Photo Report: The Opening of Latvia’s Pavilion at the 57th Venice Art Biennale
12/05/2017
Photo: Agnija Grigule
On the evening of 11 May, the Latvian national pavilion at the Venice Art Biennale, featuring the works of artist Miķelis Fišers, was ceremoniously opened in the company of the Latvian Minister of Culture, Dace Melbārde, and other prominent guests. “What Can Go Wrong” is how Fišers has titled his project for the Biennale, and viewers can read it as they wish – as a question, as an exclamation, as a historical statement, or as a warning.
The narrative of the Latvian pavilion at the Venice Biennale is presented to the viewer by way of methods quite characteristic of Fišers: provocative artworks depicting mystical worlds, conspiracy theories, and esoteric experiences peopled by imaginary figures that are well known in the real world – lizard people, space aliens, and exotic demigods – as well as historical figures. Visitors to the exhibition will meet these characters through wood carvings, a massive light-and-sound installation, and the large-format painting “Breakthrough. Farewell to Selfness”.
Inga Šteimane, the curator of the Latvian pavilion, says that one of the most interesting aspects of Fišers’ works, especially in the wood carvings, is how the artist-created myth infiltrates historical events. “It is achieved through a detailed drawing of the setting, a precise rendering of a psychological reaction, and with the verbs in the title. If the reptiloids are treating depression in sterilized mermaids, and if the scientists from the grey race remove stem cells from cyclopses, then the myth is impossible because everyone’s busy with work and politics. In observing this activity, numerous questions of “why?” appear, until you finally understand that what you have experienced is irresponsible politics, removed functionalism, an angry ego, and an immense distaste for living in such a world,” explains Šteimane.
A catalog for the exhibition of the Latvian pavilion at the Venice Biennale has been published as well. It contains sketches of Miķelis Fišers’ works and all of the artworks created for this year’s pavilion; essays on esoteric narratives in Latvian and Estonian contemporary art by curator Inga Šteimane and Estonian artist Margus Tamm, respectively; and an essay by Ilmārs Slāpiņš on Miķelis Fišers’ wish to create the correct state of consciousness in the minds of his viewers.
The curator of the Latvian pavilion is Inga Šteimane, the commissar is Daiga Rudzāte, and the producer is the cultural project agency INDIE.
Miķelis Fišers’ works will be on view at the 57th Venice Art Biennale through 26 November, while Arterritory.com has provided an overview of yesterday’s events.