Chair as an Artwork. Galila’s Collection, Belgium

By a way of mutual cooperation, the Latvian National Museum of Art (LNMA) and the art and culture portal Arterritory.com offer an outstanding exhibition, which will show part of the chair collection of Galila Barzilaï-Hollander, member of the jury of the Purvītis Prize 2019. The exhibits constitute one out of over 20 other thematic and conceptual branches of her collection.

The ceremonial and simultaneously versatile role of a chair serves as the conceptual background of the show, which explores how this simple object of everyday life regularly appeared in the works of various artists. “A chair is something very basic, it expresses togetherness. When you come in, there is this – take a seat. It’s like welcoming something. It has something to do with communication,” Galila Barzilaï-Hollander comments. “In my collection, the chairs are pure creative objects, all different and telling their personal story.”

The exhibition is visually presented as a large monolith installation, which highlights the individuality and uniqueness of each exhibit. The display was designed by Krišs Salmanis, one of the winners of the Purvītis Prize 2017. For this project, he drew inspiration from Stanley Kubrick’s legendary film 2001: A Space Odyssey. Una Meistere, the director of Arterritory.com, explains: “Arranged on the illuminated glass floor, the objects resemble an extravagant alien horde, which has just stepped out on the pedestal: independent, inspiring and full of creative recklessness. Therefore, the audience is offered two opportunities: to enjoy the installation as a whole, and at the same time examine each chair down to the smallest detail of their construction and artistic concept.”

A total of 50 chairs have been selected for the exhibition, among them items made by such celebrated authors as Franz West, Hans-Peter Feldmann and industrial designer Ron Arad.

The venue for the exhibition is the Latvian National Museum of Art – one of the most representative buildings in the Park and Boulevard Circle area of Riga. The third-floor vestibule (approximately 120 m², ceiling height – 7 m) of the museum where the exhibition will be held is itself a symbol of valour and brilliance, and has always been a prime location for stately receptions and diplomatic dinners.