New acquisitions of National Art Museum

Based on the Cabinet of Ministers order no. 339, the Latvian National Museum of Art received funding of 550,000 euros from the state budget program with the aim to reduce the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the cultural sector, support currently active artists affected by the crisis and at the same time supplement the museum's collection with at least 110 artistically high-quality contemporary visual works created by Latvian artists during the last 30 years. ”As part of the acquisition program, the museum's collection has been supplemented with approximately 300 works of art created by more than 100 authors and authors' associations. In order to ensure the highest quality and transparent selection process of art pieces, LNMM established a dedicated expert commission, comprising of five museum specialists and five invited experts.

From the art museum:
Māra Lāce, Director of LNMM, Member of the Visual Arts Council of the Ministry of Culture;
Dr. art. Elita Ansone, Head of the Collection and Research Department “Arsenals” of the LNMM, Chairwoman of the State Cultural Endowment's Visual Arts Expert Commission;
Daina Auziņa, LNMM Latvian Visual Arts Department collection manager;
Līna Birzaka-Priekule, LNMM exhibition curator, head of the Purvītis' Prize expert working group, member of the Visual Arts Council of the Ministry of Culture;
Iveta Derkusova, LNMM Deputy Director for Collection, Chairman of the LNMM Collection Commission.

Invited experts:
Māris Čačka, Head of Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Center, Member of the Visual Arts Council of the Ministry of Culture;
Santa Hirsch, art critic, member of the Visual Arts Council of the Ministry of Culture;
Solvita Krese, Director of the Association “Latvian Center for Contemporary Art”, Chairwoman of the Visual Arts Council of the Ministry of Culture;
Zane Onckule, Kim? program director, member of the Visual Arts Council of the Ministry of Culture;
Vilnis Vējš, art critic, member of the Visual Arts Council of the Ministry of Culture.Between 23 July and 30 October 2020, meetings of the expert commission took place, during which they selected the works of art in three stages, assessing the reflection of the art scene in the museum's collections and in keeping with with the developed regulations. In the first stage, an extended list was created, with experts naming authors whose work should be evaluated in the context of the acquisition  program. In the second stage, after evaluating the publicly available and expert information on the creative work of all the authors of the  initial list, a list of authors was approved.

In the third phase, examining the portfolios of about 80 authors in digital format and meeting with more than 20 artists in person in their workshops, the experts approved the list of works of art to be acquired. The process is expected to be finalised in full by December 15, 2020. The collection of the museum was supplemented with works by currently active artists of all generations, representing a wide range of visual arts - painting, sculpture and objects, photography, video, as well as mixed media installations, interdisciplinary projects and design works.

Latvian National Museum of Art is the largest depository of professional art in Latvia and takes an important place in collecting, preserving and popularizing the cultural values in Latvia and foreign countries. It regularly organizes art exhibitions, educational activities and cultural events. The objective of the activities of the Museum is educating society and stimulating its interest in the historical and artistic manifestations of Latvian and global visual art, decorative art and design, placing an emphasis on the national school of art and its place within the context of world cultural history and contemporary processes. The average purchase amount from one author was about 5,000 euros.

Works were acquired from Ēriks Apaļais, Jānis Avotiņš, Arnis Balčus, Arturs Bērziņš, Aija Bley, Magone Boleiko. Ēriks Božis, Andris Breže, Aksels Bruks / Golf Clayderman, Inga Brūvere, Valdis Celms, Sigita Daugule, Evelīna Deičmane-Vida, Biruta Delle, Kristiāna Dimitere, Ingrīda Drāzniece. Ivars Drulle, Krista Dzudzilo, Reinis Dzudzilo, Andris Eglītis, Vika Eksta, Ieva Epnere, Kristaps Epners, Miķelis Fišers, Santa France, Gints Gabrāns, Daiga Grantiņa, Andrejs Grants, Ivars Grāvlejs, Margrieta Griestiņa / Golf Clayderman, Kaspars Groševs, Edvards Grūbe, Indriķis Ģelzis, Kristaps Ģelzis, Helēna Heinrihsone, Ivars Heinrihsons, Ieva Iltnere, Ritums Ivanovs, Rasa Jansone, Atis Jākobsons, Voldemārs Johansons, Gvido Kajons, Andrejs Kalnačs, Frančeska Kirke, Valts Kleins, Romans Korovins, Ģirts Korps, Ieva Kraule-Kūna, Kate Krolle, Ella Krugļanska (Kruglyanskaya), Daiga Krūze, Kristīne Kursiša, Maija Kurševa, Leonards Laganovskis, Anda Lāce, Verners Lazdāns, Paulis Liepa, Pēteris Līdaka, Liene Mackus, Līga Marcinkēviča, Mārīte Mastiņa-Pēterkopa / MAREUNROL’S, Sarmīte Māliņa, Inga Meldere, Darja Meļņikova, Miks Mitrēvics, Ģirts Muižnieks, Katrīna Neiburga, Armīns Ozoliņš, Gļebs Panteļejevs, Rolands Pēterkops / MAREUNROL’S, Ojārs Pētersons, Henrijs Preiss, Andrejs Prigičevs, Laura Prikule (with Eva Vēvere), Dainis Pundurs, Artūrs Punte / “Orbīta”, Līga Purmale, Juris Putrāms, Zaiga Putrāma, Mārtiņš Ratniks, Ieva Rubeze, Inta Ruka, Ronalds Rusmanis, Mētra Saberova, Krišs Salmanis, Elza Sīle, Līga Spunde, Andrejs Strokins, Vladimirs Svetlovs / “Orbīta”, Rasa Šmite, Raitis Šmits, Maija Tabaka, Diāna Tamane, Oļegs Tillbergs, Sergejs Timofejevs / “Orbīta”, Viktors Timofejevs, Māris Upzars, Evita Vasiļjeva, Oļa Vasiļjeva, Eva Vēvere (with Laura Prikule), Valdis Villerušs, Artūrs Virtmanis, Anita Zabiļevska, Aleksandrs Zapoļs / “Orbīta”, Amanda Ziemele, Otto Zitmanis.

Source: LSM, more info: LNMM