Enn Kunila

Enn Kunila (born 19 March 1950 in Tallinn) is an Estonian entrepreneur and art collector.

Kunila is a Member of the Board and one of the shareholders of NG Investeeringud, which is one of the biggest Estonian private capital based investment and holding companies in Estonia. NG Investeeringud group employs more than 4,700 people and operates in trade, industry and real estate.

He was awarded the Order of the White Star, Fourth Class in 2006 by the President of the Republic of Estonia in recognition for his contribution to Estonian entrepreneurship.

Kunila is a member of the governing bodies of different public enterprise-related organizations. He has been the Chairman of the Council of the Association of Estonian Food Industry and a Member of the Council of The Estonian Cultural Endowment for several years.

As an art collector and patron, Kunila has been an endorser of Estonian art life. The Estonian Museum Association entitled Enn Kunila “Friend of Estonian Museums” in 2009, and in 2010 he was the honouree for the U.S. Baltic Foundation Philanthropy Award of the Baltic States. In 2012, the Estonian Minister of Culture awarded the title “Friend of Culture 2011” to Kunila.

Kunila has served as the Chairman of the Board of the Art Museum of Estonia Friends of Art Society since its foundation in 2007. He is also the founder of the Board of Art Patrons that has been an important financial supporter of the Art Museum of Estonia Friends of Art Society. in the field of metal cutting processing.

Career Source: 1970–1974 the repair and mechanics factory “Progress”, Engineer in Chief/Technologist; 1974–1983 the specialized office of construction at the Ministry of Building Materials’ Industry of the ESSR, Metrologist in Chief of the Ministry 1983–1984 the manufacturing company “Vasar”, Executive of the Marketing Department 1984–1990 the manufacturing company “Norma”, Executive of the Marketing Department 1990–1991 Union of Manufacturing Cooperatives, Director 1991–1994 the public company “Norma”, Import Manager 1994–1996 Norma AS, Import Manager 1996–1999 Norma AS, Vice-Chairman of the Council 1994– ... NG Investeeringud OÜ, Vice-Chairman of the Board

Business AS Liviko, Chairman of the Board AS Balbiino, Chairman of the Board Chairman of the Society of Friends of Hiiu County Member of the Council of The Estonian Employers’ Confederation

Kunila's art collection has been exhibited at many significant exhibitions, for example in 2010 at the Tallinn Art Hall, where the exhibition From Köler to Subbi beat the all-time audience record with nearly 13,000 visitors, and in the autumn at Kunsthalle Helsinki, with the exhibition Viron Värit (Estonian Colours), which hosted the most elaborate exhibition of Estonian classical art exhibited abroad. In 2015, Kunila's art collection was exhibited in Rome at the Vittoriano Museum (Il Vittoriano) with the exhibition I colori del Nord (Nordic Colours).

Kunila has written in Estonian Classical Painting from Enn Kunila’s Collection, the book introducing his art collection:

Kunila also believes that a particular painting may be owned by him, but the value of art pertains to our culture and this obliges him to arrange exhibitions and publish books of his collection.

The art critic Eero Epner has written in the book Viron värit – 150 vuotta virolaista maalaustaidetta Enn Kunilan kokoelmasta

Art exhibitions In 2004 – the exhibition Pühapäev (Sunday) in Lohusalu In 2007 – exhibition of paintings by Olev Subbi at Kärdla Cultural Centre, Hiiu County In 2008 – the exhibition Paar sammukest rändamise teed (A Couple of Steps on the Road of Travel) at the Museum of Hiiu County. The exhibition was dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia. In 2010 – the exhibition Kölerist Subbini. 150 aastat eesti klassikalist maalikunsti Enn Kunila kogust (From Köler to Subbi. 150 Years of Estonian Classical Paintings from the Collection of Enn Kunila) at the Tallinn Art Hall, where 85 paintings from 34 artists were on display.

During the exhibition, Kunila also started an educational program, offering tours led by art scholar free of charge. In 2010 – the exhibition Meri, rand ja Saaremaa Enn Kunila kollektsioonis (The Sea, the Shore, and Saaremaa in the Collection of Enn Kunila) at Kuressaare Town Hall Gallery. In 2010 – the most elaborated survey exhibition of Estonian art exhibited abroad, Viron värit – 150 vuotta virolaista maalaustaidetta Enn Kunilan kokoelmasta (Estonian Colours – 150 Years of the Art of Classical Estonian Painting from the Collection of Enn Kunila) at Kunsthalle Helsinki.

There were 111 artworks by 44 painters on display at the exhibition in Kunsthalle Helsinki. November 2010–February 2011 – the exhibition Valik graafikat ja joonistusi Enn Kunila kollektsioonist (A Selection of Graphic Art and Drawings from the Collection of Enn Kunila) at the Museum of Hiiu County. In 2013 – the exhibition Ühe keti neli lüli. Laikmaa, Mägi, Vabbe, Kits (Four Links of One Chain. Laikmaa, Mägi, Vabbe, Kits) at the Museum of Hiiu County.

The exhibited artists were pioneers of the traditions of Estonian painting. The artists displayed are the four links of one chain which is the history of Estonian art, particularly the painting tradition based on colour-concentration and the impression of nature. In 2013 – the exhibition Ühe keti neli lüli 2. Roode, Subbi, Põldroos, Pääsuke (Four Links of One Chain 2. Roode, Subbi, Põldroos, Pääsuke) at the Museum of Hiiu County. In 2013 – the exhibition Nordic Colours. Estonian Art 1910–1945 from Enn Kunila´s Collection at the European Parliament, Brussels. In 2014 – the exhibition Kuldaja värvid. Eesti klassikaline maalikunst Enn Kunila kollektsioonist (Colours of the Golden Age. Classical Estonian Painting from Enn Kunila's Collection) at Mikkel Museum

For the first time in Estonia, an interactive multimedia programme Journey in the Golden Age was available to visitors. It utilised tablet computers that visitors could borrow from the museum. The exhibition was accompanied by a catalogue compiled by the curator Eero Epner, as well as a story and colouring book called Fish Net and Milk Can. and the exhibitions Grand Tour. Eesti kunstnikud Itaalias (Grand Tour. Estonian Artists in Italy) in 2008–2009, Neoimpressionismi jälgedes. Mägi ja Finch. (Tracing Neo-Impressionism: Mägi and Finch) in 2010, Igavesti naiselik. Johannes Greenbergi ja Ferdi Sannamehe looming (Forever Feminine. The Work of Johannes Greenberg and Ferdi Sannamees) in 2011, Aedade järelelu (The Afterlives of Gardens) in 2013, Lepo Mikko in 2013–2014, Natuuri rikkus. Eluläheduse idee ja Düsseldorfi koolkond (The Force of Nature. Realism and the Düsseldorf School of Painting) in 2015, Ants Laikmaa. Vigala ja Capri (Ants Laikmaa. Vigala and Capri) in 2015–2016, Konrad Mägi at the Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Rome in 2017–2018, Konrad Mägi in 2018–2019 at the Art Museum of Estonia, and also at several other exhibitions.

Publications Art books and albums that have accompanied the exhibitions of Enn Kunila's collection: Hain, J. (2004). Pühapäev: Olev Subbi maalid (Sunday: The Paintings of Olev Subbi). Tallinn: Printon. (28 pages) Epner, E. (2007). Igatsus ja kohalejõudmine: töid Enn Kunila kogust (Yearning and Arrival: Artworks from the Collection of Enn Kunila). Tallinn: Sperare. (173 pages) Epner, E., Pählapuu, L., (2007). Paar sammukest rändamise teed: valik maale Enn Kunila kogust (A Couple of Steps on the Road of Travel: A Selection of Paintings from the Collection of Enn Kunila). Tallinn: Sperare. (55 pages) Epner, E. (2010). Eesti klassikaline maalikunst Enn Kunila kollektsioonis (Estonian Classical Painting from Enn Kunila's Collection). Tallinn: Sperare. (207 pages), published during the exhibition From Köler to Subbi. 150 Years of the Art of Classical Estonian Painting from the Collection of Enn Kunila. Epner, E. (2010). Valik moodsa kunsti klassikat Enn Kunila kollektsioonist (A Selection of Modern Art Classics from the Collection of Enn Kunila). Tallinn: Sperare. (38 pages) Epner, E., Pählapuu, L., (2010). Meri, rand ja Saaremaa Enn Kunila kollektsioonis (The Sea, the Seashore, and Saaremaa in the Collection of Enn Kunila). Tallinn: Sperare (52 pages) Epner, E. (2010). Viron värit – 150 vuotta virolaista maalaustaidetta Enn Kunilan kokoelmasta (Estonian Colours – 150 Years of the Art of Classical Estonian Painting from the Collection of Enn Kunila). Tallinn: Sperare. (270 pages). The book includes summaries in English, Swedish and Estonian. Epner, E. (2013). Ühe keti neli lüli. Laikmaa, Mägi, Vabbe, Kits (Four Links of One Chain. Laikmaa, Mägi, Vabbe, Kits). Tallinn: Sperare. (116 pages) Epner, E. (2013). Ühe keti neli lüli 2. Roode, Subbi, Põldroos, Pääsuke (Four Links of One Chain 2. Roode, Subbi, Põldroos, Pääsuke). Tallinn: Sperare. (46 pages) Epner, E. (2013). Nordic Colours. Estonian Art 1910–1945 from Enn Kunila´s Collection. (Exhibition at the European Parliament in Brussels 23–27 September 2013) Tallinn: Sperare. (87 pages) Epner, E. (2013). Nordic Colours. Estonian Art from Enn Kunila´s Collection. Tallinn: Sperare. (159 pages) Epner, E. (2014). Kuldaja värvid. Eesti klassikaline maalikunst Enn Kunila kollektsioonist (Colours of the Golden Age. Classical Estonian Painting from Enn Kunila's Collection). Tallinn: Sperare. (120 pages) Epner, E., Rõõmus, J. (2014) Kalavõrk ja piimamannerg (Fish Net and Milk Can), colouring book. Tallinn: Sperare. (32 pages). Epner, E. (2015). I colori del nord. L'arte estone tra il 1910 ed il 1945 dalla collezione di Enn Kunila (Nordic Colours. Estonian Art 1910–1945 from Enn Kunila's Collection). Tallinn: Sperare. (135 pages) Epner, E. (2015). Värvide sümfoonia. Eesti klassikaline maalikunst Enn Kunila kollektsioonist (Symphony of Colours. Classical Estonian Painting from Enn Kunila's Collection). Tallinn: Sperare. (56 pages) Epner, E. (2017) Visioni dal nord. Pittura estone dalla collezione Enn Kunila, 1910–1940 (Visions from the North. Estonian Painting from Enn Kunila’s Collection, 1910–1940). Tallinn: Sperare. (130 pages) Epner, E. (2017) Põhjamaa suvi. Olev Subbi aktimaalid (Northern Summer. Nude Paintings by Olev Subbi). Tallinn: Sperare. (80 pages) Epner, E. (2018) Rõõm linna südames. Maalid Enn Kunila kollektsioonist (Joy in the Heart of the City. Paintings from Enn Kunila's Collection). Tallinn: Sperare. (104 pages) Epner, E. (2018) Traditsiooni sünd. Eesti kuldaja kunst Enn Kunila kollektsioonist (The Birth of a Tradition. Art from Estonia's Golden Age from Enn Kunila's Collection). Tallinn: Sperare. (245 pages)

Kunila has additionally published several biographical and art books: In 2010 Kunila was the honouree for the U.S. Baltic Foundation's Philanthropy Award of the Baltic States for introducing and supporting Estonian art and culture. Thereat he was acknowledged for his charitable activity in organizing art exhibitions, in publishing different art books, and in arranging events to introduce art and culture. In 2012 the title “Friend of Culture 2011” was awarded to Kunila by the Estonian Minister of Culture. 2012 – the Hiiu County Government recognised Kunila with the Hiiu County Distinguished Service Plaque for supporting and fostering cultural and athletic activity in Hiiumaa. 2013 – the Harju County Honorary Decoration was conferred on Kunila. 2015 – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia recognised Kunila with a letter of appreciation for introducing Estonian culture in the world. 2016 – the Estonian Food Industry Association mark of distinction for long-term contribution to the work of the Association. 2017 – the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Order of Merit, 1st Class. 2017 – Kultuurivedur [Cultural Locomotive] award conferred by the Postimees'' newspaper. 2018 – EY Eesti Ettevõtja [Estonian Entrepreneur] lifetime achievement award. 2018 – Tallinn’s Honorary Decoration – for his major contribution to the development of Tallinn’s enterprise and business culture and as a token of appreciation for his patronage of Estonian art. 2018 – Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic [Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana]. 2018 – Kultuurisõber [Friend of Culture] 2018. 2019 – recognition from the City of Tartu for supporting culture

Personal life In addition to art, Kunila's interests also include tennis and chess.