Exhibition of Ex Libris by calligrapher Villu Toots at the library

In front of the third reading hall on the 3rd floor of the library, visitors can view an exhibition of ex libris by the legendary calligrapher Villu Toots. The display features a selection of Toots' works from 1963 to 1989, presented on 11 panels.

This exhibition was almost lost to history. The ex libris pieces were discovered by someone near a dumpster in Tallinn, who decided to take them to Pärnu to Olaf Esna, a well-known ex libris enthusiast and bibliophile. When Anu Karjatse, a calligrapher and teacher at the Tallinn Folk University, visited Esna, he showed her the collection. Karjatse carefully sorted and studied the works, resulting in this exhibition.

Villu Toots (1916–1993) was Estonia’s most renowned calligrapher and lettering instructor, who laid the foundation for a school of calligraphy that nurtured generations of new calligraphers. His works were internationally recognized, and he authored several essential textbooks on the art of calligraphy. Toots received his education at the Pallas Art School, studying painting under Aleksander Vardi and Kaarel Liimand and graphic arts under Arkadio Loigo and Roman Vaher. In 1965, he established a calligraphy school at Tallinn Culture University, with a three-year curriculum. His work was continued by Heino Kivihall in 1983, who, in turn, handed over the leadership of the calligraphy studio to his student Anu Karjatse in 2018.

The exhibition introduction, written in Gothic script, was created by Anu Karjatse. The title page of the guestbook was designed by Merike Tamm, a student of Villu Toots and a fine-nib calligraphy instructor at Tartu Folk University. The display is complemented by books from the university library collections that were compiled and designed by Villu Toots.

The ex libris exhibition is open until the end of February.