The Exhibition as an Active System
Zuzeum Art Centre releases new video – documentary interview with parisian research group La Méditerranée ahead of STRAIGHT, NO CHASER exhibition's final month
Following an invitation from the Zuzeum Art Centre, the Parisian research group La Méditerranée founded in 2020 by Ulysse Geissler, Mateo Revillo and Edgar Sarin has composed an exhibition and created two architectures, that are rooted in the history of Riga and echo the singular nature of the Zuzāns collection.
The documentary video by Artur Kryuk and Sofia Kusainova features artists discussing their methods for working on the project and sharing unique stories about the artists showcased in the exhibition. This provides a rare opportunity to hear explanations directly from the artists themselves. The 13-minute video is in English with subtitles in Latvian.
La Méditerranée considers the exhibition as an active system, seeking to shift from a classic method of presentation to an experimental and dynamic one. The works presented in the exhibition, for the most part coming from the Zuzāns collection and different Latvian museums, range from icons dating back to the 16th century to the contemporary scene. Among the works, old Latvian masters such as Vilhelms Purvītis, Jānis Rozentāls, and Johann Walter-Kurau. Also on view is a selection from an important memorial collection of Visvaldis Ziediņš’ works. Latvian avant-garde and contemporary scene – Andris Grinbergs, Laimonis Stīpnieks, Rudīte Dreimane, etc. Finally, such international contemporary artists as Alicja Kwade, Thomas Hirschhorn, and David Altmejd.
Following an invitation from Zuzeum Art Centre, the Parisian research group created two architectures for the show. Mooring Beacon is inspired by the forms of the puzuris and resembles a mooring beacon for Zeppelin. Its idea arose during a visit to the Central Market in Riga, which was constructed using parts of Zeppelin hangars. The two architectures built here will join a greater collection La Méditerranée has conceived and built over the years in its exhibitions. Models of these previous architectures are also featured in the exhibition. Members of La Méditerranée wish, at a certain point in the future, to gather their collection of architectures, expecting it to grow into a village bearing the possibility for a small family size group of humans to inhabit.
To describe that drift, La Méditerranée wields an analogy with a Jazz formation, as artists in their studio practice are like a lonesome saxophone player working his scales, while also he finds himself in a space that complements the studio, enrolled in the ensemble’s improvisation. The exhibition Straight, No Chaser is named after a 1967 piece by the famous American Jazz musician Thelonious Monk.
PS. But on Wednesday 31 July Zuzeum invites everybody to join an evening of music and art as Ukrainian and Latvian musicians come together to celebrate the legendary American jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk. This unique performance will transport you into the vibrant world of jazz improvisation, seamlessly blending live jazz with the artworks on display in the‘Straight, No Chaser’exhibition. Experience the concert in an acoustic and open format, allowing you to explore the exhibition hall and discover how the music interacts with the surrounding art.
