Change has seemed rapid and revolutionary in the three Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Perhaps it is not too soon to consider the implications of such transformation – what has been altered and what remains the same – being rooted in traditions that are centuries old and transcending the rise and fall of governments.

Refleksija means "reflection" in Latvian and Lithuanian. As the title suggests, the artists in this exhibition reflect on the changing conditions in their societies. Separated by languages and cultures but bound together by geography and historical events, the contemporary artists in this exhibition from the Baltic republics convey the shifting contexts of their lives.

Six of the artists have created new works while in residence at the Banff Centre for the Arts. Their art examines culture and its social context, however, each artist sees very different forces – tradition and history, the environment, political change, common human experience – influencing their work. They use a variety of mediums that includes painting, silkscreen, sculpture, photography, performance, ceramics and installation to manifest their visions and critiques. In different ways, they express skepticism, humour and imagination.

Presented here is a range of practices developed in countries where communication with the west has been restricted. Since the independence of the Baltic republics from what was the Soviet Union, over the past few years the exchange of ideas with artists from these countries has stimulated discussion, awareness and debate on all aspects of cultural practice. This selection brings forward some of the issues that artists have grappled with.

Daina Augaitis
Exhibition Curator
1992

COMPLETE LIST OF WORKS IN THE EXHIBITION

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THE EXHIBITION | ARTISTS | ESSAYS | SITEMAP | CREDITS | REFERENCE