Enn Põldroos’s mural “The Joy of Life” was completed in 1961 on the wall of the lobby of the new building of the then Tallinn 46th Secondary School. The artist used an author’s technique to create the panel: he mixed dammar resin, beeswax and sand and modeled the figures and other objects depicted in the work from them. The work, made from improvised materials, drew its idea from the freedom aspirations of the youth movement of that era in a closed society.
The panel was restored in the fall of 2024 – winter of 2025 as part of a student internship at the Department of Heritage Protection and Conservation of the Estonian Academy of Arts and in cooperation with art teachers and students of Pelgulinna High School. The internship was supervised by Varje Õunapuu. During the work, the work was cleaned of dust accumulated over the years, loose details were fixed, plaster repairs were made, losses were tinted, and the original background tone of the work, which had been painted over many times, was revealed.
The students of the Estonian Academy of Arts participated: Ott Kõvamees, Rasmus Kristofer Randla, Getter Zirel, Triinu-Johanna Tagarand, Annleen Leesma and Kertu Liisa Põtter. Rector Hilkka Hiiop also contributed.
The students of Pelgulinna Gymnasium participated: Kadrina Annabel Soosaar, Maia Järve, Maria Aleksejeva, Ken-Sander Aasoja, Christofer Kaasik, Liisbet Lumi, Meiri Consuelo Kärp, Aljona Kožatkina, Margaret Ernits, Astrid Sedova, Keity Uukkivi, Nora Rosine Normak, Kaisa Birgitte Evard, Aleksei Kožatkin, Oskar Sander, Ellu Hell Annus and Mona Nooni, as well as art teacher Liis Teesalu.
The ceremonial reopening of the work and thanking of those involved took place on December 5.
Read more:
Gallery: Enn Põldroosi’s wall panel unveiled at Pelgulinna Gymnasium – ERR, December 6, 2025
Photos: Tõnu Piibur, Rasmus Kristofer Randla, Varje Õunapuu