my tongue is broken. A delicate fire
runs under my skin, my eyes
see nothing, my ears roar,
cold sweat
(SAPPHO. Translated from the ancient Greek by Diane J. Rayor.
Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works (2014))
The exhibition In the Name of Desire will shed light on artists in Latvian 20th century art history who have bravely taken up the investigation of sexuality and the phenomenon of desire. Furthermore, contemporary artists will take part in the exhibition with existing or specially created works, interpreting this socially still awkward subject in the media of painting, graphic art, photography, sculpture, installation and video art.
The exhibition will critically revisit the objectification of women’s bodies in visual art, shifting the focus to the representation of the female experience and a feminist approach. For the first time in Latvia, Baltic queer art will be surveyed and presented at such breadth, demonstrating inclusive thinking and openness towards questions of self-identity regarding awareness of one’s sexuality.
From the collection of the LNMA the exhibition will present works by Vilnis Zābers, Rolands Kaņeps, Viktorija Pelše, Rasma Bruzīte, Arta Dumpe, Katrīna Neiburga, Biruta Baumane, Felicita Pauļuka, Hilda Vīka, Daiga Grantiņa, Amanda Ziemele, Sigismunds Vidbergs, Romualds Getaitis, Laimonis Blumbergs, Rūdolfs Alders, Ēvī Upeniece, Ella Leimane, Tālivaldis Gaumigs, Igors Vasiļjevs, Gaida Grundberga, Boriss Bērziņš, Monika Bauere, Le Cong Thanh , Arnis Balčus, Josifs Elgurts, Rūsiņš Rozīte, Kārlis Zemdega, Konstantīns Rončevskis, Voldemārs Trejs, Burkards Dzenis, Guntars Zvaigzne, Gustavs Šķilters, Daina Riņķe, Kristians Brekte and other artists. The exhibition will also include works from other institutions and private collections such as the achievements of Dace Džeriņa, Ingrīda Pičukāne, Vika Eksta, Inga Meldere, Rasa Jansone, Aleksandrs Apsītis, Ādolfs Zārdiņš, Vladimirs Glušenkovs, Gunārs Vīndedzis, Anna-Stina Treumund, Ivars Grāvlejs, Visvaldis Ziediņš, Andris Grinbergs un Kaspars Zborovskis, Anna Dzērve, Baiba Vegere, Rūta Kreica, Brenda Jansone, Kārlis Vītols, Mark Raidpere, Vėra Šleivytė, Diāna Tamane, Jaanus Samma, Krista Zute, Mare Tralla, Adomas Danusevičius, Aija Pole, Andris Kaļiņins, Sabīne Vernere, Frančeska Kirke, Janina Sabaliauskaitė. New works specially for the exhibition have been made by artists Anna Malicka, Skuja Braden, Konstantin Zhukov, Mētra Saberova, Aksels Bruks, Annemarija Gulbe, Krišjānis Elviks and Anna Ansone, Ksenija Tarasova, Atis Jākobsons, Rasa Jansone.
