Ilmar Laaban, was an Estonian poet and publicist.

Biography

Laaban attended the first Tallinn Boys' Gymnasium

School

A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...

 from 1934 to 1940. In 1939-1940 and 1941-1942 he studied composition

Musical composition

Musical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...

 and piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

 at the Tallinn Conservatory. In 1940-1943 Laaban studied Romance languages

Romance languages

The Romance languages are a branch of the Indo-European language family, more precisely of the Italic languages subfamily, comprising all the languages that descend from Vulgar Latin, the language of ancient Rome...

 at Tartu University's faculty of philosophy

Philosophy

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...

. In 1943 he went to Sweden and continued studying Romance languages and philosophy (1943-1949). Laaban worked as a lecturer in Stockholm University

Stockholm University

Stockholm University is a state university in Stockholm, Sweden. It has over 28,000 students at four faculties, making it one of the largest universities in Scandinavia. The institution is also frequently regarded as one of the top 100 universities in the world...

 and was a member of AICA

International Association of Art Critics

The International Association of Art Critics was founded in 1950 to revitalize critical discourse, which suffered under Fascism during World War II. AICA was initially affiliated with UNESCO as a non-governmental organization...

.

Creative life

Laaban mainly wrote surrealistic poetry and was one of the first poets in Estonia to practice that genre. He has written essays and articles on art and literature. Also, he has translated many Estonian poet's works to Swedish (examples: Artur Alliksaar

Artur Alliksaar

- Biography :Alliksaar attended an elementary school in Tartu in 1931. In 1937 he was accepted to Hugo Treffner Gymnasium, after which he worked at railways like his father for a short period of time in 1942. In that same year he started to study law in the University of Tartu.1943–1944 he served...

, Betti Alver

Betti Alver

Betti Alver was the pseudonym of Elisabet Lepik-Talvik, one of Estonia's most notable poets. She was among the first generation to be educated in schools of an independent Estonia. She went to grammar school in Tartu.- Writing :She began as a prose writer...

, Jaan Kaplinski

Jaan Kaplinski

Jaan Kaplinski is an Estonian poet, philosopher, and culture critic. Kaplinski is known for his independent mind, focus on global issues and support for left-wing/liberal thinking...

, Viivi Luik, Paul-Eerik Rummo

Paul-Eerik Rummo

Paul-Eerik Rummo is an Estonian poet and politician and a former Estonian Minister of Culture and Education, a former Estonian Minister of Population Affairs....

) and German (examples: Juhan Liiv

Juhan Liiv

Juhan Liiv is one of Estonia's most famous poets.-Childhood and education:...

, Gustav Suits

Gustav Suits

Gustav Suits is considered one of the greatest Estonian poets. He was also an early leader of the literary movement group Noor-Eesti .- Childhood and Education :...

, Jaan Oks, Henrik Visnapuu

Henrik Visnapuu

Henrik Visnapuu was a well known Estonian poet and dramatist.-Life:Henrik Visnapuu first attended the village school in Reola and college in Sipe and the municipal school in Tartu...

, Marie Under

Marie Under

Marie Under was one of the greatest Estonian poets.-Early life:...

). He has also writed art critics and literary works of artists such as Frederic Iriarte

Frédéric Iriarte

Frédéric Iriarte, born in 1963 in Paris, is a contemporary plastic artist. He lives and works in Sweden since 1986.In the 1980s he belonged to the avant-garde movement Figuration Libre :fr:Figuration libre and presented his works, among others, Galerie Beaubourg, the Marianne and Pierre Nahon...

, Endre Nemes, Franco Leider, Rafael Bellange, Lech Rzewuski and others.

Works

• "Ankruketi lõpp on laulu algus" (1946)
• "Rroosi Selaviste" (1957)
• "Oma luulet ja võõrast" (1990)
• "Marsyase nahk" (1997)
• "Magneetiline jõgi" (2001)
• "Sõnade sülemid ja sülemite süsteemid" (2004)