Features of “Anatomy of integration”. Riga Sculpture Quadrennial 2012

Abstract

The article concerns with art projects presented at Riga Sculpture Quadrennial in 2012, and some aspects related to the previous similar exhibitions. Quadrennial was held for the first time in 1972, and it was a progressive step, for the Soviet sculpture followed the global trend. The exhibited works at Sculpture Quadrennial have mostly been figurative, although at the beginning of the 1990s there were more radical trends in shape, true realization of which occurred only after gaining independence by Latvia. In 2004 Quadrennial was held under the motto “European space”, and its main idea was to provide a space for three-dimensional objects to exist. This idea was presented at various levels, including the geopolitical one. Next Quadrennial, held in 2008, was generally regarded as unsuccessful because of its political bias. Finally, 2012 Quadrennial finally turned into an arena for marginalized artists who exploit the topics that have lost relevance.

Keywords:

Riga Quadrennial, contemporary sculpture, Soviet sculpture, Latvian sculptures, art of the Baltic States, public art