Latvian Minister for Culture opens Latvian contemporary art exhibition at the European Parliament
On Monday 19 January at 12.30, the Minister for Culture of the Republic of Latvia Dace Melbārde will open a Latvian contemporary art exhibition at the European Parliament building in Brussels to celebrate the commencement of the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The art exhibition features the works of such internationally recognized Latvian artists as Līga Purmale, Aleksejs Naumovs, Vineta Kaulaā a, Otto Zitmanis and Kristaps Ģelzis.
Līga Purmale, known by her Latvian spirit and particular conception of landscape painting, can be considered as one of the founders of Photo Realism in Latvian painting. Landscape painter Aleksejs Naumovs is also the rector and professor at the Art Academy of Latvia and his works are included in many galleries and private collections in Latvia, Germany, France and England. In these countries and far behind their borders also the works of Vineta Kaulaā a are highly appreciated.
Otto Zitmanis is widely known by his playful and self-ironic male - female relationships’ reflections in art. Finaly, Kristaps Ģelzis has been faithful to Conceptual art, with particular regard to the development of new technologies and their possible use for implementation of his ideas.
The artworks of this exhibition are part of the European Parliament’s Art Collection that reflects Parliament’s patronage of the cultural richness and diversity within the EU. The Collection was initiated by the President Simone Veil i in early 80’s and it consists of over 500 paintings, sculptures and other artworks from all EU Member States and beyond.
In 2011, the European Parliament started the tradition to mark each Presidency of the Council of the EU with the rotating art exhibitions in the Altiero Spinelli i building of the European Parliament in Brussels.