“Natures of Silence” Latvian Designers’ Art Works Opening at the “Great Amber” Concert Hall

On Thursday, 23 March at 17.00, a new exhibition of Latvian designers’ art “Natures of Silence” will be unveiled at the “Civita Nova” art space of the “Great Amber” Liepāja Concert Hall, reflecting each artist’s own interpretation of the meaning of silence and its pursuit in a noise-ridden space.

Organised by the Latvian Designers’ Society in collaboration with the concert hall “Great Amber”, this exhibition forms an amorphous and fluid selection of curated works by designers seeking silence in a noisy or sonically charged space. More than 22 designers drawn from across generations and disciplines have defined their relationship with silence in this project, manifesting it in terms of both the tangibility and the ideological disarmament of the works featured in the exhibition.

The natures of silence have many facets, describable as contrasting perceptions. Emptiness versus abundance. Depth versus flatness. Beginning versus end. Peace versus fear. The natures of silence resonate through us all in a different way – for some it is pure serenity and rest, even in unrest, while for others it is a fraught moment before an unknown turbulence. Conceptual answers to these moments are found in design - each artist has their own silence story.

“The idea was born out of thinking about the reverberations of silence in our lives, particularly given the events of the last few years globally and in our immediate vicinity. Silence and resting peace tend to go hand in hand. Yet, at the same time, the best way to demonstrate silence is to look at its opposite: sound and (un)rest. And this is what you can find right now in Liepāja. “Great Amber” is a place that creates the sound of music, but also emotions, rippling in nature, carrying us from rest to unrest, from silence to life,” explains Baiba Freiberga, Deputy Board Chair of the Latvian Designers’ Society, of the sources of inspiration for the exhibition.

The venue was chosen with a particular intention in mind. It is a space where sound plays the most important role. Within the context of the exhibition, it challenges the subjugation of contrasts and, through design elements, the creation of relative points of silence or meditative halts – the opportunity to detach from the immediate world and hear silence in communication with design.

Directed by artist Anna Heinrihsone, curated by Auguste Petre, and managed by Barbara Freiberga, the exhibition features works created by the designers: Valdis Celms, Kaspars Endols, Arvīds Endziņš Jr, Arvīds Endziņš Sr, Barbara Freiberga and Gustavs Muzikants, Marta Ģibiete, Anna Hensberga-Varnase, Vīva Ieviņa, Līga Kausiniece, Valters Kiršteins, Linda Lazdiņa, Inese Līne, Miks Pētersons, Sinta Sprudzāne, Jānis Straupe, Iveta Šmita and Kaspars Šmits, Diāna Vernera, Ingrīda Žagata, Lāsma Liepiņa, as well as ART+.

Latvian Designers’ Society (LDS) is a professional and creative design industry organisation, which has been bringing together representatives of the different design disciplines since 1987. LDS aims to promote the development of design, to identify and sustain its values, to promote cooperation between all Latvian designers, to identify and protect their interests and rights, and to educate and inform the public about the design industry.

The exhibition is organised by the Latvian Designers’ Society in collaboration with the “Lielais Dzintars Ltd, “AXOR”, “AkzoNobel”, Liepāja Municipality, “Attēls R”, “Fontaine Hotel Valhalla”, “Braueri Būve” and “Urberg” Printing Agency.

Public is welcome to visit the exhibition free of charge during the opening hours of the concert hall until 4 June 2023. Opening hours: Monday-Friday: 11.00-17.00, Saturday, Sunday: 10.00-15.00. For more information, please visit www.lielaisdzintars.lv/en

Please contact the Information Centre of the Concert Hall for details. Phone: +37163424555, e-mail: info@lielaisdzintars.lv

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