From 27 April to 28 July 2024, the exhibition In the Name of Desire is on view in the Great Hall of the main building of the Latvian National Museum of Art in Riga (Jaņa Rozentāla laukums 1), uncovering the diversity of themes of sexuality and sensuality in the history and present of Baltic visual art.
“(..) my tongue is broken. A delicate fire
runs under my skin, my eyes
see nothing, my ears roar (..).”
(SAPPHO. Translated from the ancient Greek by Diane J. Rayor.
Sappho: A New Translation of the Complete Works (2014))
The exhibition sheds light on authors in Latvian 20th century art history who have bravely taken up the investigation of sexuality and the phenomenon of desire. Furthermore, contemporary artists participate in this project with existing or specially created works, interpreting this socially still awkward subject in the media of painting, graphic art, photography, sculpture, installation, and video art.
The exhibition critically revisits the objectification of women’s bodies in visual art, shifting the focus to the representation of the female experience and a feminist approach. For the first time in Latvia, Baltic queer art is surveyed at such breadth, demonstrating inclusive thinking and openness towards questions of self-identity regarding awareness of one’s sexuality.
“The exhibition will celebrate sexual diversity at a time when authoritarian regimes right next to us as well as in other parts of the world violently oppress and persecute people who identify and desire differently. Continuing the institutional critique began in the exhibition Don’t Cry!, curated by Elita Ansone, In the Name of Desire will for the first time in the history of the Latvian National Museum of Art present a representative selection of Latvian LGBT+ art. With the help of this project we want to encourage discussion about taboo yet existentially important subjects and to promote the acceptance of diversity among Latvian society. Since where there is no space for diversity, there is no space for freedom,” stresses one of the curators of the exhibition, philosopher Igor Gubenko.
From the collection of the LNMA the exhibition presents works by Vilnis Zābers, Rolands Kaņeps, Viktorija Pelše, Rasma Bruzīte, Arta Dumpe, Katrīna Neiburga, Biruta Baumane, Felicita Pauļuka, Hilda Vīka, Daiga Grantiņa, Amanda Ziemele, Sigismunds Vidbergs, Romualds Getaitis, Laimonis Blumbergs, Rūdolfs Alders, Ēvī Upeniece, Ella Leimane, Tālivaldis Gaumigs, Igor Vasiliev, Gaida Grundberga, Boriss Bērziņš, Monika Bauere, Lê Công Thành, Arnis Balčus, Iosif Elgurt, Rūsiņš Rozīte, Kārlis Zemdega, Konstantīns Rončevskis, Voldemārs Trejs, Burkards Dzenis, Guntars Zvaigzne, Gustavs Šķilters, Daina Riņķe, Kristians Brekte and other artists. The exposition also includes works from other institutions and private collections such as the achievements of Dace Džeriņa, Ingrīda Pičukāne, Vika Eksta, Inga Meldere, Rasa Jansone, Aleksandrs Apsītis, Ādolfs Zārdiņš, Vladimir Glushenkov, Gunārs Vīndedzis, Anna-Stina Treumund, Ivars Grāvlejs, Visvaldis Ziediņš, Andris Grinbergs, Anna Dzērve, Baiba Vegere, Rūta Kreica, Brenda Jansone, Kārlis Vītols, Mark Raidpere, Veronika (Vėra) Šleivytė, Diānas Tamanes, Jaanus Samma, Krista Zute, Mare Tralla, Adomas Danusevičius, Aija Pole, Andris Kaļiņins, Sabīne Vernere, Frančeska Kirke, Janina Sabaliauskaitė. New works specially for the exhibition have been made by artists Anna Malicka, Skuja Braden, Konstantin Zhukov, Mētra Saberova, Aksels Bruks, Annemarija Gulbe, Krišjānis Elviks and Anna Ansone, Ksenija Tarasova, Atis Jākobsons, Rasa Jansone.
Please note that exhibition artworks include motifs of erotic and sexual nature. Adults visiting the exhibition together with children take full responsibility for the possible impact of the exhibition content on children. We do not recommend the exhibition to museum visitors who are younger than 18. Museum visitors under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult to enter.
Exhibition curators:
Līna Birzaka-Priekule (until September 2023)
Laura Brokāne, Exhibition Curator / Latvian National Museum of Art
Ph: +371 67716115, E: Laura.Brokane@lnmm.lv
Igor Gubenko, philosopher, publicist, researcher, assistant professor at the Faculty of History and Philosophy of the University of Latvia, editor of the Satori Internet magazine
Exhibition design:
Hanele Zane Putniņa, Anna Ceipe
Graphic design:
Eltons Kūns / Latvian National Museum of Art
Construction:
Form Art Lab
Curator of education programme:
Lilita Pudule / Latvian National Museum of Art
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The main building of the Latvian National Museum of Art / Jaņa Rozentāla laukums 1, Riga, Latvia
OPENING HOURS:
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 10.00–18.00, ticket office 10.00–17.30
Fridays 10.00–20.00, ticket office 10.00–19.30
Saturdays, Sundays 10.00–17.00, ticket office 10.00–16.30
Closed on Mondays
The museum is closed on all public holidays: 1 January, Good Friday, Easter, Midsummer Eve and Day (23–24 June), Christmas (25–26 December), 31 December.
ADMISSION:
Reduced individual admission fee for groups of 10 or more people.
Free admission for the person in charge of the group.
Adults: 5,00 EUR
Schoolchildren, students, seniors: 3,00 EUR
Family ticket (1–2 adults with 1–4 children or family having many children): 5,00–7,00 EUR
Free admission for LNMA Annual ticket holders.
Free entry is also for: pre-school children; orphans or children not under parental care (valid status identification card required); children with a disability up to 18 years, 1st and 2nd group disabled persons (valid status identification card required) and one person accompanying either a child with a disability up to 18 years or a 1st or 2nd group disabled person; pupils of Latvian art schools or professional secondary art schools (valid status identification card required); full-time students of the Art Academy of Latvia (valid status identification card required); students attending institutions of professional secondary education or colleges who are studying or receiving training in visual or applied art, design, cultural history, museology, architecture, restoration as part of their studies or training (on submission of a written application to the museum director at least one day earlier); employees of Latvian museums (valid status identification card required); members of the International Council of Museums (ICOM, valid status membership card required); members of the Latvian Artists’ Union (valid status identification card required); Friend of the LNMA card holders; media representatives who are covering museum events (valid status identification card required); group (no less than 10 persons) leaders – guides or teachers; Ukrainian citizens by presenting an identity document or other document proving Ukrainian citizenship; everyone on the international event Museum Night from 19.00; all visitors to the permanent display on the last Sunday of every month and on International Museum Day – 18th May.
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Press release prepared by:
Natalie Suyunshalieva
Head of Press
The Latvian National Museum of Art
Ph: +371 67357527
GSM: +371 26593495
E: pr.service@lnmm.lv
I: www.lnmm.lv
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