Exhibition of plant illustrations by Guara Muuga

Muuga is the author of more than 2,500 plant drawings many of which have been published in botanical reference works, researchers’ dissertations, and the journal Eesti Loodus. Several generations of students and plant enthusiasts have studied and identified plants using the illustrations created by her.

An exhibition born from a centenary birthday donation

On her 100th birthday, March 5, 2025, Guara Muuga donated the botanical drawings of the books "Metsa- ja niidutaimed" (1978), "Umbrohud ja prahitaimed" (1984), and the unpublished "Soo- ja veetaimed" to the Estonian Museum of Natural History. Captivated by the uniqueness of the drawings, the museum curators organized an exhibition displaying 23 drawings.

In addition to the colored drawings, the Estonian University of Life Sciences Library's exhibition "Eesti NSV floora / Flora of the Estonian SSR" is complemented by original black-and-white illustrations from volume 11. Alongside the authors and editors of the 11-volume scientific work „Eesti NSV floora / Flora of the Estonian SSR “link opens in new page (1953-1984), seven illustrators played an important role, contributing a total of 2,953 drawings. More than half of the drawings are made by Guara Muuga.  

The legacy of Guara Muuga's illustrations is valuable. Over the past 60 years, most of the plant illustrations in published reference books and plant guides have been drawn by Muuga. „The plants she draws seem natural and are also artistically beautiful. Despite advances in photography and scanning, illustrating plants remains the best way to document them for educational and scientific purposes,“ said Toomas Kukk, senior curator of botany at the Estonian University of Life Sciences, who collaborated with Muuga.

Illustrations in books

The exhibition features a selection of works illustrated by Muuga, including:

„Eesti NSV floora“  (4., 5., 6., 8., 9. ja 11. kd. Tallinn, 1969-1979)

„Taimede välimääraja“  (Tallinn, 1972)

„Metsa- ja niidutaimed“ (Tallinn, 1978)

„Umbrohud ja prahitaimed“ (Tallinn, 1984)

„Umbrohud ja nende tõrje“ (Tallinn, 1991)

„Eesti taimede määraja“ (Tartu, 1999)

„Võrtsjärv“ (Tallinn, 2003)

„Eesti taimede kukeaabits“ (Tallinn, 2004, 1. trükk; 2024, 10. trükk) 
 

Artist's biography

Estonian artist, botanical illustrator, and scientific illustrator Guara Muuga, also known as Gorinna Muuga and Kuara Muga, was born on March 5, 1925, in Rasina Parish, Ülejõe Village, Tartu County, as the eighth child in the ten-child family of Kristjan and Luise Muga.

She studied at Rasina six-grade elementary school, Vahi Gardening School, and Tartu High School No. 3. Alongside obtaining her secondary education, she also studied for one year at the Tartu State Art Institute. After graduating from high school in 1950, she enrolled in the Faculty of Agronomy at the University of Tartu. Her studies continued at the Estonian Agricultural Academy, established in 1951, which she graduated from in 1956 with a degree in agronomy. Her diploma thesis, „Punane ristik kui põldheina tähtsaim komponent, eriti Kose rajooni kolhooside kogemusel“, can be accessed in the digital archive EMU DSpacelink opens in new page. 

Between 1951 and 1967, Guara Muuga worked in various positions, including as a laboratory assistant at the Department of Structural Mechanics and Constructions at the Estonian Agricultural Academy, and as a senior laboratory assistant at the Department of Soil Science and Agrochemistry at the same institution. While working at the Estonian Agricultural Academy, she earned praise for her exceptionally well-executed graphic works.

Muuga was able to fully realize her talent during the years 1967–1980, working as an artist at the Institute of Zoology and Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Estonian SSR. During her time at the Institute of Zoology and Botany, she created the illustrations for „Eesti NSV floora / Flora of the Estonian SSR “link opens in new page

While retired, the artist collaborated closely with botanist Toomas Kukk. Muuga is one of the illustrators of the book „Eesti taimede kukeaabits“. She is also the author of numerous cards and ex-libris works created using the monotype technique.

Guara Muuga passed away on May 19, 2025.

 

Many thanks

Many thanks to the Estonian Museum of Natural History, whose collections provided the colored drawings, and to Malle Leht, botanist at the Estonian University of Life Sciences, who to allow the black-and-white original illustrations from volume 11 of Flora of the Estonian SSR to the exhibition.

The exhibition is open at the Estonian University of Life Sciences Library until February 7, 2026, during library opening hours.