
An independent artist from Talinn in Estonia, Maret focuses on issues, problems and phenomena that represent her personal experiences and ideas. Her inspiration derives from elements of local Northern European nature, traditions, native ornaments, motifs and objects of daily life that she attaches meaning to. Her father comes from a rural forested region of Estonia, whilst her mother is from Kivilaane, a slightly larger village area near to Talinn. This justaposition of cultures and backgrounds finds its way into her work.
Her work documents her past, recording moods of happiness or sadness, but pieces are essentially made for pleasure. In her artist talk of 24th April, she explained that: “Instead of intentionally saying something with my work, I prefer my work to say something to me. I enjoy the unintentional and surprising outcomes.”
Her preferred medium is pate-de-verre, thinly applied to produce a sugary, delicate structure. In a piece called ‘Variable Intersections’, she examines the differences and similarities between Turkey and Estonia. The work is a series of six different panels and colour schemes, contrasting vivid and complex Arabic designs with calmer, cooler images from the Baltic States. ‘Tryptych’ is a favourite view from a bedroom window. ‘Mulgi Mountains’ considers nature, traditional costumes and native motifs. ‘Glass Quilts’ celebrates the folk-art of America, using the ‘caring and sparing’ tradition of using up scraps and working in the company of friends
Maret has exhibited in solo shows and in large galleries. Her work is increasingly recognised and appreciated, and she has recently been included in the Corning Museum of Glass’s ‘New Glass Review 34’.
Visit Maret's website at: http://www.maretsarapu.eu