ALMA in collaboration with Pavāru māja, Līgatnē presented Kristians Fukss exhibition “ROOM NR. 7” with performances by Elizabete Balčus & Platons Buravickis with poetry by Elīna Vendija Rībena and vinyl DJ set by Ingus Baušķenieks in the pastoral garden of the Michelin Green Star restaurant.
Kristians Fukss works in video, animation, painting and sculpture, combining sensitive imagination with autobiographical narrative, mainly through the image of Mickey Mouse.
The sculpture “Gassolina” created for the greenhouse is a new large-scale three-dimensional object. It is anthropomorphic – with a human-like face. The flower is made of two-component material, then polished and painted black. A second sculpture “Tree”‘ will be on display later this year. The tree is cast in concrete. Displayed in a living, lush green garden among plants. Both sculptures will form a stark contrast with nature. They speak about the future of the planet. The works are based on the ideas of Swiss theatre director, journalist and essayist Milo Rau (1977) on contemporary globalization, as defined in his “Ghent Manifesto” (2018). One of the ideas is to no longer reflect reality, but only those ideas that could improve it. We must ask: what are the tragedies of our time? The biggest tragedy is that we are collectively aware of them, but we cannot find common ground to address them. Or, as Kay Sarah says: “The problem is not that you do not know that our forests are burning, and our people are dying. The problem is that you are used to this knowledge”. Latvia is also threatened by melting glaciers, which will affect the flow of golf – our climate could change for a long time. Latvia is also at risk from the melting of glaciers, which will affect the flow of golf – our climate could change for a long period of time. Cold weather may set in, changing the range of natural riches. This black flower in a verdant garden is a prayer that humanity will change.
A new series of paintings by Kristians Fukss is on display inside the restaurant.
Elizabete Balčus (1990) is a performance artist and musician who transforms her performances into art objects. Her soundscapes and audiovisual performances take the listener through echoing loops of flute and ethereal voice, free jazz improvisations, and clicking electropop beats. Since childhood, Elisabete has studied the flute. Her most recent album, Hotel Universe, was released on Montreal-based label Mothland in September 2022.
Platons Buravickis (1989) is a vivid personality among young Latvian composers. He has studied with classics of contemporary music Vilnis Šmīdbergs, Pēteris Vasks and Selga Mence. The name and music of Platons Buravitckis are most often heard on the sidelines of the daily classical concert circuit. The music focuses on rhythm, lines, points, verticals, horizontals, waves, vibrations, breath, exhalation, destruction, unpredictably transformed sounds. Platons Buravickis arranged for string orchestra performance works of Latvian postmodern avant-garde music – NSRD’s legendary 1984 album.
Ingus Baušķenieks (1956) is one of the most unusual musical phenomena in Latvia, better known as the leader of the band Dzeltenie pastnieki. The well-known Russian musicologist Artyom Troitsky has called this band a historically unique group, one of the strongest underground formations in the territory of the former Soviet Union.
Curated by Astrīda Riņķe
Supported by State Culture Capital Foundation
Photos by Artūrs Kļaviņš, Kristians Fukss