Juhan Viiding

Juhan Viiding ( born June 1, 1948 in Tallinn, † 21 February 1995 in Rapla ) was an Estonian poet, actor and theater director.

Life and work

Juhan Viiding was born as the fourth child of the Estonian writer Paul Viiding ( 1904-1962 ). After high school he studied from 1968 to 1972 Dramaturgy and Dramatic Arts at the State Tallinn Conservatory (now the Estonian Music and Theatre Academy ). He then worked at Eesti Draamateater in Tallinn. He quickly became a popular actor (Peer Gynt, Hamlet). Viiding staged the plays of famous authors such as Samuel Beckett, Eugène Ionesco and Minoru Betsuyaku.

Juhan Viiding is best known for his poetry, with which he made ​​his debut in 1968. Until 1978 he published his poems under the pseudonym Jüri Üdi. The name was - similar to Fernando Pessoa - at an alter ego for the artist. Aroused special attention in 1971 the poems Jüri Üdi, Johnny B. Isotamm, Joel Sang and Toomas Liiv under the title Närvitrükk published. In 1978, Viidings collection of poems Ma olin Jüri Üdi. In 1980 he Elulootus.

In addition Viiding wrote the play in 1980 Olevused, 1983, the script for the film Nipernaadi ( based on a novella by August Gailit ) and in 1988 for the film The eleven swans, and performed as a singer, among others, the group Amor Trio. 1998 appeared posthumously the great anthology Kogutud luuletused with Viidings poems.

Juhan Viiding is the recipient of numerous literary awards. With his wife, the music teacher Riina Viiding, Juhan Viiding has a daughter, the poet Elo Viiding (* 1974). Juhan Viiding took in February 1995 own life.

Main works

• Närvitrükk (1971)
• Aastalaat (1971)
• Detsember (1971 )
• Käekäik (1973)
• Selges eesti keeles (1974 )
• Armastuskirjad (1975)
• Mina olin Jüri Üdi (1978 )
• Elulootus (1980)
• Tänan yes Palun (1983 )
• Osa (1991 )