Viive Noor

Viive Noor (1955) is an illustrator and curator. She works as a curator at the Estonian Children's Literature Centre. Noor is the founder and organiser of the Tallinn Illustrations Triennial ā€œThe Power of Picturesā€ (2003, 2006, 2009, 2013, 2017). She graduated cum laude in fashion design and graphic art from the State Art Institute of the Estonian SSR (Estonian Academy of Arts) in 1981. Noor is the Vice President of the Estonian Section of IBBY and a member of the Estonian Artists' Association, Estonian Graphic Designers’ Association (Head of Book Design Section), Associazione Italia Estonia, International Laboratory of Art, and Mega Art in Italy. Her works are held in the art collections of the National Library of Estonia, the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, the Hiroko Mori & Stasys Museum in Japan, and the Marstal Maritime Museum in Denmark, as well as in many private collections in Estonia, Japan, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Germany, Russia etc.

I certainly drew a lot as a child, but I was convinced I’d become an explorer. I read books about travels, expeditions, and nature. Back then, I knew many of the Latin names for animal and plant species by heart. While studying in an art-intensive school, I started going to art exhibitions and before I knew it, I’d enrolled in the Estonian Academy of Arts. I still love nature to this day, but can’t imagine life without art. I have a deep fondness for books and illustration, but the world of art is boundless and the explorer in me lives on.

Profile picture: Priit Grepp

Illustrated books

10 Cakes

1990

Translations

10 Kuchen

1991

10 Cakes

1990

Reprints

Awards

2020
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma
Republic of Estonia Order of the White Star, Fifth Class

2019

Sharjah Children’s Book Illustrations Exhibition, Honorable Mention
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Hilli Rand. The Forgetful Fairy’s Birthday Party)

2018

Annual International Contest ā€˜Image of the Book/Obraz knigi’, Moscow, laureate

2016

Silver Badge of Merit of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

2015

5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Tiia Toomet. May Lily and Anemone)

2013

Plaque of the 47th International Golden Pen of Belgrade / ŠŸŠ»Š°ŠŗŠµŃ‚Š° ŠœŠµŃ’ŃƒŠ½Š°Ń€Š¾Š“Š½Š¾Š³ Златног ŠŸŠµŃ€Š° БеограГа

2011

5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Milvi Panga. Where Are You, Santa’s Elf?)

2009

Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Diploma
5 Best-Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Special Prize of the Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (The Golden Book of Estonian Fairytales)
Muhv Award

2008

5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Kalju Kangur. Timbu-Limbu and the Cunning Dwarf)
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Special prize of Estonian Graphic Designers’ Union (Once Upon a Time…), Special prize of The Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (F. R. Kreutzwald. Lopi and Lapi)
Raisin of the Year Award (Once Upon a Time…)

2007

Nominee of the Kristjan Raud Prize
5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, Certificate of Merit (Milvi Panga. Let’s Go Outside)

2006

IBBY Honour List (Milvi Panga. The One Who Enjoys)

2005

Special Prize ā€˜Golden Book’ of the National Library of Estonia (Reet Made. The Shop of Frolic)

2004

5 Best Designed Estonian Children’s Books, 2 Certificates of Merit (Milvi Panga. The One Who Enjoys; Leelo Tungal. A Little Christmas Wish)

Exhibitions

Noor's works have been displayed since 1978 in more than 400 exhibitions in Estonia, Argentina, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Colombia, China, Denmark, France, Spain, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Yugoslavia, Lithuania, South-Korea, Latvia, Poland, Serbia, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Slovakia, Finland, Hungary, Ukraine, the USA, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Russia.
Has had 72 solo exhibitions: 57 in Estonia, 8 in Finland, 3 in Germany and 4 in Russia.

Selected exhibitions:

2020
Solo exhibition, Mir, Belorus
International exhibition of illustrations ā€œPeace Should Be Learned in Childhoodā€, Tehran, Iran
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Group exhibition of Estonian artists ā€žSecret Lives IIIā€, Warsaw, Płock, Poland
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators ā€œLeafing Through Estonian Children’s Books IIIā€, Moscow, Russia

2019
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Sharjah Children’s Book Illustrations Exhibition, the United Arab Emirates
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators ā€œFrom the Mountains to the Seaā€, Kraków, Rabka-Zdrój, Elbląg, Poland
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators ā€œLeafing Through Estonian Children’s Books IIā€, Moscow, Kolomna, Russia

2018
Group exhibition of Estonian artists ā€žSecret Lives IIā€, Skizza gallery, Jerusalem, Israel
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators ā€žTra ghiaccio e fuocoā€œ, Rome, Pesco Sannita, Italy

2018–2020
Exhibition of Baltic illustrators ā€œRunning with Wolvesā€, London, the United Kingdom; Estonian Children’s Literature Centre (ā€œWolf Runā€), Tallinn; Gdańsk, Wrocław, Białystok, Warsaw, Płock, Szczecin, Poland; Pordenone, Italy; Vilnius, Lithuania

2018–2019
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators ā€œRunning with Wolvesā€, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre, Tallinn; selected works, Pskov, St. Petersburg, Russia

2018
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators ā€žMasters of Estonian children’s booksā€œ/ā€œPower of Picturesā€œ in Russia: Krasnoarmeysk, Moscow

2017
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre
Group exhibition of Estonian illustrators ā€œLeafing Through Estonian Children’s Books Iā€, Moscow, Kolomna, Russia

2016
Solo exhibition ā€œMay Lily and Anemoneā€, Kondas Centre, Viljandi, Estonia
Spring exhibition of Estonian illustrators, Estonian Children’s Literature Centre

2016–2019
International exhibition ā€žIllustrating Life – International Illustration & Contemporary Lifeā€œ II–IV, Beijing, China

2016–2018
Group exhibition of Estonian artists ā€žSecret Lives Iā€, hotel Sofitel in Strasbourg, Embassy of Estonia in Paris, France
Exhibition of Estonian illustrators ā€œFairy Tales Come to Visitā€, New York Estonian House, USA
Travelling exhibition of Estonian illustrators, ā€œA Walk on the Path of Fairy Tale
Together with Charles Perraultā€, Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Russia
Exhibiton of Estonian illustrators ā€œNeighbours Who Love Readingā€, Pskov City Library, Russia

2015–2020
International illustration exhibition, ā€œIt’s Always Tea-Timeā€, Estonian Children’s Literature
Centre, Tallinn; Riga, Latvia; Uusikaupunki, Finland; Gdansk, Wrocław, Toruń, Elbląg, Poland; Berlin,
Germany; Szczecin, Płock, Poland; Budapest, Hungary; Oxford, the United Kingdom; Moscow,
Krasnoarmeysk, Mytishchi, Vyborg, St. Petesburg, Russia

2015–2019
Exhibition of Estonian Illustrators, ā€œOnce Upon a Time...ā€ (Grimm’s Fairy Tales),
Aosta, Anagni, Lagonegro, Bernalda-Metaponto, Corato, Matera, Roma, Lacco Ameno,
Irsina, Siracusa, Sassari, Roma, Bologna, Italy; Estonian Children’s Literature Centre,
Tallinn; Minsk, Belarus; Kraków, Łomża, Białystok, Szczecin, Płock, Warszaw, Elbląg,
Gdańsk, Opole, Poland

2015–2016
Travelling exhibition, ā€œMade with the Heart. Estonian Children’s Book Illustrationā€, Moscow, Krasnoarmeysk, Cheboksary, Russia

2015
European Professional Doll Art Festival, Riga, Latvia

2014–2015
Solo exhibition ā€œTree of Loveā€, Tallinn, Haapsalu, PƤrnu, Viljandi, Estonia

2014
International exhibition ā€žBEE ARTā€, Hamburg, Germany
International exhibition of illustrations, ā€žBeyond the Seasā€, Budapest, Hungary
European Professional Doll Art Festival, Riga, Latvia

2014–2017
ā€œTallinn Illustration Triennial 2013. Estonian Illustratorsā€, Estonia, Poland

2013
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
International Biennial of the Illustration, ā€œGolden Pen of Belgradeā€, Serbia
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
Travelling exhibition of Estonian illustration, ā€œEtelƤstƤ tuulee – LƵunatuul puhubā€ (The South Wind Blows), Finland

2013–2015
Exhibition by Estonian and Hungarian Illustrators, ā€œCrisscross Storiesā€, Estonia, Hungary, the United Kingdom

2013–2014
Group exhibition, ā€œThe Visions of Mother Goose. Tribute to Charles Perraultā€, Tallinn, Estonia

2012
Group exhibition ā€žFour Is Better than Threeā€, Estonia, Finland

2012–2013
Exhibition by Estonian illustrators, ā€œOld Fairy Talesā€ (Brothers Grimm), Estonia, Russia
Travelling exhibition ā€œA Handful of Book Illustrations by Estonian Artistsā€, Poland

2011
International Biennial of the Illustration, ā€œGolden Pen of Belgradeā€, Serbia
Group exhibition ā€žMe kolmekesi tulemeā€, Pskov Art Museum, Russia

2011–2018
Exhibition of artists from the Baltic Sea countries, ā€œSea Fairy Talesā€, Estonia, Finland, Russia, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Estonia

2010–2011
Travelling Exhibition of Estonian Book Illustration, Russia, Finland

2009
Solo exhibition ā€žChristmas Lightā€œ, Exhibition Hall of the Parliament of Estonia, Tallinn
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
International Biennial of the Illustration, ā€œGolden Pen of Belgradeā€, Serbia
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia

2009–2010
2nd ā€œBlue Book Groupā€, an international illustration exhibition, Iran, Japan, Spain, Argentina

2007
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
International Biennial of the Illustration, ā€œGolden Pen of Belgradeā€, Serbia

2006
Solo exhibition ā€žNallet, enkelit, hiiri ja niiden ystƤvƤpiiriā€, Cultural Centre Cruselli, Uusikaupunki; Puppet Theatre Sampo, Helsinki, Finland
Solo exhibition ā€žIllustrationsā€, Kondas Centre, Viljandi, Estonia
Solo exhibition ā€žBears, Angels and Their Friendsā€, Haapsalu City Gallery, Estonia
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia
International exhibition ā€žEl desfile de los animalesā€, León, Spain

2005
Solo exhibition ā€œBook Illustrationsā€, National Library of Estonia, Tallinn
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia

2003
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
International Biennial of the Illustration, ā€œGolden Pen of Belgradeā€, Serbia
Tallinn Illustrations Triennial (TIT), Estonia

2001
Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB), Slovakia
International Biennial of the Illustration, ā€œGolden Pen of Belgradeā€, Serbia
Biennial of European Illustrations in Japan (BEIJ)

About the author

2019
Viive Noor at the Rabka International Festival of Children’s Literature
Viive Noor on a Book Tour in Italy
Viive Noor Received an Honorary Mention in the Sharjah Illustrations Exhibition
Esce ā€œTamburopoliā€, testo italiano, immagini estoni (Estonia Magazine, Italian)

2016
Exhibition of Viive Noor’s Illustrations ā€œChristmas is Comingā€

Radio Tajala (Facebook)

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