Elo Viiding
Poems
Short stories
About Elo Viiding
Elo Viiding (pseudonym Elo Vee, born 20 March 1974) is an Estonian writer, poet, translator and editor.
Viiding was born in Tallinn; her father was actor and poet Juhan Viiding, her mother is theatrical functionary Riina Viiding, her grandparents (actor Kaljo Kiisk, poet Paul Viiding, translator Linda Viiding) were also cultural figures. From 1981–1989, she studied at Tallinn Music High School, from 1989–1992 at Georg Ots Tallinn Music College (majoring in violin), from 1992–1994 at the 1st Evening Secondary School in Tallinn, and from 1994–1999 at the Estonian Institute of Humanities (majoring in theatre and acting).
Elo Viiding published her first poems in 1987; her first poetry collection Telg (‘Axis’) was issued in 1990 in young poets’ joint publication Kassett 90 (‘Cassette 90’), her first collection of short stories in 1995. For her early collections, she used the pseudonym Elo Vee, which she later abandoned in favour of her real name. Her poetry, mostly in free verse and sometimes laced with puns, is considered modern, social and critical but also personal, intellectual and ironic. Viiding herself has said that it is the writer’s duty to be socially sensitive indeed, not to write nonsense or arrogant manifestos that are not vitally and essentially felt, but at the same time, the author must not dissolve into the fabric of her text. Her creation has been translated into English, German, Russian, Swedish and Finnish.
She has translated the poetry of Pentti Saarikoski, Rita Dahl, Sanna Karlström, Risto Oikarinen and Petra Vallila from Finnish. She has also participated in (sometimes international) music and art projects, often involving her poetry. Viiding has also published articles and reviews in the press.
Since 1992, Viiding has been a member of the Estonian Writers’ Union, since 2010 a board member of the Estonian PEN Club. In 2009, Ave Alavainu handed over to Elo Viiding Betti Alver‘s bracelet, which is handed down from a female poet to a female poet.
M. K. (Translated by I. A.)
Books in Estonian
Poems
Elo Vee, Telg. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1990, 64 lk.
Elo Vee, Laeka lähedus. Tallinn: Tuum, 1993, 105 lk.
Elo Vee, Võlavalgel. Tallinn: Tuum, 1995, 190 lk.
V. Tallinn: Tuum, 1998, 102 lk.
Esimene tahe. Tallinn: Tuum, 2002, 96 lk.
Teatud erandid. Tallinn: Tuum, 2003, 89 lk.
Selge jälg. Tallinn: Tuum, 2005, 84 lk.
Püha maama. Tallinn: Tuum, 2008, 144 lk.
Meie paremas maailmas. Tallinn: Tuum, 2009, 70 lk.
Kestmine. Tallinn: Tuum, 2011, 69 lk.
Nõelad. Tallinn: Tuum, 2013, 80 lk.
Teadvuselooja. Tallinn: Tuum, 2016, 64 lk.
Ainult armastusest. Tallinn: Tuum, 2019, 64 lk.
Assisi luulet. Tallinn: Emakeele Sihtasutus, 2022, 64 lk.
Vastukaja. Tallinn: Zukker & Viiding, 2023, 32 lk.
Ellujäämisrežiim. Tallinn: Emakeele Sihtasutus, 2024, 72 lk.
Prose
Elo Vee, Ingelheim. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1995, 80 lk.
Teised. Tallinn: Tuum, 2012, 176 lk.
Lühikesed ja lihtsad lood. Tallinn: Kultuurileht (Loomingu Raamatukogu), 2016, 71 lk.
Children’s literature
Margaret ja Kadriorg. Tallinn: Eesti Kunstimuuseum, 2018, 80 lk.
Articles and essays
Mina kõnelen kirjandusest. Tallinn: Tuum, 2020, 140 lk.
Kirjanik kõneleb minuga. Tallinn: Tuum, 2024, 216 lk.
