No 15. marta līdz 9. maijam ISSP Galerijā būs skatāma Rūtas Kalmukas izstāde “Saiknes”, kurā māksliniece pievēršas savas ģimenes un māju dokumentēšanai, atklājot sievietes daudzveidīgās lomas un identitātes. Izstādes atklāšana notiks 14. martā plkst. 18.00.
Rūtas Kalmukas lielformāta melnbaltās fotogrāfijas, kas tapušas vairāk nekā desmit gadu garumā, portretē viņas ģimenes locekļus un mājas pie upes, meklējot saikni starp dabu, cilvēkiem un notikumiem, kas tos ieskauj. “Šeit bija ābele, kas nokalta, un tagad ir palicis tikai celms, bet tam līdzās bagātīgi uzziedējis plūškoks. Kaut kas ir zudis, bet tā vietā nemitīgi atkal plaukst jaunais. Un viss ir savstarpēji saistīts,” saka māksliniece.
Tuvinieku portreti mijas ar dabas fragmentiem, īpaši – upi un tās mainīgo dabu. Ūdens plūdums, nemitīgā cirkulācija un spēja ieņemt un pielāgoties jebkurai formai Rūtas Kalmukas sērijā norāda uz sievietes spēju savas dzīves laikā iemiesot sevī vairākas lomas – no meitas uz sievu, vēlāk – māti, vienlaikus saglabājot savu personisko identitāti. Fotogrāfiju sērija “Saiknes” atspoguļo arī neizbēgamo saikni starp sievieti un viņas profesionālo aicinājumu – fotogrāfiju. Sievietes loma ģimenē ir apvienota ar mātes radošajām interesēm un ambīcijām, kur māte šķietami vienkārši vēro un dokumentē ikdienas gaitas. Rezultātā veidojas jauna identitāte – “mamma-māksliniece”, atgādinot par to, cik būtiski ir ikdienas steigā un izaicinājumos sevi neaizmirst, izprast un atgūt.
Rūta Kalmuka (1974) fotogrāfiju sāka apgūt 1992. gadā Tehniskās jaunrades namā “Annas 2” pie Andreja Granta, kurš sniedza dziļu izpratni par vizuālo valodu, skatīšanos un redzēšanu, estētiku un ētiku. Fotožurnālistikai veltījusi gandrīz 20 gadus, strādājot ar tādiem drukātajiem medijiem kā “Santa”, “Dienas žurnāli”, “NRA”, žurnāls “Ir” u.c. Pašlaik Rūta strādā ar analogo fotogrāfiju un lielformāta tehniku, kā arī interesējas par vēsturiskajiem fotogrāfijas procesiem un veido fotogrāmatas. Piedalījusies vairākās grupu izstādēs Latvijā un ārzemēs, kā arī veidojusi trīs personālizstādes. Viņas darbi publicēti tādos izdevumos kā “Foto Kvartāls”, Fotofilmic JRTL un World Press Photo.
Izstāde tapusi ar Valsts kultūrkapitāla fonda un SIA Groglass atbalstu.
Pasākumu finansiāli atbalsta Sabiedrības integrācijas fonds no Latvijas valsts budžeta līdzekļiem.
Īpašs paldies Aivaram Purmalim un FineArtPrint, Sandim Plečam, Aldim Bušam, Sergejam Timofejevam, Unai Grants, Liānai Ivetei Žildei, Kristīnei Madjarei.
From 15 March to 9 May, the ISSP Gallery will host Rūta Kalmuka's exhibition Interconnections, in which the artist documents her family and home, revealing the multiple roles and identities of women. The exhibition will open on 14 March at 6 PM.
Rūta Kalmuka's large-format black-and-white photographs, taken over more than a decade, portray her family members and her home by the river, searching for connections between nature, people and the events that surround them. "There once stood an apple tree that withered until just a stump remained, yet beside it an elder tree blossoms profusely. Though something has been lost, in its absence something new perpetually blooms. And everything is interconnected," says the artist.
Portraits of loved ones are interwoven with fragments of nature, in particular the river and its ever-changing essence. In Rūta Kalmuka’s series, the flow of water, its constant circulation and its ability to take and adapt to any form point to a woman's ability to embody several roles in her lifetime: from daughter to wife, and later to mother, while maintaining her own personal identity. The Interconnections series also reflects on the inevitable connection between a woman and her professional vocation – in this case, photography. The woman's role in the family must meld with the mother's creative interests and ambitions, as she appears to merely observe and document the everyday. As a result, a new identity emerges – that of the "mother-artist", serving as a reminder of the importance of not forgetting, understanding and reclaiming ourselves in the rush and challenges of everyday life.
Rūta Kalmuka (1974) began studying photography in 1992 at the Annas 2 Centre for Creative Learning with Andrejs Grants, who gave her a deep understanding of visual language, looking and seeing, aesthetics and ethics. She has worked in photojournalism for almost 20 years collaborating with print media such as "Santa", "Dienas žurnāli", "NRA", "Ir" magazine, etc. Currently Rūta works with analogue photography and large format techniques, and is interested in historical photographic processes and photobooks. She has participated in several group exhibitions in Latvia and abroad, and has had three solo exhibitions. Her work has been published in Foto Kvartāls, Fotofilmic JRTL and World Press Photo.
The exhibition is supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation, the Society Integration Foundation, and SIA Groglass.
Special thanks to Aivars Purmalis and FineArtPrint, Sandis Plečs, Aldis Busa, Sergejs Timofejevs, Una Grants, Liāna Ivete Žilde, Kristīne Madjare.
You are cordially invited to the exhibition of ISSP 2011 final works in Kuldīga! The Opening and the screening of gala-works at Kuldiga open-air cinema are on Saturday, 13th August, 19:00. The exhibition is open to public till 2 October 2011.
The ISSP 2011 Evening programme will present exciting series of presentations and talks by teachers and guests - every evening 20:00, starting from 7 August till ISSP Exhibition Opening on 13th August. The evening talks are open to visitors free of charge - all lovers of photography are welcome.
Līdz 12.augustam Kuldīgas novada muzejā apskatāmi darbi, kas radās žurnāla National Geographic darbinieku vadītās meistardarbnīcas "Dokumentālā foto-eseja: stāsti no Kuldīgas" laikā šī gada 26.-29. maijā.
An opportunity to learn about the photography of the National Geographic Magazine directly from its chief staff experts - Senior photo-editor Sarah Leen and Creative director Bill Marr. The lecture - presentation is open for all interested. 30 May 2011, at 19:00 at kim?
We have uploaded an updated ISSP 2011 programme, including the exciting evening programme of lectures and artist talks. For more on the programme, see here.
ISSP invites all interested in Black and White analogue process and looking for lab facilities to become 2011 members of our BW Lab in Andrejsala (Riga). Lab members can use fully equipped ISSP BW lab for a year - pretty much without any time limits. Full info in Latvian below. For more info, please call Arnis :)
A short video-documentation of ISSP 2010 exhibition “Reference Point” currently on show at Goethe Institute in Riga is available on vimeo! For those who still have not seen it, the exhibition will be on show till January 30.
And, btw, as of January 2011 the ISSP 2010 catalogues and the complete collection of 2006 - 2010 catalogues can be purchased at the Latvian Museum of Photography (you can also take a look at them for free at kim? reading room, Satori, META cafe, Istaba and couple of other places).
Goethe Institute and ISSP are pleased to invite you to the ISSP 2010 Exhibition in Riga. Opening on 3 November 2010, 18:30, at Goethe-Institut Riga, Torņa iela 1.
The ISSP 2010 Exhibition was festively opened on 7 August 2010. Visitors are welcome to view the entire collection of artistic projects of 65 participants in Ludza till 2 October 2010.
The ISSP Evening Programme at Ezersala boarding school (Ludza district) from 1st till 7th August will be traditionally open for interested visitors and guests! Detailed programme in English here.
We all try again and are looking forward to host Aaron Shuman in Riga this weekend, provided no more volcano surprises coming up. The lecture “Whatever Was Splendid: New American Photographs” will take place at kim? at 19:00 on Saturday 1 May 2010.
The workshop Aesthetics of nostalgia will run this weekend, 1-2 May. You are welcome to apply for several vacant places till this Friday, 30 April!
THE APPLICATIONS TO ISSP 2010 ARE WELCOME TILL 10TH MAY WITHOUT CHANGES.
In framework of US culture month in Riga “Made in USA“, we are pleased to invite applications to an ISSP-run workshop Aesthetics of nostalgia by a great photographer, editor, writer and curator Aaron Shuman. The workshop shall take place on 17-18 April 2010, at kim? Riga.
The two days course combines lectures, critique, and individual photographing by participants to explore in depth the subject of NOSTALGIA. See complete workshop description here, and apply till 15 April!