From 16th November exhibition of artworks of diaspora artists on display in the gallery “Romas dārzs”
Exhibition of artworks of diaspora artists on display in the gallery “Romas dārzs”
On November 16, at 17:00 at the gallery “Romas dārzs” on Zivju Street 3, in Liepāja, in cooperation with the Global Society for Latvian Art (PLMC) the exhibition “With Latvia in heart” is open as a tribute to the centennial anniversary of Latvia and for all local Liepāja residents and city guests. For the first time in Liepāja, it is possible to see the artwork collection of fellow Latvian artists, living abroad and representing different generations of diaspora painters and their diverse creative activity.
In the tragic results of the WWII, the large number of Latvians, many of them being artists, were forced to leave their homeland as political refugees. While settling in other lands and continents and mainly absorbing within the local cultural environment, these artists still kept and preserved their native and ethnic identity. With the support of exile community of Latvian they continued to deliver their creative performance, founded fine arts organizations, held exhibitions.
The artwork collection exhibited in Liepāja is designed to represent the international style and diversity and it reflects only a part of multi-layered contribution of Latvian artists in the context of the world art.
Collection includes paintings of Liepāja region artists Jānis Gailis, Jānis Zuntaks and Augusts Annuss, created during the exile years. Exhibition displays the different in style artistic contribution of the Annuss family.
The exhibition “With Latvia in heart” shows creative work of several painters, whose spike of professional activity covered period outside Latvia – Laimonis Mieriņš (England), Fridrihs Milts, Jānis Kalmīte, Ģirts Puriņš, Gerda Roze, Ojārs Šteiners, Voldemārs Avens, Oskars Skušķis (USA), and others. Collection includes works of modern Latvian diaspora artists – Valda Oestreichere (Canada), Jānis Šēnbergs, Lidija Dombrovska-Larsena, Māris Raudziņš (Australia), Rita Grendze, Lelde Vinters Ore (USA) and other artists.
The core of Liepāja exhibition is made of artworks, painted by artists less known to Latvian public, like Rolands Kaņeps, who allied to New York avant-garde artists in the 70ies.
Back in 50ies of the last century, several Latvian artists studied in the famous Art Institute of Chicago and their first exhibitions revealed a big influence of the abstract expressionism. Works of Ojārs Šteiners, a representative of this group, are also included in the collection on display in Liepāja.
Professional activity of the British Latvian artist Laimonis Mieriņš is a part of the Western abstract art of 20th century. In the 70ies, Laimonis Mieriņš found a square format that seemed as dynamic as a circle for the artist.
In Liepāja, there also will be an opportunity to learn more about the works of a passionate Latvian patriot, Aleksandrs Karpovs. His paintings reflect the sorrow and pain of Latvians; also a protest against the social inequality in the US.
The PLMC collection is designed and acts to facilitate the preservation of the artworks, created by Latvian artists in exile after the WWII and the following generation of young expat artists. The collection’s permanent home is in Cēsis and this exhibition opens a single opportunity to admire these artworks in Liepāja. The exhibition is a big step forward to facilitate the study of Latvian art produced all over the world and its incorporation into Latvian art history and culture.
The exhibition is open until February 28, 2019. Entrance fee 2,50 euros for adults, 1,00 euro for students and seniors, and free of charge for kids and school-students.
