Latvia

Cities

Riga

Predecessors

• 1910, Modernist tendencies (combining Neo-Primitivism and Expressionism with Symbolism and Post-Impressionism) following the exhibitions in Riga of the new Latvian Society for the Encouragement of the Arts, the Izdebsky International Salon, the St Petersburg group the Union of Youth and Voldemārs Zeltin (1879–1909). Vladimir Markov (Waldemars Matvejs, born in Riga [1] [2]), the principal spokesman for the Union of Youth (1910–14), publishes articles defending the group’s artistic experiments, organizes its early exhibitions and travels to Western Europe to establish links with the German and French avant-garde. His articles on the principles of the new art and his advocacy of a subjective approach through altered states of consciousness influence Kazimir Malevich, Filonov, Rozanova and Larionov.
• Jēkabs Kazaks introduces African-influenced geometric and stereometric forms in 1916.
• 1921, foundation of Latvian Academy of Arts with Vilhelms Purvītis as its first rector. He becomes the mentor of the great wave of 20s avant-gardists.
• Rīga Artists Group. Association of painters and sculptors active from 1920 to 1940 (cubist period mostly in 1923-24). Oto Skulme (chairman of the group in 1923-39) exhibited the first Cubist composition in Rīga, Kompozīcija (Composition, 1920); soon after he was joined in his interest in Cubism by other members of the “Rīga Artists Group” – Romāns Suta (its first chairman), Jēkabs Kazaks, Konrāds Ubāns, Valdemārs Tone and others. These artists not only painted still lifes, but also depicted cafes, bars, scenes from the circus, vagrants and musicians. Through this a new range of the themes was introduced to Latvian art - motifs, images and the atmosphere associated with an urban environment and lifestyle. A new generation of art critics was formed. The most active mouthpiece for the spirit of the new era through his publications was Romāns Suta, who collaborated with Parisian modernists. He published his findings in not only Latvian magazines, but also in the Parisian journal “L’Esprit Nouveau”. Despite a changing membership, a relatively informal structure and internal disagreements about the specifics of a modernist agenda, the group projected a unified identity in its 13 exhibitions. Ironically, after their so-called Cubist show of 1923–4 and their joint exhibitions with the Group of Estonian Artists and the Polish constructivists of Blok (1924), realism was reappearing as an artistic force, and the members of the group were sharply berated by traditionalists who felt that their influences were outmoded. Shortly after, Suta and Aleksandra Belcova, the more liberal members, left to undertake projects influenced by Purism and Constructivism, while others turned towards realism. [3]
• Baltars porcelain factory (1924-1929) founded by Suta. Its ceramics combine Cubo-Constructivist motifs with Latvian folk subjects.
• 1930s: Mūksala and Radigars (Spirit) groups. Though dependent on recent European developments, they combine decorative Cubist, Purist and Constructivist faceted and geometricized forms with an Expressionist tendency.

Electroacoustic and experimental music

• NSRD, *1982, formed by Hardijs Lediņš, architect and DJ, and Juris Boiko, artist. Members were changing over time and included artists, architects, musicians, fashion designers, actors, etc. The group also created video installations, photography, video art. Active until 1989. Had a great influence on later generations of artists in the field of video art, video installations and performance art. [4] [5] [6] [7]
• Dzeltenie_Pastnieki, [8]

Events

• "Face the Unexpected: Media Art from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania" exhibition, Museum am Ostwall and the PHOENIX Halle Dortmund, May-July 2006, curated by Inke Arns and Kurt Wettengl [9]

Literature

• Māra Traumane, "Words - Worlds. New Media in Latvia", Mare Articum 2 (7), 2000. [10]
• Māra Traumane, "The Question of Changes: The 1990s in Latvian Art", 2002. [11]
• Māra Traumane, "Interview with Mara Traumane on her research in Latvia". [12]
• Face the Unexpected: Media Art from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, catalogue, 2006, [13]

	Countries avant-garde, modernism, experimental art, media culture, social practice
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