Albert Trapeež
Albert Trapeež is a fictional writer with made-up biography. Most of what has been published under the name of Albert Trapeež was written by Leonhard (Leo) Lapin (29 December 1947 – 28 February 2022). Leonhard Lapin was an architect, artist, historian of architecture and poet.
Leonhard Lapin completed secondary school at Räpina in 1965. From 1966–1971, he studied architecture at the State Art Institute of the Estonian SSR. From 1971–1974, Lapin worked as an architect at Tallinn Restoration Department. From 1977, he was a member of the Estonian Artists’ Association and from 1982 of the Estonian Association of Architects. From 1990, Lapin was a lecturer at the Estonian Academy of Arts, from 1995 a professor. From 1991–1993, he was chief editor of the journal Ehituskunst.
Leonhard Lapin became known in the 1970s with his drawings and graphic art. As a leading representative of Estonian avant-garde art, he became quickly known in the Soviet Union and the Baltic Sea region. He made the first happenings and performances in Estonia.
From the 1970s, Lapin, under the name of Albert Trapeež, intentionally wrote poetry that did not follow the norms accepted in Soviet Estonia and was unlikely to be published. The song lyrics of Trapeež were used by the legendary Estonian punk band Propeller; his poems also appeared in self-published collections and magazines. Trapeež’s texts also appeared in the books of other writers, for example Tiit Kändler and Toomas Vint. After the restoration of Estonia’s independence, several collections of Trapeež’s poetry have been published.
Trapeež practised erotic doggerels, punk poetry and occasional poetry, and invented the Estonian poetic form hauku (dog’s bark), which resembles the Japanese haiku.
L. P. (Translated by I. A.)
Books in Estonian
Poetry
Sitased seitsmekümnendad: ebatsensuurset luulet a. 1969–1977. Tallinn: L. Lapin, 1993. 61 lk.
Häälitsusi ja sõnu: poeem 13. häälele: hingetõmme aastaist 1984–1985. Tallinn, 1995. 87 lk.
Kaunimad laulud: luulet möödunud sajandist. Tallinn: Umara, 2000. 110 lk.
Võta suhu sõna. Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus, 2011. 91 lk.
Armastades. Tallinn: Eesti Keele Sihtasutus, 2012. 48 lk.
Kollased sandaalid [elagu skandaalid]. Tallinn: Näo Kirik, 2018. 79 lk.