Glass as a material fits perfectly within contemporary art, expressing sensitive and relevant issues in society. In collaboration with professionals from other fields – scientists, anthropologists, composers, historians, photographers, masters of traditional arts and even extreme sports, 12 internationally renowned glass artists from the USA, Japan, India, China, South Korea, Sweden, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia have joined forces in a shared vision.
The exhibited artworks reflect on social and private spaces, the evidence of disappearing cultures in the modern world, the importance of communication and human interaction. For example, Anna Norberg (Sweden) highlights the relationship between Gotland and Latvian soldiers during the Second World War. Jin Hongo (Japan) in collaboration with Latvian artists challenges to reconsider the boundaries of freedom. In turn, glass artist Inguna Audere from Latvia and the USA artist Michael Rogers propose recognising the value of mutual communication, emphasising that there is nothing more complex than a conversation involving people with differences in perception.
The exhibition is organised within the project Imagining Sustainable Glass Network Europe (ISGNE) in cooperation with NorthLands Creative (Great Britain), Berlin Glas (Germany), National College of Art and Design (Ireland), SIA Stikla māja (Latvia).
EXHIBITED ARTISTS and THEIR COLLABORATORS:
China: Suojia Zhang in collaboration with Ernests Vītiņš (Latvia)
Estonia: Maarja Maemets in collaboration with Rait Lohmus
India: Anjali Srinivasan in collaboration with Indian artisans
Japan: Jin Hongo in collaboration with Tomsumi, Shino Yamasaki, Takuji Ito, Uģis Nastevičs, Evija Skuķe, Armands Skuķis, Dārta Paldiņa (Latvia)
Japan: Rui Sasaki in collaboration with the exhibition visitors
Latvia: Anna Varnase in collaboration with Anna Audere
Latvia: Kārlis Bogustovs in collaboration with Artūrs Pavlovs, Edvards Gabarajevs, Rūdolfs Henčels, Dimitriy Chlenov, Madars Apse, Rūdolfs Rorbahs, Fricis Štrauss, Artūrs Nesaule, Niklāvs Vētra, Linards Vīksniņš, Kaspars Gobiņš
Latvia / USA: Inguna Audere and Michael Rogers in collaboration with Māra Binde
Lithuania: Julia Pociute in collaboration with Rytis Mažulis, Ernestas Lylous, Evelina Januškaitė
South Korea / USA: Bohyun Yoon (South Korea) in collaboration with Emily Culver (USA)
Sweden: Anna Norberg in collaboration with friends and Gotland residents, Lärbro Krigssjukhus museum, Gotlands Försvarsmuseum, Landsarkivet i Visby, David Holmert Archive, Kjell Gardelin, Krister Hafdell, Jonas Åberg
EXHIBITION CURATORS:
Vita Birzaka, project manager,
Exhibition Curator, Art Museum RIGA BOURSE / Latvian National Museum of Art
Dr. oec. Ieva Zemīte, project manager,
Director of the joint Master’s programme Creative Industry and Growth Management at the Latvian Academy of Culture and Riga Technical University; Co-owner of the Glass Point studio;
Board Member of SIA Stikla māja
Dr. art. Inguna Audere, Professor at the Department of Glass Art, Art Academy of Latvia;
Director of the Association IRMA Collaborative
Prof. emeritus Michael Rogers, Rochester Institute of Technology;
Board Member of the Association IRMA Collaborative
Gallery name: RIGA BOURSE
Address: Doma laukums 6, Riga
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 10:00 - 18:00
Open: 04.06.2021 - 09.08.2021
