The Mūks Museum
From 6 December 2025 to 31 January 2026, the Roberts Mūks Museum in Galēni, Latvia, will host an exhibition of paintings by Ritums Ivanovs entitled 'Encounters'. The exhibition features Ivanovs' paintings of Latvian philosopher and poet Roberts Mūks (also known as Roberts Avens) (1923–2006), as well as a selection of works from his extensive body of paintings featuring world philosophers and self-portraits. The artist has always been drawn to creative and wise individuals whose charisma and innovative, bold ideas have inspired and convinced countless seekers of 'truth' throughout history.
Ritums considers artists, philosophers, musicians, religious leaders and scientists to be of such importance that he is passionate about studying their contributions to the genesis of world culture and the development of his own creative practice. This culminates in a series of portraits of these geniuses, expressing his personal gratitude and respect for their contributions to the lives of intelligent and clear-thinking individuals. Ritums' "encounters" with the portrayed personalities, several of whom have passed away, took place through reading their works, watching documentary interviews and conducting scientific and analytical research on the respective individuals. He then subjectively evaluated the most characteristic features of the chosen image and created his portraits using painting, drawing and small sculptures.
Given that the artist's grandparents are from Balvi, his deep interest in the Latgale region and its creative figures is understandable. Examples include Roberts Mūks, who specialised in philosophy, poetry and the study of world religions, and Mark Rothko, a cornerstone of abstract expressionism whose work is an essential part of any book on Western art history today.
In the context of the exhibition, Mūks' monumental contribution to creative thinking and religious analysis has made him the central theme, while the other participants in the encounter are portrayed as follows: Alan Watts (1915–1973), a British-born American philosopher who interpreted Eastern philosophical ideas in the context of Western culture; Ram Dass (1931–2019), an American spiritual teacher, modern guru, psychologist, and writer; Carl Jung (1875–1961), a Swiss psychiatrist and philosopher who founded the school of analytical psychology; and the Dalai Lama (born 1935), the highest spiritual teacher of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism.
As a witness to these encounters with such notable figures, the author has also included his self-portraits and images of individuals close to him in the exhibition, including his partner Kaisa and the Latvian singer-songwriter, poet, writer and painter Valdis Atāls. This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to bring together portraits of individuals important to the author in a unified hymn about the turbulent and uncertain fate of today's world. A positive solution to this could be found in the aforementioned Encounter at the Mūks Museum in Galenieki.
Curated by Associate Professor of Department of Art History&Theory, Latvian Academy of Art, M.A. Raimonds Kalējs
Location of the Roberts Mūks Museum: Skolas iela 11c, Galēni, Galēnu parish, Preiļu district, Latvia
Museum director: Gita Palma: +371 25925621, gita.palma@preili.lv
Photos: Didzis Grodzs
