Liepaja based media and sound art association ASTE has started developing an augmented reality art application. The project is being developed with the support of the State Culture Capital Fund’s program “KultūrELPA”.
New ART+ artworks are now availabale Jurmalas Park, on the beach, Karosta, Fortification battery No. 3, and in the city centre (on the bridge and near the theater). Several of the new works are interactive – it is recommended to walk around Roberto Becerra Bravo and Kristīne Martinova’s “Proverbial” to experience the changing sound composition, and Kristena Sokolovska and Shawn Pinchbeck’s “Echo of Fear” will react to the viewer’s distance from the tree featured in the work.
To view the artworks users will need a phone or tablet with internet connection and GPS. ART+ will work on iPhones newer than 6S; and Android devices with ARCore. Unfortunately, ART+ will not work on devices that do not have access to Google Services.
If a suitable device is not available or it is not possible to travel to the locations of the artworks, ART+ works are also available in a web browser and can be viewed from anywhere, on any device with an internet connection. To view ART+ works in a web browser, visit the ART+ website (https://artplus.app).
Artists: Anna Priedola, Elina Dreimane, Gustavs Lociks, Inga Slangena, Jekaterina Jevdokimova, Kristena Sokolovska, Kristine Martinova, Madara Kronberga, Maija Demitere, Oleksandr Sirous (UA), Olga Barbina, Patrick Borgeat (DE), Roberto Becerra Bravo (MX), Rogier Jupijn (NL), ROTOR (NL), Shawn Pinchbeck (CA).
ART+ is supported by: State Culture Capital Foundation (VKKF), Liepaja City Municipality Institution “Culture Department”, Kuldīga District Municipality, association ASTE. Art, Science, Technology, Education, and RTU Liepāja Academy’s Art Research Laboratory (MPLab).
On Friday, November 22, at 16:00, the exhibition “Sensory Imagination” will open at the Liepāja Music, Art, and Design High School Gallery (Alejas street 18). The exhibition will showcase virtual and augmented reality artworks, art installations, and results from workshops conducted during the media art and technology festival UPDATE. The exhibition will be open from November 25 to December 6 on weekdays from 8:00 to 19:00.
The exhibition will feature four virtual reality works:
Jekaterina Jevdokimova’s “I (Don’t) Remember” – an interpretation of the artist’s childhood memories from the late 90s and early 2000s.
Kaspars Lēvalds’ “Mist” – based on the 1919 Latvian War of Independence in Liepāja after World War I.
Elīna Dreimane’s “Lost in the Mist” – exploring Latvian power sites described in traditions, folklore, and stories.
Olga Barbina’s “Pneuma” – experimenting with human breath as a means of navigation in a virtual reality environment.
As part of the exhibition, ten new augmented reality works will be launched on the mobile application ART+ (https://artplus.app). The augmented reality artworks will be viewable in various locations in the city of Liepāja. The works reflect on cultural heritage, contemporary world issues, the climate crisis, and pollution, experimenting with technologies, as well as expressing personal experiences and reflections on mental health through art. The works will be visible on Liepāja’s beach, Seaside Park, Karosta, and other city locations. To view the works, a smartphone or tablet with GPS and internet connection is required, the ART+ application must be downloaded or updated, and visitors need to go to the designated location of the artwork. Currently, 50 augmented reality artworks are already on display in Liepāja.
The exhibition will also feature two international artists who participated in artist residencies organized by the foundation “Foundation Liepāja 2027” from September to October this year. Spanish artist Carlos Munnoz will present his social platform experiment and installation “Deficiencies of Utopia”, while Ukrainian artist Iryna Loskot will showcase a series of works titled “Invitations” that explore the self-destructive and self-renewing nature of our planet.
The exhibition will display the results of the annual media art and technology festival UPDATE workshops – an interactive sound installation created during the workshop “Become an Antenna” led by Tata Frenkel, a guide on how to be an artist in a world without digital technologies, developed during the workshop “OFFLINE/OFF-GRID” led by Vytautas Michelkevičius, and an interactive work combining motion capture suits and photogrammetry, created during the workshop “Experimental Motion Capture” led by Oleksandr Sirous.
Exhibition Opening: Friday, November 22, at 16:00. Exhibition Open: November 25 to December 6, weekdays from 8:00 to 19:00. Exhibition Website:www.updatefestival.lv Contact: Maija Demitere (maija.demitere@gmail.com, +371 29948430).
The exhibition “Sensory Imagination” is part of the UPDATE festival, organized by the Liepāja-based media artist association ASTE (https://aste.gallery), RTU Liepāja Academy’s Art Research Laboratory (MPLab, https://mplab.lv), and the association ART+ (https://artplus.app). ASTE’s activities in 2024 are supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation (VKKF) for professional non-governmental cultural organizations. UPDATE is realized with the support of Liepāja City Culture Department, VKKF, and RTU Liepāja Academy. The event is implemented with the co-funding of the foundation “Foundation Liepāja 2027” and the European Union’s “Creative Europe” program project “CreArt 3.0 #STRINGING_TOGETHER.”
On Saturday, August 24, a unique digital art exhibition will open at the Adatu Fabrika (Kuldiga, Kalpaka Street 4). As part of “COOLDIGA ART FEST”, visitors will be able to experience 4 virtual reality artworks created by Latvian artists and a virtual reality game dedicated to the city of Kuldīga. During the festival, 8 new augmented reality artworks will be launched, and will be available to users through the ART+ mobile app (www.artplus.app).
During the opening on August 24, visitors will have a chance to see and experience virtual reality games and artworks created this year, meet the artists and take part in a workshop where everyone will have the opportunity to learn how to create 3D objects using VR tools. Workshop will be open to anyone, even those with no prior experience.
Workshop “3D Making in VR”
On August 24, from 12:00 – 16:00, a workshop will be open to everyone, regardless of their digital skills or previous experience, to learn how to create 3D objects using simple, intuitive, even playful tools. Participants will use VR glasses and controllers to create 3D objects through body movements, offering a more intuitive and accessible approach to 3D modeling compared to traditional, screen-based methods.
The workshop is free of charge and no prior reservation is required. Interested participants can join the workshop at any time. Although there is no age limit for the workshop, children under 10 may find the VR tools too large to use comfortably.
Virtual reality works in the exhibition
Jekaterina Jevdokimova’s “I (Don’t) Remember” is a story about her childhood experiences in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The artist’s interpretations of her memories show the changes that came with computers becoming a part of everyday life, as well as the visually fantastic impression left by growing up in a mass housing block.
Elina Dreimane’s ” Square of Strength” explores Latvian places of power described in folklore, stories and traditional lore. In her work, the artist has digitalized several such places and brought them together in one magical landscape. The work evokes reflections on whether digital experiences and digital tourism might be able to replace the experiences of human beings, whether virtual reality tools can transmit the ancestral wisdom and the power that nature gives us?
Kaspars Lēvalds’ work “The Mist” is based on the Latvian freedom struggle in Liepaja in 1919 after the World War I. Combining game and educational elements, this experience allows us to immerse ourselves in certain scenes of history and explores whether VR can evoke feelings of empathy, patriotism or deepen interest in learning about the history of a nation.
Olga Barbina’s “Pneuma” uses a unique, artist-designed VR experience interface. The work uses sensory data about the user’s bodily processes – breathing and muscle movement – to navigate throughout the work.
A group of artists, Jekaterina Jevdokimova, Kaspars Levalds and Mihails Pavlovecs, have developed a unique VR game dedicated to Kuldiga, interesting for visitors and residents alike. The VR game ” The Treasures of Kuldiga” will allow visitors to explore different places in the city and to see them in a new light.
Augmented reality works in ART+
As part of the festival, 8 new artworks will be launched in Kuldiga. The works will be available for viewing in the augmented reality mobile app gallery ART+. To view the artworks users will need a phone or tablet with internet connection and GPS. ART+ will work on iPhones newer than 6S; and Android devices with ARCore. Unfortunately, ART+ will not work on devices that do not have access to Google Services.
If a suitable device is not available or it is not possible to travel to the locations of the artworks, ART+ works are also available in a web browser and can be viewed from anywhere, on any device with an internet connection. To view ART+ works in a web browser, visit the ART+ website (https://artplus.app).
“Erosion” by the Dutch artist group ROTOR reflects on human nature and the impact of the environment on it – how we are affected by our environment and the culture we live in, just like the water waves and currents affect the shore and the seemingly unchanging rocks.
Latvian 3D artists Gustavs Lociks and Olga Barbina have created a giant plastic island floating above people’s heads in the Kuldiga watchtower, offering a futuristic scene in which new life forms emerge from man-made rubbish.
Latvian artist Kristena Sokolovska and Canadian sound artist Shawn Pinchbeck’s ” The Echo of Fear” is an interactive audiovisual work – the work will transform depending on how far the user is from the tree in the artwork.
ART+ artists at “COOLDIGA ART FEST”: Alex Sirous (UA), Anna Priedola (LV), Elīna Dreimane, Inga Šlangena, Kristena Sokolovska, Madara Kronberga, Maija Demitere, ROTOR (NL), Shawn Pinchbeck (CA).
Opening of the art festival “COOLDIGA ART FEST” will take place on August 24 at the Adatu Fabrika (Kuldiga, Kalpaka street 4) from 12:00 – 16:00.
The “COOLDIGA ART FEST” VR art exhibition will be open on weekdays by appointment from August 24 to September 13. The augmented reality artworks are available to ART+ users at any time.
“COOLDIGA ART FEST” is organised by Kuldīga Digital Innovation Centre and ART+. The festival is supported by Kuldīga Municipality, State Culture Capital Foundation (VKKF), RTU Liepaja Academy, RTU LA Art Research Laboratory (MPLab, mplab.lv) and ASTE. Art, Science, Technology, Education (aste.gallery).
Visiting the exhibition at the Adatu Fabrika is by appointment only, so please contact us to arrange a time. This can be done by calling or writing to +371 22352248 (Toms Girvaitis) or by e-mail: toms.girvaitis@kuldiga.lv.
More information about ART+: Maija Demitere (+371 29948430).
At the end of the year, on 30 December, 8 new artworks in Liepaja are being published on the ART+ platform – in Karosta, Jurmala Park and the Liepaja city centre. The new ART+ works are 3D visualisations of historic records, data, and research, as well as artists’ reflections on the current times and events. ART+ is a mobile app and a website that displays works in augmented reality. The digital works are placed in specific locations, to view the work, the user must download the ART+ app and go to the location of the artwork. Augmented reality allows artists to create surreal scenes, interactive works, exhibit sound art and large-scale sculptures that would otherwise be impossible to create and experience.
Artworks on view in Karosta include a 3D model of the KOD-1 aircraft, whose production was associated with the Liepaja Kara osta workshop from 1936 to 1938. Next to the Liepaja fortress battery No 3 is a cannon that was used at the end of the 19th century. Sound artist Krista Dintere has created a tribute to Liepāja’s old tram cars; the piece can be listened to near the tram placed at the North Pier. The Crooked Pine of the Karosta has also been revived in ART+. Next to the Karosta Bridge, a 3D model of the bridge is depicted as a keychain, prompting reflections on tourism, Liepaja’s recognisable symbols, their meaning and history.
An interactive work by Kaspars Levalds, a model of the industrial robot UNIMATE, is on display in Jurmala Park in Liepaja, reflecting on the changes in creative industries and our everyday lives brought about by the use of artificial intelligence.
A visualisation of Anna Priedola’s research created by 3D artist Santa France is displayed in the square near Kurzeme. The work shows recipes for “mental well-being” collected by Priedola, which she gathered from visitors’ stories at the exhibition and in the workshop series “Milk Diaries. Dementia in statistics and stories”.
In the newly built promenade in Karlis Zale Square, a colourful rain of confetti warns of the spreading of microplastics. Artist Maija Demitere is an ecological researcher, looking for ways in which art can contribute to changes in people’s everyday habits.
To use ART+ and view the works, you will need to go to the mobile app store and download (or update) the app (Google Play or Apple Store). Links to the app stores are available at: https://artplus.app. You will need a phone or a tablet with an internet connection and GPS to view the artworks. ART+ will work on iPhones newer than 6S; and Android devices with ARCore. Unfortunately, ART+ will not work on devices that do not support Google Services.
If you do not have a compatible device or are unable to travel to the locations, ART+ works are also available in a web browser and can be viewed from anywhere, on any device with an internet connection. To view ART+ works in a web browser, visit the ART+ website (https://artplus.app/). The works displayed in the browser are also created to allow ART+ viewers to plan their art viewing route and to select the works that interest them.
ART+ platform is created in Liepaja, managed by Liepaja media artists and ASTE (https://aste.gallery). ART+ works have been created with the support of Liepaja Municipality, Liepaja City Municipality Institution “Culture Department”, Kurzeme Planning Region and VKKF. KOD-1 model was created with the support of Kuldiga Digital Innovation Centre. The cannon model was made with the support of the Karosta Rescue Society.
As part of the Kuldiga art festival “Cooldiga Art Fest”, eight new augmented reality art objects were created and can be seen using the mobile app ART+ (https://artplus.app).
ART+ users in Kuldiga can see the unique sight of fish jumping in Venta, a scene that is usually only visible for a few weeks a year, but in augmented reality it is now available at any moment.
A full-size model of the historical plane KOD-1, or “Ventas eagle”, created based on historical images, is now also available.
The work “Line” by Krista Dinter and Jekaterina Jevdokimova captures the arrival of electricity and radio in Kuldiga in 1934.
Inga Slangena’s work “Friends for Life” celebrates the relationship between humans and pets.
“Frames” by Anija Aizkalne were inspired by the works of Indrikis Zeberins. The artist created original illustrations depicting scenes from the everyday life of young people today.
Damians Cirulis in the work “Juping Fish” has stopped the moment of the fish jumping and water splashing, so that the viewer can explore the movement and the flow of water.
“Through Time” by Madara Kronberga is dedicated to the growth experienced during the era of Duke Jacob in the 16th century.
“A Time-Traveler’s Lens” by Kristena Sokolovska offers scenes of different eras as “photos taken by a time traveler”.
To use ART+, you will need to go to the app store and download (or update) the application (Google Play or Apple Store). Links are available on the website: https://artplus.app. To view the artwork, you will need a phone or a tablet with internet and GPS. ART+ will work on iPhones newer than the 6S; and Android devices with ARCore. ART+ will unfortunately not work on devices that do not have Google Services.
If you do not have a suitable device or it is impossible to go to the locations of the artworks, ART+ works are available in a web browser and can be viewed from anywhere, on any device with internet. You can go to the ART+ website and click on “Go to Map” (https://artplus.app/map/).
ART+ is created by media artists association ASTE (https://aste.gallery). All ASTE works in 2023 is supported by Liepaja municipality support for non-governmental organizations and the support of VKKF for professional non-governmental cultural organizations. ART+ works are created with the support of Liepaja City Municipality, Liepaja City Municipality institution “Culture Department”, Kurzeme Planning Region.
PAPER TREES is an augmented reality artwork created at the intersection of two artists’ fields of research – Maija Demitere studies “slow” media art and how to make our daily life sustainable, Eva-Maria Lopez is interested in biodiversity and the impact of climate change and human economy on plants. The 1st iteration of PAPER TREES was opened in 2021 and was visualizing office paper used by Liepaja University in one year. The artwork, placed in front of the University, showed 56 digital trees used-up by the employees of Liepaja University and piles of paper next to them.
The new PAPER TREES visualize the 55 kg of paper and respectively the trees used on average by one person in Germany.
PAPER TREES are a part of the City of Karlsruhe’s “Media Art is Here” festival, and can be viewed until September 17, 2023, on the market square in Karlsruhe.
The work is a result of collaboration between Maija Demitere and Eva-Maria Lopez, 3D artist Liga Velina and the ART+ team. PAPER TREES can be seen in the market square in Karsruhe (DE). To view the work using augmented reality, download the PAPER TREES app on your mobile phone or tablet.
PAPER TREES is funded by UNESCO City of Media Arts Karlsruhe 2022.
The exhibition “RETROSPECTROPIA” will be displayed at the Liepaja Museum (Kurmajas pr. 16/18, Liepaja) until 30 July 2023 every day from 9 AM until 6 PM.
Curator: Anna Priedola. Artists in the exhibition: – 8 (Andris Vētra), Andrejs Poikāns, Diana Lelis, Gustavs Lociks, Kaspars Jaudzems, Krista Dintere, Līga Vēliņa, Maija Demitere, Paula Vītola, Rihards Vītols, Santa France.
To celebrate the end of this year, ASTE, a Liepaja based collective of artists, and the creators of ART+ are offering three special augmented reality objects now available using ART+ app. The new objects are located next to the “Great Amber” concert hall, on the Vecā ostmala promenade and next to the Liepāja Latvian Society House.
AR app ART+ was created in Liepāja in 2021, and currently offers 30 artworks in different places around Liepaja. ART+ collection contains works on a wide variety of topics – conceptual, research-based works, sound artworks, data visualizations, as well as the artist’s self-expressions and reflections on world events. ART+ artworks are created for audiences of all ages, including children.
To use ART+, you will need to go to the app store and download (or update) the application (Google Play or Apple Store). Links are available on the website: https://artplus.app. To view the artwork, you will need a phone or a tablet with internet and GPS. ART+ will work on iPhones newer than the 6S; and Android devices with ARCore. ART+ will unfortunately not work on devices that do not have Google Services.
If you do not have a suitable device or it is impossible to go to the locations of the artworks, ART+ works are available in a web browser and can be viewed from anywhere, on any device with internet. You can go to the ART+ website and click on “Go to Map” (https://artplus.app/map/).
The ART+ curator will be happy to accompany groups on tours of ART+ works and talk more about the technical and artistic process of creating the app and artworks. For communication: Maija Demitere (maija.demitere@gmail.com, +371 29948430).
ART+ is created by ASTE, a Liepaja based collective of artists. All ASTE activities in 2022 are supported by Liepaja Municipality support for NGO’s and State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF) support for NGO’s. ART+ artworks are created with the support of Liepaja Municipality, Liepaja City Municipality institution “Culture Department”, Kurzeme Planning Region, State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF). ART+ objects are created as part of the EIT Community New European Bauhaus project “Growing Food In Liepaja” and is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
ART+ will not run on devices that don’t support Google services.
ART+ was created to allow digital, sound art, 3D and conceptual artists to exhibit their work publicly without gallery restrictions. ART+ features visual, conceptual, interactive, educational and also playful works for children. ART+ artists create and exhibit what they feel is relevant, so artworks in the app are diverse, and the creators of ART+ are confident that everyone will be able to find a topic that interests them.
Magical and ecological works
Since ART+ brings together artists who are also researchers from different fields, most ART+ works are based on data, concepts, reflect scientific processes and ideas. This year, a large part of works are related to ecology and food. Visually, the new ART+ works look magical, fantastic – evergreen fields, root forests, glittering himmeli, fish swimming in the air, huge, generative vines, food towers, scanned living rooms and other works.
In the “Anna’s market” square, two works can be seen that show the eating habits of Latvians – food towers and potato piles show how much and what kind of food we eat in a year. Potatoes, tomatoes, eggs, carrots and cabbages stretched into the sky and swaying in the wind, but potato piles can be used to compare how eating habits have changed – Latvians today wat almost twice less potatoes than 10 years ago.
In the Radi Vidi Pats community garden ART+ users can see “Another Way to Grow” – an aquaponics system that is designed so that the viewer can study every detail and component; also from within. Aquaponics is a plant growing method that uses fish and fish waste to grow plants in water.
In Seaside Park, near the Monument For The Fishermen And Sailors Lost At Sea, two works can be seen, each of which in its own way illustrates the problems regarding lawns. “White Clover” is an evergreen meadow placed on top the park’s lawn, reminding the viewer that clover could be a beautiful and ecological alternative to the traditional lawn. While the work “Roots” visualizes the reason why some plants, such as lawn grass, need to be watered in the summer, while others, such as clover, tolerate drought much better.
Elza Ozola’s “Digital Leftovers” is the artist’s comment on our digitally connected rooms and on the busyness of today’s human mind, the constant daily anxiety and stress, symbolized in the work by scanned messes of different people. Kaspar Levald’s “Traveler from another reality” also comments on online communication tools – how friends, acquaintances, colleagues today are faces on flat screens.
The work of Marta Gutmane can be seen at the entrance of the Liepaja Latvian Society House, which illustrates the anxiety felt by the artist and the changes in eating habits caused by the increasingly alarming climate and energy crisis.
“Rockabye” by sound artist Krista Dintere and himmeli made by Patrick Borgeat can be found in the children’s playground of Seaside Park. Both artists use the idea of repetition in the work that they created together. Right next to “Rockabye”, there is another audiovisual work of art – a huge, generative creeper that responds to piano music. Headphones are recommended when viewing both of these works.
How to view work in augmented reality?
The viewer will need a smartphone or a tablet (with GPS and internet connection). The viewer needs to go to the app store and download ART+. If you already have ART+ on your device, you need to go to the app store and update it.
A virtual object is located at a specific location shown on the map. The viewer must find this place and step onto the point, then he will be given the opportunity to press the button “View the artwork”. At this point, the object is placed on top or next to the viewer, and they can start their experience – walk around or enter the artwork, step back to see the object as a whole, or go closer to look at textures.
If something seems to have gone wrong, if the object does not look as it should, restart the app.
The ART+ curator will be happy to accompany groups on tours of ART+ works and tell more about the technical and artistic process of creating the app and artworks. For communication: Maija Demitere (maija.demitere@gmail.com, +371 29948430).
ART+ is created by ASTE, a Liepaja based collective of artists. All ASTE activities in 2022 are supported by Liepaja Municipality support for NGO’s and State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF) support for NGO’s. ART+ artworks are created with the support of Liepaja Municipality, Liepaja City Municipality institution “Culture Department”, Kurzeme Planning Region, State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF). ART+ objects are created as part of the EIT Community New European Bauhaus project “Growing Food In Liepaja” and is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
From November 21 to 26, in various places in Liepaja and online, an educational and entertaining program about art, especially new media and digital art, and technology will be available to anyone interested. The UPDATE festival brings together artists from various fields who use technologies in their works – smart technologies, machine learning, artificial intelligence, specific programs, and unique approaches. All festival activities are open and free of charge to anyone interested, regardless of age or previous education.
Educational program – masterclasses on weekday evenings and “Family Day”
As part of the UPDATE festival, 5 masterclasses will be available online and in Liepaja (MPLab, Kurmajas pr. 13, in the basement) and online (link: https://ej.uz/update22). Masterclasses will take place from Monday to Thursday every day from 17:00 to 19:00.
On Monday and Tuesday evening, two parallel two-day masterclasses are available for participants – on the interactive tool TouchDesigner and the use of machine learning in art practice.
On Wednesday and Thursday evenings, there will be a two-day masterclass on the Raspberry Pi camera – participants will learn how to use this DIY (do-it-yourself) device as a tool to create photo and video works, also learning different automation approaches, using a camera over a network, and photo and video processing techniques.
Parallel to the Raspberry Pi camera masterclass, participants can choose to join a performance by Vilnius University PhD student Jan Glockner on tea ceremony traditions and meditation, the importance of ecological art and research methods of eco and bio art. This masterclass will take place on Wednesday evening. On Thursday evening, there will be a performance by the Belgian artist Bartaku, who will be using the human body as a sound instrument.
The masterclasses by Bartaku and Jan Glockner will be interesting to those who want to expand their views of the world, who want to gain new insights into what it means to live in the existing conditions.
“Family Day” on Saturday, November 26, from 12:00 (Zivju street 10/12)
Saturday’s program includes discussions and talks about ecology, gardening and art, mini workshops for children, and there will be an opportunity to view the exhibition works on display at the same address.
12:00 – discussion and talks about the use of technology in the garden, garden automation, creation and use of aquaponics and hydroponics 13:00 – discussion and talks about incorporating permaculture principles and ideas into any garden 14:00 – 16:00 workshops for children and young people, special excursions in the exhibition of works created within the framework of the festival
Opening of the exhibition “Techno / eco / systems” on Saturday, November 26, at 18:00 (Zivju street 10/12)
The exhibition artists are exploring the relationship between a person, nature, and technology. In the exhibition visitors will see VR works, works created by artificial intelligence, installations, etc. Artists from Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Latvia participate in the exhibition: Bartaku (BE/FI), Maria Verstappen&Erwin Driessens (NL), Jan Georg Glöckner (DE/LT), Maija Demitere (LV), etc.
The exhibition will be open until December 18 (Zivju iela 10/12).
The reason why the UPDATE festival takes place in Liepaja is the active work of the employees of Liepaja University Art Research Lab (MPLab) and the association ASTE, a group of alumni of the New Media Art study program, and their aim to create an environment in which Liepaja residents, especially students, children, and youth, would have access the latest technologies and an opportunity to meet the people who work with them. For festival organizers and lecturers, technology is a work tool that provides endless creative and work opportunities, and they will be happy to share their skills and approaches with festival participants.
Additional information on the website: update.mplab.lv/. Access to all online events: https://ej.uz/update22. Get in touch: Maija Demitere (maija.demitere@gmail.com, +371 29948430). As the festival brings together international artists, the festival events are mainly held in English.
UPDATE is organized by ASTE (https://aste.gallery), a collective of media artists based in Liepaja and Liepaja University Art Research Lab (MPLab, https://mplab.lv). ASTE activities in 2022 are supported by Liepaja Municipality support for NGO’s and State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF) support for NGO’s. UPDATE is created with the support of Liepaja Municipality, Liepaja City Municipality institution “Culture Department”, Kurzeme Planning Region, State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF), Liepaja University and RIXC. UPDATE events are created as part of the EIT Community New European Bauhaus project “Growing Food in Liepaja” and is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union.
In the picture: Interactive Installation Duo “Akyute”
