October 8, 2013, marks 25 years since the first congress of the Latvian Popular Front, a political force behind Latvia regaining its independence. To mark the occasion, the Latvian government supported various activities that remind of the vital role of the Popular Front.

A documentary by Askolds Saulītis and Edgars Engīzers „The Anthology of the Awakening” was premiered on October 5 alongside the opening of a grand photo exhibition on the Dome Square in Rīga.

On October 7, 1988, a mass public rally was held in Rīga under the auspices of the emerging Latvian Popular Front. Its slogan is „For a lawful state”. The Latvian Popular Front (LPF) was established on October 8 and attracted a membership of several hundred thousand people. It became the guiding force toward the restoration of Latvian independence.

It later went on to gain a two thirds … Read More »

Ojārs Pētersons has graduated from the Riga School of Applied Art, Department of Woodcarving (1975) and the Art Academy of Latvia, Department of Industrial Arts (1980). The artist works with installations, new media objects and easel graphics. Pētersons has repeatedly represented Latvia abroad and he has been one of the three artists participating in the 48th Venice Biennale (together with Inta Ruka and Anta Zabiļevska). Since 1991 Pētersons has been lecturing at the Art Academy of Latvia, Head of Department of Visual Communication.

Exhibition specs

• Print size – 150x200cm • EPSON Premium Luster Photo Paper • mounted on 4mm DIBOND with aluminum U-profile support frame

The exhibition is centred around a particular group of works – video recordings and images. Other works are also displayed. One of the recordings shows an artist running a marathon in city streets. In a different one the artist has documented his preparation period with a camera attached to his head. The images are screenshots from video materials. These are images of sceneries that the runner views during the trainings. The video material has undergone only the most necessary manipulations, avoiding editing or special framing and image processing. Therefore the materials are several hours of even days long. The viewer has a chance to connect to the artist-athlete’s experience through various episodes.

ABLV Bank kolekcija topošajam Laikmetīgās mākslas muzejam.

Izstādes intereses centrā ir stāsti. Mākslas darbi kā stāsti, kolekcija kā stāsts par laikmetu, ko kolekcija pārstāv, izstāde kā stāsts par kolekciju un tās mākslas darbiem.

Izstādi veidos četras tematiskas daļas – cilvēks, ainava, sociums, sajūtas – universālas kategorijas, kas iezīmē pieturas punktus ABLV Bank kolekcijas izprašanā. Sadaļa Cilvēks iepazīstina ar darbiem, kas fokusējas uz indivīdu, izceļot to kā personību, laikmeta liecinieku, antropoloģiskas intereses objektu. Mākslas darbi, kas grupēti sadaļā Ainava, tiecas fiksēt vidi un faktūru, kas veido mūsu dzīves telpas specifiku, aptverot gan lauku, gan pilsētas, gan informācijas plūsmas un mediju radītās ainavas. Sociums iezīmē teritoriju, kurā norisinās procesi, kas saistīti ar sabiedrību, tās kolektīvo atmiņu, vēstures pārvērtēšanu, varas spēlēm, ideoloģiju sadursmēm, provokācijām un komentāriem. Sajūtas apkopo darbus, kuros mākslinieki mēģinājuši fiksēt domu, sajūtu, skaņu, teksta vibrācijas un nospiedumus, kas meklējami ārpus ikdienas valodas … Read More »