Exhibition THIRST, 14. – 31.12.2024.
by Annemarija Gulbe, Anna Ansone & Krišjānis Elviks
“THIRST” is an intervention, installation and performance created by Annemarija Gulbe, Anna Ansone and Krišjānis Elviks, which premiered on 26 April 2024 as part of the public programme of the exhibition “In The Name of Desire” at the Latvian National Museum of Art. Also exhibited and performed in September 2024 at Organ Vida Festival in Museum of Contemporary art Zagreb, Croatia. In Studija Space is showed main body of work: installation and video, where documentation of previous acted performance repeats in loop endlessly, absurdity of photo shooting and posing continues until the end of the gallery working hours.
In a playful and self-ironic way, the both the photography in installation and intervention explores the relationship between the body and the digital image in the time of social media. The performance is accompanied by a point-and-shoot camera flash, with the photographic process itself becoming part of the performance. By using their bodies, costumes and objects performers create picturesque site-specific scenes - where posing for camera becomes a form of live sculpting. Like tourists on the coast, they move around to find a place for chilling in the sun. They are awkward, self-centered and they are minding their own business. The performers turn on the pop music on their loudspeaker to keep up with them, meanwhile ignoring the contexts of others being there in the same space at the same time.
Krišjānis Elviks is a scenographer and interdisciplinary artist hailing from Riga, Latvia. With a diverse range of talents encompassing scenography, video, installation, performance, and text, Elviks masterfully blends these media to create immersive and thought-provoking experiences. At the core of his artistic practice lies the concept of “thinking in space,” an approach that has led him to produce remarkable audio-visual exhibitions and performances.
Elviks draws inspiration from the intricate tapestry of urban infrastructures and the ever-evolving social environment that surrounds him. He harnesses the power of audio-visual language to communicate socio-politically significant themes. The artist utilizes his work as a
medium for intervention, challenging the status quo and offering alternative perspectives that resonate with the viewer’s consciousness.
Central to Elviks’ artistic expression is his ability to construct micro-utopic realms within the everyday fabric of existence. He skillfully weaves togeth- er narratives and visual elements that invite audiences to contemplate the complexities of human relationships, the environment, and the interplay between the two. Elviks engages viewers in critical discourse, urging them to question established norms and consider the potential for positive transformation.
Through his interdisciplinary approach, Elviks bridges the gap between art and society, using his artistic prowess to shed light on socio-political issues that demand attention and action. His installations, performances, and other creative endeavors serve as catalysts for dialogue and social change, igniting conversations around inclusivity, empathy, and the pursuit of a more equitable world.
Annemarija Gulbe (1997, Latvia) works with photography, video and installation. She graduated from the Department of Visual Communication at the Art Academy of Latvia (MA) and studied photography at the ISSP School in Rīga (LV). Her most recent solo shows include: Faith to Believe – or Not at Kim? Contemporary art center (Riga, 2024), Under Stone Vaults in Domed Structures (Kuldīga Artists Residence, Alsunga, 2023); Love Re-search at the ISSP Gallery (Riga, 2020) and Organ Vida (Zagreb, 2019). Her curatorial practice expands in Latvian rural areas & historical environments, she curated the group show Decentrality Dispersed in One Place at the Padure Manor (LV,2023)
She is one of the winners of the Kim? Open Call (2023), a finalist of the BDO Young Artists Awards (2023) and received the Grand Prix at the contemporary art biennial Jeune creation Européene in Paris (2019) and the FK Prize (LV, 2018)
Anna Ansone is an interdisciplinary artist and stylist from Riga, Latvia. After graduating from the scenography department at the Art Academy of Latvia, her artistic practice has expanded to include costume and set design, as well as performance and installation. Her work delves into how social factors—such as group dynamics, cultural norms, and social roles—shape individual behavior. Anna purposefully explores stories, fairy tales, metaphors, dreams, and science to understand the void and fulfillment within individuals.
In her work, the protagonist's psyche undergoes various transformative states, moving through realms of sanity, mind-bending experiences, and horror. She examines the inner process of transformation as a response to abstract feelings of "longing" and "need," while questioning the alchemical relationship between the human body and consciousness, and how these elements take turns leading one's being. The protagonist in her works achieves temporary fulfillment by integrating mentally and physically within the staged world. Anna is particularly passionate about reusing and upcycling industrially produced garments and accessories, finding inspiration in discovering new and innovative techniques to reimagine and transform them. Her work integrates the materiality of installations, set design, and clothing through eclectic methods, seamlessly blending these mediums together.
