The exhibition Last Tale, curated by the Program Director of LOOK! Gallery (Riga) Raivis Alksnis and independent curator Elīna Sproģe, will focus on fairytale phenomenon and manifestations of the genre in current art. It will aim to explore how the ability to imagine fantastic events and communicate in characters and symbols, can be used as a tool for explaining the phenomenon of today and increase empathy.
Fairytales in the Baltic region share a certain unified identity – in terms of storytelling as well as the illustration manner. Against the backdrop of global turmoil, this genre might be one of the last harbours that still holds the very much-needed comforting aspects. We tend to forget that fairytales could serve as a refuge not only for kids but also adults. They remind us how important it is to “put yourself in someone else’s shoes”, to empathize, and to believe that kindness will always be rewarded.
Six artists from Riga have been brought together by the curators to develop a certain narrative that could set the visitor back to the times growing up. What is the last fairytale you remember reading and was there a character you were afraid of sympathizing with? The exposition will underline how useful it is not to forget the often banalized insight that one has to cross through a dark and scary forest to reach the shiny castle and that the good always wins.
The exhibition Last Tale is organized as a continuation of the long-standing cooperation of Meno niša with the Riga Contemporary Art Gallery LOOK!. In 2022, Meno niša presented the exhibition The Book of Sand by LOOK! gallery artist Janis Šneideris. The Riga city gallery as well has already several times successfully presented the work of Jurgis Tarabilda, an artist represented by Meno Niša.
The group exhibition will be on show at Vilnius City Gallery Meno niša from May 29 to June 29.
The organizers of the exhibition are Meno niša Gallery and LOOK!
The sponsor of Meno niša Gallery is Vilnius City Municipality.
