Art Academy of Latvia hosts an exhibition '9 HEADS. Artist as a Rector'

2017 02 09 — 2017 02 22 at Art Academy of Latvia
Author Echo Gone Wrong
Published in Events in Latvia

888From February 2 – 22 the Art Academy of Latvia will host the exhibition “9 HEADS. Artist as a Rector”. The exhibition will display the most significant works from active periods of all Art Academy’s rectors – Vilhelms Purvītis, Jānis Kuga, Oto Skulme, Leo Svemps, Edgars Iltners, Valdis Dišlers, Indulis Zariņš, Jānis Andris Osis and Aleksejs Naumovs, outlining their contributions towards the Academy’s development. Exhibition opening will take place on February 1, 17:00.

The exhibition is a narrative of the Art Academy rectors who have not only influenced Latvian art development in general, but also continuously strived towards creating and preserving Latvian national art school, honed new talent and passed their knowledge on to future generations since the Academy’s initiation. A significant part of the exhibition preparations were devoted to research. The Art Academy of Latvia was incepted and created during a time when the nation was acutely aware of the necessity for an independent country. Society at the time had also crystallised an opinion regarding art education and the important role of creative thinking processes in achieving national prosperity. The Academy’s founder and its first rector was the great Latvian painter Vilhelms Purvītis. It was officially established by a Ministry decree on August 20, 1919, with the first academic studies taking place two years later – on October 12, 1921. Ever since its opening, the Latvian State has had high hopes for the Academy – it was to affirm the nation’s willingness and its right to make autonomous decisions over matters of its own fate.

Exhibition curators – Art Academy’s 4th year students from the Faculty of History and Theory of Arts created and developed the concept with continuous support from Associate Professor Dr. art. Andris Teikmanis, Professor, rector of the Art Academy of Latvia Aleksejs Naumovs and Assistant Professor Mag. art. Aija Freimane. The curators were encouraged to maintain creative and academic awareness of Latvia’s art history developments and actively involve the Academy’s faculties and departments in the project.
The exhibition features works from the Latvian National Museum of Art, The National Archives of Latvia, The State Archives of Latvia, Literature and Music Museum, Mūkusala Art Salon, Gallery Daugava and the collections of Irina and Māris Vītoli, Kristaps and Kaspars Zariņi, Ieva Iltnere, Inga Dišlere, Jānis Andris Osis  and Aleksejs Naumovs. The exhibition will also publish a catalogue titled “9 HEADS. Artist as a Rector”.

Exhibition executive: Art Academy of Latvia
Exhibition curators: Art Academy of Latvia, Faculty of History and Theory of Arts 4th year students (Jana Jākobsone, Māra Lāss, Laura Okdaldere, Laura Kārklīte, Katriona Luīze Rožlapa, Anete Aizsilniece, Agate Marta Šāvēja and Sintija Veinberga)
Exhibition scenography: Viktors Jansons, Kristians Brekte
Exhibition and catalogue graphic design: Maija Rozenfelde
Exhibition supported by: State Culture Capital Foundation (SCCF) and the “Art Arsenal research foundation”
Exhibition opening event supported by: “Rīgas Prestige Cuvée”, “Pure Chocolate”

Exhibition opening times:
Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat 11:00 – 18:00
Thu 11:00 – 19:00
Intermission: 14:30 – 15:00
Closed for technical reasons on February 17 and 18

Exhibition entry – free of charge.

Exhibition location:
Art Academy of Latvia exhibition hall
Kalpaka bulvāris 13, Rīga