Art project – Story of a Painting
In collaboration with the Latvian National Museum of Art (LNMA) Ellex Klavins has completed the project – Story of a Painting.
The idea for this project and the related charity campaign was born during the process of preparation for the 25th anniversary of Ellex Klavins.
The anniversary celebration was to be held at a significant Riga venue – the Latvian National Museum of Art – and we wanted to mark the event not only with the festivities themselves, but also by presenting a gift to the Museum and all admirers of art in Latvia. We donated, and invited our guests attending the anniversary event to make donations, for the project.
Story of a Painting is an educational project about the masterpieces of art housed in the permanent collection of the Museum “Latvian Art 1985–2000”. These pieces were created in the 1980s and 1990s, a period marked by great changes in the culture of Latvia. In these times, concerns about politics, environment and social life frequently became a source of inspiration for artists. Through interviews with the artists, the expression and immediacy of this backdrop to their masterpieces comes to life.
Within the scope of the project, 10 videos were filmed forming a miniseries. Subtitles in English, Russian and Latvian are also available in the YouTube channel of Ellex Klavins (please click on Settings to select the language). In each video one artist – a representative of contemporary art of Latvia – speaks about the history behind one of that artist’s works, the time of its creation, the themes and images:
Ieva Iltnere “Krievu valoda“ (1994)
Andris Breže “Politkaste I” (1990), “Politkaste II” (1990), “Citātu kaste” (1990)
Daina Dagnija “Kritušais. I” (1987)
Sandra Krastiņa “Vai vējš?” (1999)
Helēna Heinrihsone “Sieviete–Kristus” (1989)
Ģirts Muižnieks “Dārzā” (1989)
Dzintars Zilgalvis “Pēdējais balkons. Veltījums Mākslinieku savienības Gleznotāju sekcijai” (1990)
Māris Subačs “Ainava ar salāpītām bungām” (1989)
The presentation event for this project took place at the Museum on November 7, 2017. Among the participants were Māra Lāce, Director of the Latvian National Museum of Art, Anna Balandina, Head of the Communication Department of LNMA, Filips Kļaviņš and Raimonds Slaidiņš, co-founders of Ellex Klavins, along with the first participant in the project – artist Ieva Iltnere.
A memo of understanding was signed whereby the funds for implementation of the project were given over to the disposal of the Museum (signed by Filips Kļaviņš, Raimonds Slaidiņš, and Māra Lāce).
These series continue the educational project of LNMA “The Story of a Painting” that was launched in the fall of 2016, during which museum visitors had an opportunity to learn interesting facts about the most prominent masterpieces displayed at an exhibition dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Latvian artist Jānis Rozentāls.
The video miniseries are available for viewing on the mobile app of LNMA, YouTube channels of LNMM and Ellex Klavins and the online journal Satori.
Ellex Klavins is sincerely grateful to all who joined us with their donations!
To find out more about the second stage of the project, please click here.
