Vaino Vahing
Vaino Vahing (15. II 1940 – 23. III 2008) was an Estonian prose writer, playwright and psychiatrist, one of the most remarkable representatives of the so-called Sixties’ generation both in literature and theater.
He was born in Aravu village (nowadays, in Põlva county, Räpina parish) to a small farm owner. From 1946-1950, he studied at Aravu primary school and from 1950-1954, at Mehikoorma primary school. From 1954-1957, he studied at Tartu medical secondary school which he graduated with honors. From 1957-1963, he studied at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tartu. From 1963-1965, he worked near Viljandi in Jämejala as a doctor at a psychoneurology clinic, then later as a department head and deputy to the chief physician; from 1965-1967, as a psychiatrist at the psychoneurology clinic in Tartu; from 1967-1975, he continued working at the same hospital as a forensic psychiatrist. In 1971, he defended his candidate degree in psychiatry at the University of Tartu. From 1975-1981, he worked as an assistant professor in the psychiatry department of the University of Tartu, where he taught psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, psychotherapy, mental hygiene and narcology. After this, he continued as a freelance writer. He published articles on experimental and clinical psychopharmacology. In 1975, his research group received the State Prize of the Soviet Estonia for their work on psychopharmacology. From 1969-1979, he was married to writer Maimu Berg.
Vahing’s most prolific period as a writer was in the late 1960s and early 1970s. His first stories were published in 1967 in the magazine Noorus and in the same and following year he was awarded II place at the Noorus literary competition. From 1970-1976, he published four prose collections. His later writings have been published in the book Machiavelli kirjad tütrele (‘Machiavelli’s Letters to His Daughter’, 1990).
Vahing’s works are characterized by the expectation of unyielding intertwining, separating his works and his private life was unacceptable to him. As a result, his works are strongly autobiographical, which forced him to process everything happening in his private life creatively. Several people who knew Vahing describe his behavior in everyday life as theatrical. Vahing used his professional experience as a psychiatrist in his writings, which also express his interest in psychoanalysis – Freud, Jung, Adler and others. In Estonian culture, his famous salon in his Nõva street apartment in Tartu where he lived with his wife Maimu Berg saw the visits of many intellectuals and creatives of the time. Vahing encouraged his visitors to partake in the so-called Spiel, which on the one hand meant various roleplays, and on the other expressed an interest to reach the core of the person by dismantling their current socio-psychological roles. The intense relationships from the Nõva street salon are depicted in the novel Endspiel, Laskumine orgu (‘Endspiel. Descent into the Valley’, 1988) by Vahing and Madis Kõiv.
Vahing’s work created heated discussion, some critics blamed him of being unethical. For example, his short prose work Etüüd (‘Etude’, 1968) describes the brutal violence that the male character inflicts on his female companion during a field trip in spring. His story Machiavelli kirjad tütrele II (‘Machiavelli’s Letters to His Daughter II’, 1981) that is based on Vahing’s communication with his daughter who was born in 1974, won the Tuglas short story prize.
In the 1960s, Vahing became interested in theater. He was in frequent communication with the then theater innovators Mati Unt, Paul-Eerik Rummo, Evald Hermaküla and others. His most well-known dramas include Suvekool (‘Summer School’, 1976), Mees, kes ei mahu kivile (‘Man Who Cannot Fit on a Rock’, monodrama on Jaan Oks, 1976), Potteri lõpp (‘End of Potter’, 2002) ja Faehlmann (with Madis Kõiv, 1984, Smuul literary prize in 1983). The lead role of ‘Man Who Cannot Fit on a Rock’ was played by Vahing himself. As an actor, he played important roles in the films Võsakurat (‘Thicket Devil’, 1976), Tuulte pesa (‘Nest of Winds’, 1979) and Corrida (1982). Vahing also worked as a fashion model. From 1972-1973, he compiled and printed five issues of the non-official theater almanac Thespis and also wrote many articles and reviews. As samizdat, Thespis spread widely and proved very important in terms of the renewal of the theater.
In the mid-1980s, his creative drive was diminished. He had begun journaling in 1963 and in the later years of his life, his main focus was organizing and publishing his voluminous journals. His Päevaraamat (‘Journal’, 2006), Päevaraamat II (‘Journal II’, 2007) and Noor Unt (‘Young Unt’, 2004) depict with brutal honesty the author’s pursuits towards creative authenticity and his struggles with himself, everyday life, friends, colleagues and alcohol. Although the publishing of the journals caused many protests from the people involved, they still turned into literary events.
Vahing’s work as a prolific essayist and critic helped rediscover in Estonia classic psychoanalytic theory, the psychiatrists Vladimir Tchisch and Juhan Luiga, the writer Jaan Oks and many others.
S. V. (Translated by A. S.)
Books in Estonian
Short stories
Lugu. Tallinn: Perioodika (Loomingu Raamatukogu), 1970, 48 lk. [Jutustus. Järgnevad trükid: 1976, 1995.]
Kaemus. Jutukogu. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1972, 124 lk. [Sisu: ‘Kaks nimetut laulu’, ‘Sving’, ‘Meeter riiet tüdrukule’, ‘Tundeline teekond Tartust Vilniusse’, ‘Raport’, ‘Piletid ja kavalehed’, ‘Idee omanikud’, ‘”Federation Proceedings”‘, ‘Ordinaator’, ‘Kaemus’, ‘Portree’, ‘Kättemaks’, ‘Isale’, ‘Jutt’, ‘Etüüd’, ‘Pan Pavlicek ja teised’, ‘Vägistaja’, ‘Morton’, ‘Treskold’, ‘Dialoogi kolm surma’, ‘Laenatud flööt’, ‘Proosa ‘.]
Sina. Tallinn: Perioodika (Loomingu Raamatukogu), 1973, 52 lk. [Jutustus. Järgnevad trükid: 1976, 1995.]
Näitleja. Jutte ja näidendeid. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1976, 228 lk. [Sisu, jutud: ‘Lugu’, ‘Sina’, ‘Tundmatusse linna’, ‘Ei tea kust tulnu’, ‘Pimedad ja kurdid taldrikud’, ‘Kunstniku trahvikviitungid’, ‘Manöövrid’, ‘Hommik’, ‘Epigooni kodune ball’, ‘Kellega veedad sa jaaniöö?’, ‘Alevisse’, ‘Tundmatusse linna’, ‘Ralli’, ‘Pžebotš’, ‘Retsensioon’, ‘Näitleja’; näidendid: ‘Mees, kes ei mahu kivile’, ‘Suvekool’.]
Machiavelli kirjad tütrele. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1990, 131 lk. [Sisaldab näidendit ‘Pulmad’.]
Kaunimad jutud. Tartu: Ilmamaa, 1995, 311 lk. [Sisu: ‘Etüüd’, ‘Lugu’, ‘Kaks nimetut laulu’, ‘Sving’, ‘Meeter riiet tüdrukule’, ‘Tundeline teekond Tartust Vilniusse’, ‘Raport’, ‘Piletid ja kavalehed’, ‘Idee omanikud’, ‘”Federation proceedings”‘, ‘Ordinaator’, ‘Kaemus’, ‘Portree’, ‘Kättemaks’, ‘Isale’, ‘Jutt’, ‘Pan Pavlitšek ja teised…’, ‘Vägistaja’, ‘Morton’, ‘Treskold’, ‘Dialoogi kolm surma’, ‘Laenatud flööt’, ‘Proosa’, ‘Sina’, ‘Ei tea kust tulnu’, ‘Pimedad ja kurdid taldrikud’, ‘Kunstniku trahvikviitungid’, ‘Manöövrid’, ‘Hommik’, ‘Epigooni kodune ball’, ‘Kellega veedad sa jaaniöö’, ‘Tundmatusse linna’, ‘Alevisse’, ‘Ralli’, ‘Pžebotš’, ‘Näitleja’, ‘Kitarrist’, ‘Mängurid’, ‘Viieteistkümnenda kuupäeva novell’, ‘Kunstnik’, ‘Kirjanik’, ‘Machiavelli kirjad tütrele’, ‘Alasti habemenuga’.]
Plays
Näitleja. Jutte ja näidendeid. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1976, 228 lk. [Sisu, jutud: ‘Lugu’, ‘Sina’, ‘Tundmatusse linna’, ‘Ei tea kust tulnu’, ‘Pimedad ja kurdid taldrikud’, ‘Kunstniku trahvikviitungid’, ‘Manöövrid’, ‘Hommik’, ‘Epigooni kodune ball’, ‘Kellega veedad sa jaaniöö?’, ‘Alevisse’, ‘Tundmatusse linna’, ‘Ralli’, ‘Pžebotš’, ‘Retsensioon’, ‘Näitleja’; näidendid: ‘Mees, kes ei mahu kivile’, ‘Suvekool’.]
Vaino Vahing, Madis Kõiv, Faehlmann. Keskpäev. Õhtuselgus. Näidend stseenides. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1984, 127 lk. [2. trükk: Madis Kõiv, Näidendid I. Tartu: Akkon, 2006, 503 lk.]
Machiavelli kirjad tütrele. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1990, 131 lk. [Sisaldab näidendit ‘Pulmad’.]
Katrin Kaasik-Aaslav, Vaino Vahing, Teatriromanss. Tallinn: Perioodika (Loomingu Raamatukogu), 2001, 72 lk.
Mängud ja kõnelused. Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus, 2002, 534 lk. [Sisu, näidendid: ‘Potteri lõpp’, ‘Suvekool’, ‘Mees, kes ei mahu kivile’, ‘Pulmad’, ‘Testament’, ‘Võlgu elu’, ‘Fiesta’, ‘Esimees’ (Vaino Vahing, Evald Hermaküla); Vahingut intervjueerisid: Joel Sang, Heino Ahven, Kärt Hellerma, Astrid Reinla, Erik Linnumägi, Aivo Lõhmus, Priidu Beier ja Valle-Sten Maiste.]
Novel
Madis Kõiv, Vaino Vahing, Endspiel. Laskumine orgu. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1988, 204 lk.
Articles, essays, interviews
E me ipso. Ülestähendusi 1969-1987. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1990, 309 lk.
Mängud ja kõnelused. Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus, 2002, 534 lk. [Sisu, näidendid: ‘Potteri lõpp’, ‘Suvekool’, ‘Mees, kes ei mahu kivile’, ‘Pulmad’, ‘Testament’, ‘Võlgu elu’, ‘Fiesta’, ‘Esimees’ (Vaino Vahing, Evald Hermaküla); Vahingut intervjueerisid: Joel Sang, Heino Ahven, Kärt Hellerma, Astrid Reinla, Erik Linnumägi, Aivo Lõhmus, Priidu Beier ja Valle-Sten Maiste.]
Diaries
Noor Unt. Tallinn: Perioodika (Loomingu Raamatukogu), 2004, 173 lk. [Päevik ja kirjad. 2 trükk: 2016.]
Päevaraamat. I. Tallinn: Vagabund, 2006, 333 lk. [1968-1973.]
Päevaraamat. II. Tallinn: Vagabund, 2007, 277 lk. [1974-1984.]
About Vaino Vahing
Vahing. Mälestusi Vaino Vahingust. Koostanud Külli Trummal. Tartu: Hermes, 2011, 335 lk. [Vahingut meenutavad Leonhard Lapin, Anne Kalling, Airi Värnik, Peeter Tulviste, Ingo Normet, Andres Ehin, Mati Unt, Jaak Rähesoo, Maimu Berg, Andres Ots, Andra Teede, Madis Kõiv, Hannes Kaljujärv, Jüri Lumiste, Paul-Eerik Rummo, Arvo Valton, Indrek Hirv, Jüri Arrak, Raivo Adlas, Tõnu Tepandi, Olev Remsu, Julia Laffranque, Tiia Kriisa, Alo Jüriloo, Tõnis Arro, Valdur Täll, Lembit Mehilane, Valle-Sten Maiste, Üllar Saaremäe, Joel Sang, Mart Trummal, Kalev Kudu. Kogumik sisaldab Vahingu kirju Ingo Normetile ja Maie Kaldale (koos adressaatide kommentaaridega) ning Vahingu loengut Eesti Raadio saates “Litter. Lapsepõlv ja kirjandus”, 2005.]
