The artist who gave the Singing Revolution its name
On 11 September 1988, from the stage of Eestimaa Laul before 300,000 people, he declared: "One day, no matter what, we will win!" Those words became the slogan of Estonia's freedom struggle.
An Estonian artist and caricaturist, Valk coined the term "Singing Revolution" in an article published in Sirp ja Vasar on 17 June 1988, a week after the spontaneous night-singing demonstrations at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds. At the Eestimaa Laul gathering that September, he declared before 300,000 people, "One day, no matter what, we will win!" (Ükskord me võidame niikuinii!), a phrase that became the independence movement's defining slogan. A founding member of the Estonian Heritage Society and the Popular Front (Rahvarinne), he served in the Estonian Supreme Council from 1990 to 1992 and voted on 20 August 1991 for the restoration of independence.
Career Timeline
- 1955–1961Studied metalwork at the Estonian State Art Institute, graduated
- 1972–1976Chief artist of the Estonian SSR Art Fund
- 1979–1987First Secretary of the Estonian SSR Artists' Union board (non-party)
- 1987Founding member of the Estonian Heritage Society
- 1987–1989Lecturer at Tallinn Art University
- 1988Co-founder of the Estonian Popular Front (Rahvarinne), designed its logo
- 1990–1992Member of the Estonian Supreme Council; voted for the restoration of independence on 20 August 1991