A controversial monument to a famous Estonian singer and musician has been taken apart and removed from its site in the South Estonian town of Viljandi, a little over a year after it was first erected.
Viljandi s urban management workers have covered a controversial monument to Estonian singer Jaak Joala. Enclosing the monument with a wooden box took about an hour.
Viljandi city government decided to temporarily cover the installation until additional negotiations with Joala s widow Maire take place.
Maire Joala says the monument, unveiled during the New Year holidays, infringes her rights as Jaak Joala s trademark s owner, and has submitted an injunction to remove the monument, or at least the aspects of Joala s likeness, name etc., by January 18. Otherwise, Maire Joala says she will go to court.
The monument, initiated by the non-profit organization Meie Viljandi s board member Harri Juhani Aaltonen (Isamaa), brought along controversial opinions from the town s residents and arts experts, also due to the manner in which it was finances as much as on aesthetic grounds. Nonetheless, the monument ended up one of the town s star attractions since it was opened.
A monument to Estonian singer Jaak Joala remains standing despite controversy which almost led to its demise last week.
The fate of the installation, in the South Estonian town of Viljandi, Joala s home town, hinges on a city council decision, mayor Madis Timpson told ERR s radio news Tuesday.
While last week was set aside for discussing the matter further, Timpson said: In the meantime, various factions of Viljandi city council chamber, from both the opposition and the coalition, have turned to the city government, who want to discuss this issue on the council as well. Timpson said. As a result, the city government decided that we would then send the issue to the council for discussion and position, he added, noting that he could not say exactly when the decision would be made, simply that the next council sitting was on Thursday and that nothing could change before then.
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Photo: Public getting the chance of a final glimpse of a controversial, not to mention gaudy, monument to legendary Estonian singer Jaak Joala ahead of its impending demise on Sunday or Monday. Author: Olev Kenk/ERR
Members of the public have been flocking to the South Estonian of Viljandi to get the last chance to glimpse a controversial monument to Estonian singer and performer Jaak Joala (1950-2014), ahead of its being torn down.
The installation, which features Joala s likeness, or at least face and hands, bursting out of a pillar which also features flashing lights, a sound function and brass (or similar) information plates, hit trouble even ahead of being unveiled on New Year s eve, as much about the use of funding to erect it as on aesthetic grounds.
Authorities are to remove an installation in the South Estonian town of Viljandi commemorating legendary Estonian singer and performer Jaak Joala, mayor Madis Timpson says, at the singer s widow s request.
The city government is likely to make a formal decision to move the sculpture on Monday, Timpson told ERR.
The singer s widow, Maire Joala, had demanded the removal of his likeness, namely face and hands, from the installation by Monday, January 18 at the latest, making the demand via her lawyer.
ERR was unable to receive comment from the law firm Thursday, but a representative of its office said that they would comment after receiving a response from the Viljandi city government.