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| The Purvītis Award in Visual Arts Līga Marcinkeviča, Editor in Chief of magazine 'Studija' The "Purvītis Award" nominees' exhibition 06.02.-29.03.2009. Latvian National Museum of Art, Exhibition Hall Arsenāls | |
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| The ceremony of the Purvītis Award for outstanding achievement in visual arts will be held in the White Hall of the Latvian National Museum of Art on February 11. The nominees for the Award are: Gints Gabrāns, Helēna Henrihsone, Ieva Iltnere, Katrīna Neiburga, Andris Eglītis, Ēriks Božis, Miks Mitrēvics, Sarmīte Māliņa, and Kristaps Kalns. Latvian artists had long given up the hope of being professionally evaluated. Art critics were "lost in reveries" and failed to give analytical reviews, occasionally offering merely detailed descriptions of works of art. Last February the Purvītis Award was created on the initiative of the Latvian National Museum of Art. The newly established award will be given to one artist or one group of artists every two years. The patron of the museum is SIA Alfor (LLC Alfor) which has signed a Protocol of Intent with a commitment to sponsor the Award for next ten years. The Award has been named after Vilhelms Purvītis, a renowned Old Master of Latvian painting, who was an outstanding artist and art professor of his time, recognized not only in Latvia, but also internationally. The nominees are chosen and evaluated in two stages. In the first stage seven experts have to name no more than eight artists or groups of artists which have represented Latvian art with an outstanding work of art in Latvia and in the world from 2007 to 2009. The following art experts were invited to make this selection: Elita Ansone, Solvita Krese, Ieva Astahovska, Kristīne Briede, Artis Svece, Alise Tīfentāle, and Edgars Vērpe. As the next step, the work of the nominees is judged by a special jury of nine members, including two internationally recognised experts. The judges for the first Purvītis Award were: Helēna Demakova, former Minister of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, Māra Lāce, Director of the Latvian National Museum of Art, Jānis Zuzāns, President of the Executive Board, SIA Alfor, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Art Critic and Curator, Director of International Projects at Serpentine Gallery (London, UK), Leonid Bazhanov (Леонид Бажанов), Artistic Director of the National Centre for Contemporary Arts (Moscow, Russia), Laima Slava, Art Historian, Eduards Kļaviņš, Dr. habil. art., Art Historian, Professor at the Art Academy of Latvia, Aleksejs Naumovs, Painter, Rector of Art Academy of Latvia, and Andis Sīlis, Architect. The establishment of this Award raises hopes that a new tradition will take root in Latvian cultural life - to support artists who have shown creative individuality and talent, and whose ideas have played a significant role in the development of Latvian art. The awarded prize is 20 000 Lats, including taxes. Yet, it is not the amount of cash that will determine the fate of the Award. It will be the professionalism of experts when evaluating art events and selecting the nominees, as well as their ability to validate their choices that will determine if the Purvītis Award can become a prestigious and important event of Latvian culture. The works of the nominees are on display at the Exhibition Hall "Arsenāls" of the Latvian National Museum of Art from February 6 to March 29. This material has been prepared to make the exposition more appealing for the viewer. We have asked several professionals to give their evaluation of these works of art. You have the opportunity to decide whether you agree with these experts and the jury. /Translator into English: Laura Zandersone/ | |
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