Photo reportage from RPB – NEXT 2023 Award 'Seeking the Latest in Photography!' exhibition by Ieva Baltaduonytė at the ISSP Gallery

June 16, 2023
Author Echo Gone Wrong

Until June 29, Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT 2023 Award “Seeking the Latest in Photography!” winner’s Ieva Baltaduonytė’s (LT) solo exhibition “Uprooted”, curated by Inga Brūvere (LV) is on display at the ISSP Gallery in Riga.

The goal of the RPB – NEXT Award “Seeking the Latest in Photography!” is to discover and appraise the creative efforts of young Baltic artists who demonstrate the power of the image in their works, offering an original point of view and conceptual depth, suited to the times. Since 2019, the award has been presented within the Biennial’s programme NEXT in cooperation with the ISSP Gallery and is granted by an international jury.

In 2023, the winner was determined by the founder of the BZH Photo festival and coordinator of the Photo Days event in Paris Camille Gajate (FR), art critic, historian and curator Adam Mazur (PL), artist, professor and Head of the Photography Department at the Estonian Academy of Arts Marge Monko (EE), artist and curator Paulius Petraitis (LT), and artist and teacher Ieva Epnere (LV).

“In the ongoing photographic work, the artist thoughtfully engages with the complex ripple-effects of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Working with Ukrainian female refugees in Lithuania and using a humanistic style of photography in an exploratory way, she brings to light the unphotographable trauma of forced displacement and war-related PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder). It results in a memorable reminder about the universal importance of empathy in a time of crisis,” reads the jury statement.

Ieva Baltaduonytė (1988) is an emerging lens based artist and graduate of the Photography BA programme at the Dublin Institute of Technology. Informed by her own personal experience of displacement, her work engages with topics and issues relating to migratory culture. After seventeen years of living abroad in Dublin, Ireland, Ieva recently relocated back to Lithuania.

Partners and supporters of the award and exhibition comprise State Culture Capital Foundation, Riga City Council, ISSP Gallery, “NoRoutine Books” (LT), “VV Foundation”, Estonian Embassy in Riga, Embassy of Finland in Riga, “Hibnerstudio”, Rixwell Hotels, Valmiermuiža Brewery, Printing house “Adverts”, Arterritory.com, Echo Gone Wrong, Noba.ac, and BLOK magazine.

Riga Photography Biennial’s NEXT program is dedicated to highlighting the young artists and curators from the Baltic, Nordic and other European states. In 2023, the festival’s events are covering the “awkward” topics. Biennial’s events will continue until July 23. Find out more on www.rpbiennial.com

View from Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT 2023 Award ‘Seeking the Latest in Photography!’ winner’s Ieva Baltaduonytė’s exhibition ‘Uprooted’. Photo: Ingus Bajārs

View from Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT 2023 Award ‘Seeking the Latest in Photography!’ winner’s Ieva Baltaduonytė’s exhibition ‘Uprooted’. Photo: Ingus Bajārs

View from Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT 2023 Award ‘Seeking the Latest in Photography!’ winner’s Ieva Baltaduonytė’s exhibition ‘Uprooted’. Photo: Ingus Bajārs

View from Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT 2023 Award ‘Seeking the Latest in Photography!’ winner’s Ieva Baltaduonytė’s exhibition ‘Uprooted’. Photo: Ingus Bajārs

View from Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT 2023 Award ‘Seeking the Latest in Photography!’ winner’s Ieva Baltaduonytė’s exhibition ‘Uprooted’. Photo: Ingus Bajārs

View from Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT 2023 Award ‘Seeking the Latest in Photography!’ winner’s Ieva Baltaduonytė’s exhibition ‘Uprooted’. Photo: Ingus Bajārs

View from Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT 2023 Award ‘Seeking the Latest in Photography!’ winner’s Ieva Baltaduonytė’s exhibition ‘Uprooted’. Photo: Ingus Bajārs

View from Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT 2023 Award ‘Seeking the Latest in Photography!’ winner’s Ieva Baltaduonytė’s exhibition ‘Uprooted’. Photo: Ingus Bajārs

View from Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT 2023 Award ‘Seeking the Latest in Photography!’ winner’s Ieva Baltaduonytė’s exhibition ‘Uprooted’. Photo: Ingus Bajārs

View from Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT 2023 Award ‘Seeking the Latest in Photography!’ winner’s Ieva Baltaduonytė’s exhibition ‘Uprooted’. Photo: Ingus Bajārs

View from Riga Photography Biennial – NEXT 2023 Award ‘Seeking the Latest in Photography!’ winner’s Ieva Baltaduonytė’s exhibition ‘Uprooted’. Photo: Ingus Bajārs