Latvian photography in Frankfurt

From 17 October until 10 November the exhibition A Sense of Place. Contemporary Latvian Photography will be held at AusstellungsHalle 1A in Frankfurt, Germany. The exhibition is part of the European cultural days 2013 – Latvia organized by European Central Bank in cooperation with Latvijas Banka.

Three contemporary Latvian photographers Arnis Balčus, Reinis Hofmanis and Alnis Stakle are looking for the signs in Latvian landscape characterizing their home. The landscape consists of natural and cultural elements and their mutual interaction. Interaction with these elements can evoke a special sense of place, which the photographers have tried to reveal in their works.

Alnis Stakle in series Not Even Something is photographing unmapped paths and roads at nighttime in Daugavpils, the second largest city in Latvia; Arnis Balčus in Latvian Notes examines the collective rituals and commonplace in provincial towns and suburbs; Reinis Hofmanis in series Sale and Private is interested in the system of signs in landscape. At the same time, the photographers reflect on the complex political and economic situation in Latvia today. A few years ago Latvia suffered a deep financial crisis, but now again it is considered a country with the most rapid economic growth in the EU. Landscape is like a language in a constant conflict between the official representation offered to tourists and the actual everyday reality, often unaffected by globalization. The photographers show us the landscape components underlying the narrative of the space inhabited by them and society, the history of the space, as well as the Latvian perception of themselves in the global context.

A 96-page catalogue has been published by the contemporary culture centre KultKom for the purpose of the exhibition. The exhibition is supported by Council of Riga, Freeport of Riga, Live Riga, Arctic Paper and ArtGlass.