Enn Kunila

Enn Kunila

Enn Kunila (born 19 March 1950 in Tallinn) is an Estonian entrepreneur and art collector.

Kunila is the Member of the Board and one of the shareholders of NG Investeeringud, which is one of the biggest Estonian private capital based investment and holding companies in Estonia.[1] NG Investeeringud group employs more than 4300 people and operates in trade, industry and real estate.

Enn Kunila was awarded The Order of the White Star of the Fourth Class in 2006 by the President of the Republic of Estonia to give recognition for his contribution in Estonian entrepreneurship.[2]

Enn Kunila is a member of the governing bodies of different public enterprise-related organizations. In 2007-2015 he was the Chairman of the Council of the Association of Estonian Food Industry.[3]

As an art collector and a patron, Enn Kunila has been a remarkable endorser of Estonian art life. As an acknowledgement for his deeds, Estonian Museum Association entitled Enn Kunila “The Friend of Estonian Museums” in 2009,[4] and in 2010 he was the honoree for the U.S. Baltic Foundation Philanthropy Award of the Baltic States.[5] In 2012 Estonian Minister of Culture awarded the title “Friend of Culture 2011” to Enn Kunila.[6]

Enn Kunila is the Chairman of the Board of the Art Museum of Estonia Friends of Art Society since its foundation in 2007. He is also the founder of the Board of Art Patrons that has been an important financial supporter of the Art Museum of Estonia Friends of Art Society.[4]

By profession, Enn Kunila is an engineering-technologist[7] in the field of metal cutting processing.

Career[8]

Business

Enn Kunila is also the member of the boards of all the enterprises that belong to the concern of NG Investeeringud.

Social Activity

Art Collection

Enn Kunila is the founder and owner of one of the finest art collections in Estonia. His art collection comprises the works of art by important Estonian artists of the classical period. Kunila’s art collection, both in the level of the works of art and the artists, is comparable to the permanent exhibitions of Estonian art museums concentrating on the same era.[11]

Kunila’s art collection has been exhibited in many significant exhibitions, for example in 2010 in Tallinn Art Hall where the exhibition "From Köler to Subbi" beat the audience record of all times with nearly 13 000 visitors,[12] and in autumn in Kunsthalle Helsinki, on the exhibition "Viron Värit" ("Estonian Colours"), which hosted the most elaborate exhibition of Estonian classical art exhibited abroad.[13] In 2015, Enn Kunila's art collection was exhibited in Rome in Vittoriano Museum (Il Vittoriano) with the exhibition "I colori del Nord" ("Nordic Colours).

Enn Kunila has written in “Estonian Classical Painting from Enn Kunila’s Collection”,[14] the book introducing his art collection:

I believe that in a small country like Estonia, every bigger art collection is also an inseparable element of the national culture. Hence, every art collector not only has the right, but also the duty to disclose their collection, both to the art scientists and the researchers, but first and foremost to the wider public.
Enn Kunila, "Estonian Classical Painting from Enn Kunila’s Collection", p. 6

Enn Kunila also believes that a particular painting may be owned by him, but the value of art pertains to our culture and this obliges him to arrange exhibitions and publish books of his collection.[11]

Artists represented in the collection of Kunila: Johann Köler, Amandus Adamson, Paul Raud, Ants Laikmaa, Konrad Mägi, Nikolai Triik, August Jansen, Roman Nyman, Johannes Greenberg, Paul Burman, Ado Vabbe, Aleksander Vardi, Adamson-Eric, Johannes Võerahansu, Richard Uutmaa, Eerik Haamer, Lepo Mikko, Endel Kõks, Elmar Kits, Evald Okas, Henn Roode, Olev Subbi,[11] Tiit Pääsuke, et cetera. The collection comprises the works of art by more than 60 artists.

The main adviser of Enn Kunila in the field of art has been his great friend, painter Olev Subbi.[15]

Art critic Eero Epner has written in the book “Viron värit – 150 vuotta virolaista maalaustaidetta Enn Kunilan kokoelmasta”:[16]

If, however, we look at Kunila’s art collection in a European context, then we must point out its capacity to concentrate within its framework the history of painting of a small country from its beginning to the present day. We must once again at this point emphasise that the aim of the collector has been to make his subjective choices and to base those choices on clear performances in taste. At the same time, Kunila’s collection has a museum-like quality since there are few such private collections in Europe that cover the art history of some country so thoroughly.
Eero Epner, ”Viron värit – 150 vuotta virolaista maalaustaidetta Enn Kunilan kokoelmasta, p. 291

Art Exhibitions

During the exhibition, Kunila also started an educational program, offering excursions, led by art scientists, free of charge.[19] He also gave the book “Estonian Classical Painting from Enn Kunila’s Collection” to all the school libraries as a gift.[15]

There were 111 artworks by 44 painters on display at the exhibition in Kunsthalle Helsinki.[23]

The exhibited artists were the pioneers of the traditions in Estonian painting. The artists displayed are the four links of one chain which is the history of Estonian art, particularly the painting tradition that is based on colour-concentration and the impression of nature.[25]

For the first time in Estonia, an interactive multimedia programme Journey in the Golden Age was available to visitors which utilised tablet computers that visitors could borrow from the museum. The exhibition was accompanied by a catalogue compiled by the curator Eero Epner, as well as a story and colouring book called Fish Net and Milk Can.[27]

Additionally, the works of art from the art collection of Enn Kunila have been in display at many important exhibitions, including the representational exhibition of Estonia in Paris in 2001,[9][28] and the exhibitions ”Grand Tour. Eesti kunstnikud Itaalias“ (“Grand Tour. Estonian Artists in Italy”) in 2008–2009, "Neoimpressionismi jälgedes. Mägi ja Finch. ("Tracing Neo-Impressionism: Mägi and Finch") in 2010, "Igavesti naiselik. Johannes Greenbergi ja Ferdi Sannamehe looming" ("Forever Feminine. The Work of Johannes Greenberg and Ferdi Sannamees") in 2011, ”Aedade järelelu“ (“The Afterlives of Gardens”) in 2013, "Lepo Mikko" in 2013-2014, "Natuuri rikkus. Eluläheduse idee ja Düsseldorfi koolkond" ("The Force of Nature. Realism and the Düsseldorf School of Painting") in 2015, "Ants Laikmaa. Vigala ja Capri" ("Ants Laikmaa. Vigala and Capri") in 2015-2016 in the Art Museum of Estonia and also at several other exhibitions.

Publications

Art books and albums that accompanied the exhibitions of Enn Kunila’s collection:

Kunila has additionally published three biographical and art books:[11]

Acknowledgements

Interests

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 „Näitus Enn Kunila maalikollektsioonist“ Haus Galerii, 14. juuni 2010.
  2. 1 2 „Rüütel annab riikliku autasu 834 inimesele“ Eesti Päevaleht, 7. veebruar 2006.
  3. „Enn Kunila valiti tagasi toiduliidu volikogu juhtima“ Tarbija24, 30. märts 2012
  4. 1 2 „Aasta muuseumisõbraks valiti ettevõtjast kunstikollektsionäär Enn Kunila“ Klassikaraadio, 31. mai 2009.
  5. „Enn Kunila sai USAs filantroopiaauhinna“ Äripäev, 17. mai 2010.
  6. „Lang tunnustas aasta kultuurisõpru – Nordea panka, Nordic Hotelsi ja Enn Kunilat“ Delfi, 3. veebruar 2012.
  7. „Teekond põllutöölisest kunstilembeliseks firmaomanikuks“ Äripäev, 29. september 2012.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Kes on kes Eesti majanduses 2010", Tallinn: Eesti Kaubandus- ja Tööstuskoda. (2010) lk 104
  9. 1 2 3 4 „Elu läbi kunsti“ Äripäeva lisa Gentleman, detsember 2008.
  10. "Hiiumaal kõlab esimest korda ooper" ERR, 9. juuli 2012.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "Enn Kunila – Kunstiarmastusest sündinud kollektsioon" Kultuur ja Elu, 2010 nr 1.
  12. "Kunila kunstinäitust külastas Tallinnas ligi 13 000 inimest" Äripäev, 2 April 2010.
  13. "Helsingis avati näitus Enn Kunila maalikogust" ERR, 15. oktoober 2010
  14. Epner, Eero (2010). "Eesti klassikaline maalikunst Enn Kunila kollektsioonis". Tallinn: Sperare, 2010, p 6.
  15. 1 2 3 "Enn Kunila kunsti täis elu" Postimees – E24, 20. veebruar 2010.
  16. Epner, Eero (2010). "Viron värit – 150 vuotta virolaista maalaustaidetta Enn Kunilan kokoelmasta". Tallinn: Sperare, 2010, p. 291.
  17. "Kunstikollektsionäär avab näituse Eesti kunstiklassikast" Eesti Päevaleht, 6. november 2007.
  18. "Enn Kunila maalikogu näitus lõi publikurekordi" Õhtuleht, 3. märts 2010.
  19. 1 2 "Enn Kunila: kunst on Eestile hea visiitkaart" Eesti Päevaleht, 23. veebruar 2010.
  20. "Moodsa kunsti klassikuid saab nautida Kärdlas" Hiiu Leht, 5. märts 2010.
  21. "Kõige suurem mägi Eestis ei ole Suur Munamägi, vaid kunstnik Konrad Mägi…" Saarte Hääl, 16. juuni 2010.
  22. "Läbimurre: Enn Kunila saadab oma maalikogu Soome näitusele" Eesti Päevaleht, 31. august 2010.
  23. "Viron maalaustaide esittäytyy laajasti Helsingissä" Savon Sanomat, 15. lokakuu 2010.
  24. "Pika Maja saalis on väljas valik graafikat ja joonistusi Enn Kunila kogust" Hiiu Nädal, 19. november 2010.
  25. "Kärdlas näeb Eesti klassikalise maalikunsti paremikku" ERR Menu, 20. juuni 2013.
  26. "Hiiumaal avatakse Olev Subbi mälestusele pühendatud näitus" Eestielu, 12.september 2013.
  27. 1 2 "Colours of the Golden Age. Classical Estonian Painting from Enn Kunila's Collection" Mikkel museum
  28. Näitus „Meri, rand ja Saaremaa Enn Kunila kollektsioonis“ on Kuressaare Raegaleriis (Tallinna tn 2) avatud T-R kl 10–17 ja L kell 10–15 alates 30. aprillist kuni 26. juunini 2010." Saaremaa.ee Sündmused, 2010.
  29. "Reedel avati Helsingis suur eesti klassikalise maalikunsti ülevaatenäitus" Eesti Ekspress, 19. oktoober, 2010.
  30. "Muuseumide sõbra tiitli pälvis tänavu Enn Kunila" ERR, 2. september 2009.
  31. "Tähelaev: Enn Kunila" ERR, 27. jaanuar 2013.
  32. Tähelaev: Enn Kunila ETV (ERR), 27. jaanuar 2013.

External links

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