Adorno presents the Latvian collection within the Virtual Design Destination, an interactive online exhibition featuring an oceanscape at sunset curated by Dita Danosa. Register to attend the virtual tour

The theme for this year's first Virtual Design Destination by Adorno is “The New Reality”. Preparations were initiated during the surge of COVID-19 in Europe. The curators of the fourteen participating countries have been asked to reflect on specific experiences, thoughts, and themes from the time of lockdown in the curation and art direction of each of their country collections. They have been working with leading designers from their design scene to develop sub-narratives to the overarching theme.

LATVIA: NEAR AND FAR - BE DAZZLED!

Curated by Dita Danosa

Time, what we are experiencing now, is a recognition of reality, rather than a new reality. Reality has always existed, but in our clouds of imagination we had conjured up another, more advantageous version of what we wish to be a reality. So, we have fallen from the clouds of our imaginary reality and we feel differently: some - shattered by the fall, confused, others - relieved. Seeing reality is an adventure and an experience at the same time. It is an emotional act that creates lasting imprints on our fragile psyche and has hopefully influenced the renewal of our value system, as almost all of us have rediscovered humans’ connection to nature and the importance of physical contact in this technology-ridden super-fast reality. 

The source of inspiration for the collection is the sea. The sea is a solid part of the DNA code of Latvia. The role of the sea in our lives is invaluable. The sea evokes a sense of hope and a sense of future, an unpredictability, a passion, a wealth, and a power. The sea has inspired our art for centuries, and it continues to inspire us today. It affects how we live, what we think, feel, and create. 

The collection manifests the synergy between man-made design and nature.  It unites outstanding Latvian designers of various disciplines and generations, united by the passion to discover new dimensions of material, as a result of endless experiments. All six designers represented in the collection offer a synthesis of original objects, visual effects and lights. 

Artis Nimanis with his glass objects opens the door to a journey through the world of magical glass.  Sabine Mezkaze Berzina, by working with blown glass in an experimental way, creates never-before-seen artistic value objects that carry encoded massage.  Designer Ieva Kalja shows a fascinating play with contrasting materials in her lamps, for example, in the lamp “Queen” she combines the richest and poorest materials - gold and corroding steel, thus also breaking the stereotype boundary between valuable and worthless. In turn, the young jewelry designer Jelizaveta Suska’s artwork gives a dimension of emotionality by experimenting extensively with colors. In her collection Rebirth, she boldly interprets the most important material in the Latvian jewelry-amber. Jānis Straupe should be classified as a classic himself as his creations in wooden furniture design are a novelty and classicism at the same time and where his signature touch can be seen from far for many years already.  And finally, a new designer Renats Kotlevs, who creates furniture in an eclectic manner with metallic sheen, color contrasts, and wood textures highlights.

The objects included in the collection disclose the absolute beauty of the precise details and techniques noticeable only by a very near sight, meanwhile revealing the dazzling effect of the designs when looked upon from far.  They call “Near and Far - Be Dazzled!”

The identity of Latvian design can be summarized in three words: laconic, natural, and emotional. Latvian design is deeply rooted in folk traditions, closeness to nature, and the ability to find beauty in simplicity. The unique value lies in the thoughtfulness of the design and the permeating emotional story. The skills developed throughout the centuries to master the available natural resources - forests, fields, and waters - form the basis of modern Latvian design. 

Register here to attend the guided tour of the Virtual Exhibition for the Latvian collection, hosted by curator Dita Danosa.

September 17 / 10:00 AM GMT

MEET THE CURATOR

Dita Danosa, Head of Latvian Design Centre, is a design visionary and truly passionate person, who has devoted the last ten years to the development of the fashion industry in Latvia, and now for more than five years also to the field of design. 

Thirteen years ago, she entered the creative industries from the banking sector, where she had an outstanding career. The diversity of her experience is the basis of her wide field of activity, and her ability to manage so many different processes and create events as a curator and also a producer. In 2009, she entered the field of fashion with the belief that the fashion industry in Latvia can be reborn. She is responsible for organizing more than 15 fashion festivals, fashion weeks and competitions in Latvia and abroad, organizing contact exchanges and educational seminars. Her enthusiasm was the basis for expanding her field of activity to the field of design, joining the Design Council in 2013 and becoming its head in 2014. During her presidency the Latvian Design strategy was released, a tradition of the national design award was launched, and also, she co-curated the multi-exhibition cycle Design Manifestation. For two years now, she has established and leads the Latvian Design Centre, the main responsible body for design development in Latvia. Last year she curated a design exhibition in Budapest and stepped into a unique design field. She believes that small Latvia has potential to become a design power.

FEATURED DESIGNERS

Artis Nimanis / Janis Straupe / Jelizaveta Suska / Ieva Kaleja / Renāts Kotļevs / Sabine Mezkaze Berzina

SUPPORTED BY

Ministry of Culture of Latvia

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