Curator, art historian, program director of the kim? Contemporary Art Center—Zane Ötzkule will talk about contemporary art practices in Latvia and the role of the artist in the context of a complex cycle of relationships, in which the art of the Baltic region exists today.
The 1990s introduced the Baltic region as having a certain “mood” that still continues today. What fits contemporary Latvia the most in this mood is an act of continuous playing itself. It is based on the view that by theoretical, political-economic (the narrow circle of collectors, galleries, dealers), and art-historical (the lack of discursive, dialectic or critical art) measures contemporary art shouldn’t even exist here.
The current rise of the nationalist right-wing movement in Europe, together with preparation for the coming Centennials across the region is paralleled with a series of efforts aimed at the representation and increase of visibility of artistic initiatives. These initiatives urge for a resurrection of attention towards contemporary art.
The talk will address the notion of peculiarities in Latvian art, approaching the following questions: Who is a Latvian artist? Where is he/she now? What are his/her features, language/s spoken, and themes and references consumed?