Street Art Gallery on the Wall of the Small Observatory

On Toome Hill, on the wall of the Small Observatory, a mythological serpent lives its own life – the Ouroboros, an ancient symbol of eternity turned inward. Inspired by this timeless motif, artist Maari Soekov created the mural in 2012 as part of the Tartu Spring Days art project, bringing something eternal and poetic into the space between old stones.

The artwork depicts a snake eating its own tail, symbolising the eternal cycle, rebirth, and the flow of the universe – “a myth where beginning and end are one and the same,” says the artist. The Ouroboros, seemingly wrapped around the observatory, speaks of ancient worldviews, virgin creation principles, and shamanistic cosmologies. At the same time, it reflects a contemporary perspective on how urban space and nature, culture and magic can coexist and support one another.

Maari Soekov is an Estonia-based artist whose work moves along the boundary between the real and the mystical. With a background in photography (Pallas University of Applied Sciences, 2010–2014), she has been working since 2015 as a freelance illustrator, painter, and graphic designer. Her portfolio includes numerous exhibitions, festival design, mural painting, and courses on creativity and artistic thinking.