On Friday, August 2, new environmental design and art objects were officially unveiled, which will mark the future of the Old Town and will delight the citizens and visitors of Riga. New features will be on the 11th November Embankment, where an ensemble of nine sculptures "Witnesses of the River of Time" has been built, on Livu Square, where the object "Pavilion" is located, and on Dome Square, where visitors can walk through the object "Together at the Dome".
The opening ceremony was held in several parts, inviting everyone to stroll around the Old Town – the first object to be opened was in the Dome Square, accompanied by the bells of the Dome Cathedral and a performance by musician Kārlis Runda, followed by the opening of the "Pavilion" object in Livu Square, where the Riga Circus performed. The walk ended on the 11th November Embankment, where the sculpture ensemble "Witnesses of the River of Time" was unveiled, accompanied by the band "Orbīta".
"The creation of environmental art objects in the Old Town is a great idea to attract the attention of Riga's citizens and tourists and to delight them with the splendour in the heart of our city. Placing artworks of this kind in the Old Town will refresh its charm and add a modern touch. I am delighted that 21 designs were submitted to this competition, showing that we have ideas to make our environment more interesting. These artworks will not only enliven the public space, but also highlight Riga's historical and cultural heritage. The environmental art objects will be open to the residents and visitors of Riga until the end of September, so I invite everyone to take a look at them," says Acting Mayor of Riga, Vice-Mayor of Riga Edvards Ratnieks.
"The newly created environmental design and art objects in the Old Town are a great testament to the power of creativity and the richness of our city's culture. These art objects give the streets of Riga a new lease of life, creating a link between tradition and modernity, and contributing to the vitality of culture. The presence of art in everyday life is important for Riga. Environmental art objects not only enrich the visual image of the city, but also promote public engagement and cultural awareness. Riga is a modern and dynamic city that values and supports art in all its forms. I am delighted to experience this unique integration of art and design in an urban environment that surely will inspire both residents and visitors, and also generate positive reflections and new meeting places!" said Laima Geikina, Chair of the Education, Culture and Sports Committee
"Witnesses of the River of Time" on the 11th November Embankment
"Witnesses of the River of Time" is an environmental art object by the artist Andris Eglītis, which consists of an ensemble of nine large-scale, practically "inhabitable" sculptures in physical form, while simultaneously serving as a resting place on the Daugava embankment.
The sculptures are made of concrete and earth pigments, which Eglītis has often used in his paintings. The sculptures represent objects associated with both Latvian signs of time and everyday life. The dialogue between the objects is conceived as a work of "object poetics", exploring thematic threads united by the symbolism of time on an ideological level.
The main source of inspiration for the idea of the work is the observation of the atmosphere of the 11th November Embankment, where between the river, the bridges and the city one can feel the intersection of the mundane and the timeless, the natural and the man-made.
"Together at the Dome" in Dome Square
"Together at the Dome" is an interactive, inhabitable urban art object in the heart of Riga's historic centre. The installation will be installed in the Dome Square and will be open to the residents and visitors of the capital from August 2 to September 30, with the aim of creating a friendly event of social interaction, coexistence and aesthetic appeal in the largest square of the Old Town.
At the meeting point of the seven streets of Riga, the art installation invites people from different social groups to enjoy and interact in the newly revitalised public space, making the users of the installation an integral part of the project and collectively filling the free space in the square.
"Together at the Dome" is a sensory journey deeply inspired by the architecture of the city: the medieval vaults, the Cross Gallery of the Dome, the geometry of the semi-circular windows and the openings of the surrounding buildings, which mark important periods in Riga's development. The environmental object provides not only a playground and recreation area, but also a space that reflects and respects the historical and cultural heritage of the city.
The art object is created by the union Lightfoot: Toms Kampars, Hori-Zonte, Antonella Amesberger, Jurgis Gečys and Artis Neilands.
"Pavilion" in Livu Square
The design of the "Pavilion" is a contemporary reference to elements of Riga's architectural language. It is romantic in character – like a real city park pavilion. It takes the form of a tower, but does not cite any particular building in the Old Town, but rather interprets a tower of a certain character as an iconic element of the medieval city.
This pavilion is a collage of various architectural references from Riga, reflecting the image of the eclectic city in all its diversity. It's like a meeting point or a stop on the way to sit and chat while watching the Old Town bustle and enjoying an iced caramel latte. The authors are Sampling Ltd.
It has already been reported that the Education, Culture and Sports Department of Riga Municipality organised a design competition for the creation of environmental art objects in the Old Town, which resulted in two designs and technical solutions for two environmental art objects. A total of 21 designs were submitted for four locations in the Old Town – 11th November Embankment, Dome Square, Livu Square and Reformation Square.
The environmental art objects will be open to the residents and visitors of Riga until the end of September. Sites in other neighbourhoods are planned for the coming years.
Information was prepared by: Aira Ancāne, project coordinator of the Department of External Communications of Riga City Council Communication Department, email: aira.ancane@riga.lv
