Sisterhood

April 2nd until September 3rd 2023

Exhibitions marking the 150th birth anniversary of renowned photographer Jaan Riet in Viljandi

The large-scale exhibition “Sisterhood” (“Sõsarkond”), displayed in the entire building of the KONDAS CENTRE, tells the story of the women of the Riet family. The exhibition “Viljandi Photographer Jaan Riet 150” in VILJANDI MUSEUM focuses on the work of Riet’s photo studio. An URBAN SPACE exhibition is set up in three places in Viljandi: at the corner of Posti and Koidu streets, the former Rubiin park, and in Vabaduse square.

Jaan Riet was born on 27 March 1873 in Abja parish. His photography business operated in Viljandi for half a century. The “J. Riet” brand became well-known throughout Estonia for its numerous high-quality photos. The studio owed its success largely to the hardworking female staff of the studio.

The exhibition in the Kondas Centre introduces four women of the Riet family, their lives and creative work. Jaan Riet’s wife Marie Riet (born Uudelt, 1880–1959) studied photography in Germany and worked at her husband’s studio. After the new house, designed by architect Karl Burman, was completed on the corner of Koidu and Posti streets in 1914, Marie committed herself more to her home and garden.

Marie Riet’s sister Anna Kukk (born Uudelt, 1885–1960) worked as a photographer in both Viljandi and the far-away Amur region. The part of the exhibition dedicated to Anna Kukk, about her life in Estonia and Russia was curated by art historian Indrek Grigor. A part of the display focuses on the unique way gold panning was captured in the mine. In 1920, Anna Kukk and her son Olev moved to Estonia, and she continued work in the Riet studio.

Jaan and Marie Riet’s elder daughter Hilja Riet (1905–2006) studied from 1923–1927 in Pallas Art School in Tartu, where she received good training in composition, among other things. Many Estonians still have Hilja Riet’s postcards at home – 230,000 copies of them with 176 different designs were printed in 1931–1940. Hilja Riet’s flower postcards are set in dialogue with the works of Hedi Jaansoo and Annika Vihmann, two contemporary female photographers connected to Viljandi.

The Riets’ younger daughter Elma Tünder (born Riet, 1910–1987) also worked at her parents’ photo studio for years. In the years 1934–1937, Elma lived in England where she worked as an au pair and in a London fashion store. She started studying photography in London shortly before returning to Estonia.

The exhibition in Viljandi Museum focuses on the activities of the Riet studio. Its extensive photo heritage primarily includes photos of Viljandi and its inhabitants from the end of the 19th century to the mid-20th century. The studio produced tens of thousands of portraits and nearly a hundred thousand postcards with townscapes.

The photos and items displayed in the exhibitions are from the collections of Viljandi Museum, the Museum of Photography, the Estonian Museum of Architecture, and the Film Archives of the National Archives, as well as private collections. The exhibitions were supported by the Estonian Cultural Endowment. We are highly grateful for their help and support. Our special thanks go to Jaan Riet’s grandson Kristjan-Henn Riet.

The exhibitions will be open until 3 September 2023. The Kondas Centre is open from Wednesday to Sunday 10–17 in April and every day 11–18 from May to the end of August. Viljandi Museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday 10–17.

This information was compiled by Mari Vallikivi and Herki Helves.

Further information on the exhibition in the Kondas Centre: Mari Vallikivi, +372 5360 1768

Further information on the exhibition in Viljandi Museum: Herki Helves, +372 5690 7334

Further information on the urban space exhibition: Helen Piir, Gallerist at Sakala Centre, +372 5347 5897

The poster photo shows Marie, Elma and Jaan Riet in their home studio in 1917. Photo collection of Viljandi Museum, VMF 439:41.