On Thursday, 29 May, the public is invited to the opening of the exhibition “FLUVIUS” in the Gallery of RTU Liepāja Humanities and Arts Centre, 2nd floor. The exhibition “FLUVIUS” [Latin: river] is a continuation of the journey started by Zanda Puce and Armands Ange in 2018 along Latvia’s longest river – the Gauja. The journey was inspired by the story of Zanda’s great-grandfather, boat builder Juhans Jurs. Several expeditions have provided audiovisual material, some of which will be featured in the book “Aa fluvius. In Search of the Lost River”, which was shortlisted for the Golden Abel book competition.
The accumulated research evidence highlights the material and immaterial traditions of the Gauja valley and its surroundings included in the Latvian cultural canon, as well as the possibilities of preserving, archiving and transmitting memories. Since 1933, when the School Museum organised the first “Gauja Exhibition”, the rural landscape has changed. Discovering the imprints of different eras and the diversity of the cultural landscape ensures the continuation of these values.
In the exhibition, the relationship between man and nature is explored through the aspect of movement and the symbolic representation of water, which helps to create a reflection of the individual experience. The stories of the people encountered by the Gauja River have become an important part of the artists’ experience. They have met the aunt of Zaķi, who greets the sunrise and sunset on her hill in Kurmos, the people from the parish of the Orthodox Church of Ežu (Māli) who take care of the nearby church, Dmitrijs, who lives at the Nēķena watermill in Taurene, and many others.
Based on the observations made, the connection with nature, established by personal and external factors, is explored. The answers given by nature to inner questions – loneliness, sadness, self-seeking, finding and accepting oneself, as well as discovering oneself both as an artist and as a human being – are revealed.
This exhibition is a continuation of our shared memories. The underwater world created in the New Castle of Sigulda allowed us to get to know the Gauja River surrounded by the city, its banks and the people who live in the area, to revisit what we have collected. The exhibition allows us to dive back into what was seen and deeply felt during the journey.
The exhibition will be open until 30 June on weekdays from 8.00 to 19.00, on Saturdays from 8.00 to 16.00 in the Gallery of RTU Liepāja Humanities and Arts Centre, 2nd floor. On 23 and 24 June the exhibition will be closed to the public.
Organised by: association “ASTE. Art, Science, Technology, Education”, supported by RTU Liepāja, Liepāja Culture Board and State Culture Capital Foundation.