We saw many sights walking around Estonia, but I was particularly struck by the plethora of street art. There were so many gorgeous murals that really brightened up the public spaces we travelled through. Interestingly, several of these pieces incorporated elements of graffiti which I have not seen very much of in the states. There were also many examples of actual graffiti ranging from spraypainted walls to stickers on surveillance cameras. While I personally admire graffiti art, I’m accustomed to such works being criminalized, so I wondered why they hadn’t been removed. However, it was very clear throughout the trip how important free expression is to the Estonian people, particularly in creative contexts.
Given their extensive historical experiences with oppression, the ability to publicly share and display works of art is a testament to how far Estonia has come. They may not have directly fought for the freedom to slap a sticker on a lamppost, but carrying out a seemingly small gesture illustrates the broader and established impact of the country’s newfound freedom. Something that would be heavily discouraged and frowned upon in the US is given purpose and place in Estonia as a valid form of expression. To me, it highlighted the need for similar avenues of expression in the states, especially given the freedoms allotted by our first amendment. I feel that such freedoms are often taken for granted in our country as we have not experienced many restrictions on media and speech. This has notably shifted under the current administration, but it is still nowhere near as harsh as Soviet censorship. Regardless, I hope that my country can follow the example of Estonia and remove the constraints surrounding artistic expression as it is needed now more than ever.
