performance art, music, composition and even Japanese paintbrush art. These quite the controversial terms are pieces he uses to put together an interesting unseen and unprecedented work. In the field of these pieces the only escape is utopia. Talve’s way work can be described as self-reflective shamanism. The means how he merges with the music is similar to chanting and mantra ceremonies where he takes everybody with him to join on the journey of creation. Painted in the delicate colours of pastels as feminine side of Talve’s work and the masculine marker lines, the atmosphere, buildings, people and elements merge together as one unity. Dance of Life can be sensed in every stroke. Inspiration for Tõnu’s work and the recognition with my own comes from old Greek-Roman created nature and landscapes. Also our own Tallinn Old Town has been at one point in his creative career a spiritual source of inspiration. Lines from that area of architecture can even be drawn to the Dance of Life inspiration source as parts of Notkes Danse Macabre for Reval are saved in St. Nicholas’ Church in Tallinn. Finally we have to all agree that Talve has a unique style to his work. There are many planes his paintings take effect: the positive energy we can sense and the harmonious sounds we hear viewing them as well as the sensation of endless time and unity by feeling them. It has been a pleasure working with you.

Berit Freivald
AW2 Architects

Pictures born with music
Märjamaa Music and Art School organizes international art contest for art-
schools „Surprising find”. The aim of the contest is to encourage children to deal with their own creative works. To express oneself, to recognize gifted young artists and put up a memorable artshow. In 2010 the hint – theme, was „Seize the Day”. Catch the music and colors! Create a picture with music realtime and feeling. As a tradition the exhibition was put up of the best artworks and the authors were asked to participate the workshop. There was also a music contest in parallel for estonian music schools ́ students. Finalists of music contest had also a possibility to participate the art workshop. Realtime music and art. The expressive painting with music as a workshop was directed by AEROSFAER jazzrock group – Toomas Rull (dr), Mihkel Mälgand (b), Raun Juurikas (keyb), Raul Sööt (sax), Marek Talts (guit) and Tõnu Talve live painting. Art-event, that was open for every eye, ear and soul, took place at Märjamaa Peoples ́ House ́s spacious and white hall. Sensitive-developing music came from the scene. In front of the stage with T.Talve ́s energetic and artistic nature, opened a cowork with musicians and the painter. T.T. uses the inspiration of music – cowork might do the trick or pilot the painters mind so, that it involves the participants in creative process, too. Everything is open for feeling and recording as one ́s own inspiration tells. This inspiring music infected the young participants, wakeful music students plus several guests, who followed the event. The space in front of the stage was turned into a hugh painting board, where everybody could use gouache-paints, brushes, rollers and buffs to do the artwork. The musicians on the stage could notice, who and how started their move – expressively, spontaneously or listened music more than painted. Musicians saw from the faces of the participants, that the idea worked perfectly and felt the inspiration coming from the people in the hall. Atmosphere was warm and pushing. The spark between the musicians ignited all the involved. Energy came back and forth. A real synergy emerged. It processed and gave birth to many colorful and emotional artworks. Rhythms, shades of sound passed over to artistic handmovements and choice of colors. The same reflected in musicians ́ sound passages. The feeling – all that happened realtime, was out of real time and space. It was  sovereign world, that took unwaveringly. A genuine art and music experience for the public also.
Anne Aaspõllu
Märjamaa Music- and Art School teacher.

TÕNU TALVE TEOSED
maal,
Jõhvi linnagalerii
05.10.- 01.11.2010
Tõnu Talve maalikunsti võib kunstiteaduslikus terminoloogias nimetada protsessuaalseks. See tähendab, et sama tähtis kui töö lõpptulemus, on viis, kuidas selleni jõutakse. Tavaliselt teeb Tõnu oma etenduste jaoks alusmaali, mis on kalkuleeritum, kuid jätab improvisatsiooniks piisavalt vaba ruumi. Muusika käivitamisel valdab teda täielik loomepuhang: kiirete liigutustega haarab ta kõikvõimalikke maalitehnikavahendeid alates tavalisest maalirullist kuni markeritaoliseesemeni. Harva vaatab ta oma tegevust kõrvalt, eemaldudes maalist teatud distantsile nagu seda teevad akadeemilised maalijad. Kunstnik on protsessis niivõrd sees, et ta ei teagi täpselt, kuhu ta tahab välja jõuda. Ainult lõpupoole arvab ta, hoogsale pintsitööle tuleb sõna otseses mõttes punkt panna – siis võtab markeri ja paneb maalile huupi väikesi täpikesi. Kunstiõpetajana on ta oma meetodit sisendanud ka oma õpilastele, kes möllavad värvidega muusika saatel nagu nende õpetaja. Tõnu Talve meetod, mis eirab kuivi akadeemilisi arusaamu realistlikust maalist, perspektiivist, kompositsioonist jne., aitab avada lapsel loomupärase avatuse, viib õpilased tagasi nende varajasesse lapsepõlve, kus nad saades kätte pliiatsi, guaššvärvid või plastiliini, täiesti vahetult ja ausalt väljendavad ennast ja enda hetkeseisu. Viimased maalid on eriti huvitavad. Üks komponent, mis on lisandunud, on kollaažlikud elemendid, mida ta kasutab väga oskuslikult – sageli ei saagi aru, kas see on maalitud või kleebitud. Sisulisemas plaanis on Talve hakanud kasutama tsitaate kunstiajaloost oma austusega vanade meistrite vastu. Neid kasutab kunstnik omaenda huvides, omaenda alateadvuses pakitseva väljaelamiseks.
Kunstiteadlane Ants Juske.

2003. aastast on Tõnu Talve kunstiõpetajate maailmaorganisatsiooni InSEA liige ja osalenud Fragile kunsti- ja muusikavideote ning ettekannetega seni 8-l järjestikusel rahvusvahelisel kongressil. Seetõttu saab kinnitada, et Fragile kogumik-DVD vastu on suur huvi ka välismaal. Kogumik DVD on valmis ja autori käes saadaval. Tõnu Talve on tutvustanud jätkuvalt Eestit ja oma õpetajatööd. Viimati Soomes, Rovaniemis InSEA 2010-kongressil. Fragile omalaadne töömeetod on aastate jooksul väljatöötatud heli- ja kunstiloome koostöö. Õpetajate ja õpilaste hulgas on see alati huvi äratanud. DVD-d on InSEA organisatsiooni kaudu tutvustatud Euroopas ja mujal maailmas.