Margit Mutso

This film portraits Leonhard Lapin, who becomes one of the most outstanding avant-garde artists on the Soviet Estonian art and architecture scene. Lapin is especially inspired by pre-war Estonian funk architecture and Russian constructivists. In contrast, the bleak mass production on the actual building arena provokes protest and anger. He finds many like-minded people, and his artistic circle of friends is diverse and active. Several groups grow out of Lapin’s inner circle, among them the legendary group of architects that the Finnish architect Komonen started calling ‘the Tallinn school’. The rebel Lapin becomes the leading avant-garde artist of Soviet Estonia, whose diverse portfolio includes paintings, graphics and architectural drawings, architectonic works and architectural projects, performances and happenings, writings and poetry, and his own theory of architecture and colour. His fiery temper gets him into conflicts with the authorities as well as passionate human relations.

Fifteen years ago, the Union of Estonian Architects commissioned a film about its birth, history and activities. It was supposed to premiere at the gala celebrating the Union’s 85th year of activity, but after a few minutes the equipment started to malfunction, the film ended up in a drawer and was since forgotten. However, on the eve of the Union’s centenary, the film was dusted off and a fresh section on the activities of the past fifteen years was added.