Writer Viivi Luik is University of Tartu’s next Professor of Liberal Arts

Next academic year, the professorship of liberal arts will be held by poet, children’s author and prosaist Viivi Luik, whose lecture course will focus on depicting era-specific archetypes in literature. On 13 May, the current Professor of Liberal Arts Kadri Voorand will hand over the professorship to Viivi Luik in the White Hall of the UT Museum.

Viivi Luik is a poet, prosaist, children’s author and essayist whose works have influenced both the Estonian and international literary landscape for sixty years. Her lecture course starting in autumn is entitled “Expressing the Inexpressible through Words. Depicting Era-specific Human Archetypes in Literature” (HVKU.05.068). Based on literary works from the different decades of the 20th century, the discussions will focus on era-specific human archetypes, their depiction in art, and human transformation and constancy. Each era creates its distinctive human archetype, and until that archetype is articulated, it is not recognised in real life – it is inexpressible yet awaits expression. The course is open to students and everyone else interested in the topic.

Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities Anti Selart looks forward to the course with great interest. “It is hard to underestimate Viivi Luik’s importance in our literary history – her work has influenced several generations of Estonian readers. It is also significant that her works have sparked international interest in Estonia and Estonian history,” said Selart.

Viivi Luik began her writing career as a poet, and the poetics of her novels and essays also stem from poetry. Luik’s most famous novels, Seitsmes rahukevad (The Seventh Spring of Peace) and Ajaloo ilu (The Beauty of History), as well as her latest autobiographical travel book Varjuteater (Shadow Play) have received considerable local and international acclaim.

Throughout Luik’s creative journey, alongside the longing nature themes and masterful poetics, notes of social criticism have gradually appeared in her poetry. Her domestic symbolism is considered a milestone in Estonian literary history: the author depicts the ordinary domestic environment around us, but between the lines, a broad meaning emerges, protecting humanity and culture. The work of Viivi Luik, a master of expressing feelings, reaches us also through children’s verses, primer stories and many well-known song lyrics.

Luik has received numerous important literary awards and cultural prizes, including the Order of Merit of the White Star, III Class, Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland, and the “Contribution to Estonian National Identity” award.

The current Professor of Liberal Arts Kadri Voorand will hand over the position to Viivi Luik on 13 May at 17 in the White Hall of the UT Museum on Toome Hill. The public discussion (in Estonian) is entitled “The simultaneity of the world’s horrors and beauty. The inevitability of truth”.

Each academic year, a prominent Estonian creative person is invited to the position of University of Tartu Professor of Liberal Arts and will give a public lecture course. Read more about the professorship of liberal arts on the university website.