On 2-6 July, to underline the importance of ceramic art in the Baltic region, the 2nd Latvia International Ceramics Biennale will offer a range of events in Rīga, Sigulda, Ogre, Daugavpils, Rēzekne and Lūznava, for the first time ever extending into Lithuania via the town of Panevėžys.
The 2nd Latvia International Ceramics Biennale, which will run within the framework of Latvian centenary, is organised by Latvian Centre for Contemporary Ceramics in cooperation with Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre. The satellite event of the Biennale is the international juried exhibition “Martinsons Award”. The programme will also feature 10 other new exhibitions, a scientific conference and artist performances.
PROGRAMME OF THE BIENNALE
4 p.m. on Monday, 2 July
Opening of the 2nd Latvia International Ceramics Biennale.
Opening of the exhibition “Contemporary Lithuanian Ceramics. The Collection of International Ceramic Art Symposia in Panevėžys”.
Opening of the exhibition “Contemporary Estonian Ceramics. What Holds Me”.
Latvian Railway History Museum, 2a Uzvaras Boulevard, Rīga
Opening of the 2nd Latvia International Ceramics Biennale will have a Baltic flavour. It will start with the opening of two exhibitions from Lithuania and Latvia, conceived and brought to fruition in cooperation with Panevėžys Civic Art Gallery and Estonian Ceramists Association. The Lithuanian exhibition will showcase the collection of Panevėžys international ceramic symposia. Meanwhile, the Estonian exhibition will have been created as a tribute to Estonian centenary. Both exhibitions will be available at Latvian Railway History Museum until 26 July.
6 p.m. on Monday, 2 July
Opening of the exhibition “Latvian Contemporary Ceramics”.
Pullman Riga Old Town Hotel, 24 Jēkaba Street, Rīga
The exhibition is offered within the framework of the Artist Playground by Pullman programme. It has pooled the work of 34 artists from all over Latvia. They are all professional artists of various generations, to whom ceramics is a calling; they all have chosen this sophisticated and, at the same time, fascinating artistic medium to shape the world of their innermost thoughts and feelings into tangible three-dimensional forms. The exhibition will be available until 6 August.
2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 3 July
Opening of ceramic and graphic art exhibition “Towers” by the world-renowned Latvian ceramic artist Pēteris Martinsons (1931-2013).
“Sigulda Tower”, 6 Ausekļa Street, Sigulda
Pēteris Martinsons created his philosophically loaded and technically sophisticated porcelain towers throughout his entire career – they were made in Latvia as well as in the artist’s many travels abroad to symposia and artist residencies. The exhibition features Martinsons’ work from the collection of Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre. It will be available at “Sigulda Tower” until 29 July.
5 p.m. on Tuesday, 3 July
Opening of the exhibition “Reflections” by Valda Podkalne and Harold Jegodzienski.
Ogre History and Art Museum, 36 Brīvības Street, Ogre
The exhibition offers artwork by Valda Podkalne and Harald Jegodzienski, two artists who filter and transform their experiences into sculpture and painting with a view to achieving a better understanding of life through different perspectives. The exhibition at Ogre History and Art Museum will be available until 19 August.
4.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 4 July
Opening of the exhibition “Ķīpsala Ceramics”.
Ceramics Pavilion of Panevėžys Civic Art Gallery, 3 Republic Street, Panevėžys, Lithuania
Ķīpsala Ceramics – a distinct phenomenon in Latvian art and culture of the second half of the 20th century, which has shaped several generations of ceramic artists. It enabled the solidification of Latvian traditions in ceramics as well as spearheaded the emergence of contemporary ceramics in Latvia. It was a bridge that linked traditional and professional ceramics, taking the best from both. A bridge that was built by people. By artists. The exhibition will be available at Panevėžys Civic Art Gallery until 25 July.
7 p.m. on Thursday, 5 July
Opening of the exhibition “My Townsfolk” by a Dutch artist Jacomijn Steen.
Lūznava Manor, Rēzekne district, Lūznava
Jacomijn Steen is a Dutch sculptor, a brilliant portraitist who works in ceramics, bronze, glass and other materials. The exhibition showcases a group of works with the title “My Townsfolk”. It is a series of richly characterised portraits where each figure has a distinctive character and mood. The exhibition is enhanced and refreshed by artwork from a number of international artists, created in 2017 in the course of the 1st Latvia International Contemporary Ceramics Festival. The exhibition will be available at Lūznava Manor until 31 July.
4 p.m. on Friday, 6 July
Closing of the 2nd Latvia international contemporary ceramics biennale.
Opening of the international juried exhibition “Martinsons Award”.
Awards ceremony of the international competition “Martinsons Award”.
Opening of the “Fortress exhibition” by Dainis Pundurs.
Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre, 3 Mihaila Street, Daugavpils
For the international juried exhibition “Martinsons Award”, out of the total of 395 applications, a panel of international judges selected artwork from 100 artists who represent 29 countries. The artwork will be showcased in a group exhibition. In addition, the artists will compete for cash prizes and other valuable gifts. Recipients of the awards and other gifts will be announced at the opening of the exhibition. It will be available at Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre until 9 September.
A special addition to the final day of the biennale will be the opening of “The Fortress Exhibition” – a one-man show of Dainis Pundurs, winner of the National Gold Prize within the framework of Martinsons Award 2016. Meanwhile, Dutch artist Marie-Josee Comello, winner of the International Gold Prize 2016, will offer an installation “Girl in Blue”.
At the courtyard of Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre, opening of the exhibitions will be followed by an interactive performance “Vinyl Recorder” by Israeli artists Roy Mayan and Liata Segal.
Nearby, at the Culture and Information Centre of Daugavpils Fortress and by the Nikolai Gate, a Belgian-Romanian artist Ana Maria Asan will offer her installations “Future Memories: A Woman’s Study of the Fortress”.
Along with the biennale programme, anyone interested can take part in the international scientific conference “PERSON.COLOR.NATURE.MUSIC”, which will run at Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre on 5-6 July.
In addition, during the 2nd Latvia International Ceramics Biennale, an exhibition “Ceramics from Latgale. Ceramics in Latgale” will be available at Latgale Museum of Culture and History in Rēzekne (102 Atbrīvošanas Boulevard). The exhibition will feature works by ceramic artists who live and work in Latgale as well as recap information collected during expeditions of the project “Latvian Pot of Gold”.
About:
https://www.latviaceramicsbiennale.com/
Supporters: “Latvia 100”, Daugavpils City Council, State Cultural Capital Foundation, Estonian Cultural Capital Foundation, Latgale Regional Development Agency, governmental joint-stock company “Latvian National Forests”, Israeli Embassy, “Sigulda Tower”, Turaida Museum Reserve, Pullman Riga Old Town Hotel, Lūznava Manor, Valmiermuiža Brewery, joint-stock company “Antalis”, Keramserviss, “Lode” Ltd., Latvian Mobile Phone.
