Art Days 2013. Artist’s monologue. Artists' Union of Latvia museum collections sculpture exposition in the Riga Central market Vegetable pavilion 10.05. - 15.06.2013.
The official opening of the Artists' Union of Latvia museum collections sculpture exposition "Art Days 2013. Artists' Monologue" will take place on 17th May, 2013 at 15:00 in the Riga Central Market Vegetable pavilion.
In an unusual way and place, the exposition offers an insight to sculpture from Artist Union of Latvia museum’s collection. The sculptures from 20th century 70 – 90’s, commemorate a part of the history of sculpture in Latvia, and within the context of this exposition, bridge a new connection with a new place and time. Stone sculpture is a treasure of Latvian art, where working in a unitary tradition each artist, through his or her personal point of view, gives the sculpture unique style and form. Authors of the sculptures are well known and celebrated artists such as Arta Dumpe, Lea Davidova–Medene, Laimonis Blumbergs, Ojārs Breģis, Rasma Bruzīte, etc.
The search of an alternative space for exhibiting art works is like a step towards the conceptual thinking, for it gives the art work a new meaning depending on its location. Even though the self-containment is a value which determines how “ever-lasting” and how timely a work of art is, all works of art, when placed in a different setting and background, gain a new perspective and capture the paradox of context. The layout of the exhibition emphasizes the interaction between art works themselves and their background. It is a unique synthesis of something that usually gets separated - the art work and its space in the physical and philosophical sense. We are used to viewing Art with the big “A” on the background of sterile white walls, but this setting excludes the art works contemporary time, ideas and its connection with reality.
By bringing art outside its formal frame, it gains a new value – different from the neutral immortality that museums and galleries offer. During the Art Days, art occupies the streets and becomes to be a part of the public art phenomenon. The Central Market in Riga is not a neutral setting without a historical past. In the tradition of 70’s modernism, the exposition itself is in a dialogue with the space, bringing to attention the ideas of the century about the place of art in society and the period in which the art works were made.
Artists always work according to their time and esthetics. The granite sculptures are a monument of their time – a part of the 20th century art and ideas. Just like the Central Market of Riga once was a hangar for aircraft that later became the most modern market pavilions, so are the sculptures now portrayed in a different light, from the new perspective.
Diāna Kaijaka
Igors Dobičins speech opening the festival
„Art Days” – a chance to cock a snook.
Historically „Art Days” had begun to emphasize the freedom of the generative and artistic creation. Art Days’ Manifestation, based in modernism and its different expressions, always has found the accent in the activism of art.
What is art? Is it a craft or a free expression of artists’ views and opinions? An artist is free to express beauty, death, joy and any other feeling he/she cares about. Is an artist only a marionette sustained by the sponsors, who decide the direction of art? Is an artist able to break free from the stylistic and financial dictatorship?
International Art Symposium in the Vidzeme market
From April 15 to 21, 2013 The Artists' Union of Latvia organizes an International Art Symposium Vidzeme markets` Meat pavilion, which will be one of the major events if the festival “Art Days 2013. Artists’ Monologue”.
Sculptors and painters from The Artists' Union of Latvia will participate in the Symposium alongside with artists from fellowship organizations - Estonian, Lithuanian, Slovakian, Russian artists` association, The Association of Polish Artists and Designers in Warsaw, “Focus - Europa” association and The Federal Association of Visual Artists in Germany and students from Art Academy of Latvia.
The art works made during the Symposium – large scale paintings and aluminum cast sculptures– will be exhibited in Art Days 2013. Artists` Monologue exhibition, displayed from 21st of April to 19th of May in Vidzeme markets` Meat pavilion.
The festival Art Days 2013. Artists` Monologue is an international, annual event. This year the opening of the festival will be held on the international World Art day on April 15th.
