From September 26, a solo exhibition by emerging artist Jasmīna Simsone Ola Foundation can be viewed at the cultural space "Bridges of Restless Memories." The paintings featured in the exhibition explore themes of memory and national identity, reflecting on the legacy of the Soviet era and its impact on young people in Latvia.
The exhibition "Bridges of Restless Memories" is a deeply personal journey by artist Jasmīna Simsone, in which she explores her generation's relationship with a past they have never experienced, yet which continues to influence young people's national identity and personal sense of self. Simsones's works portray the youth of contemporary Latvia, who continue to reflect on the post-Soviet reality while attempting to restore a connection with Latvian pagan practices and worldview.
“This inherited experience continues to be ‘dragged’ from one generation to the next, creating unease and doubts about the future, especially in the context of contemporary security threats and conflicts. At the same time, the nations of the former Soviet states know how to joke about these times or remain meaningfully silent. We all ‘know’ what it means to be oppressed, even if we have never been oppressed. All of this continues to live on in our laughter, tears, fears, and silence,” the emerging artist says about the works in the exhibition.
“The exhibition "Bridges of Restless Memories" offers a unique and intimate perspective on Latvian history and culture through the lens of a young artist. This exhibition invites viewers to reconsider the past and its lasting influence on the identity and future of contemporary Latvians, while also offering insight into Jasmīna Simsones's artistic world, where past and present merge into a unified visual narrative,” says exhibition curator Katrīna Jaunupe, commenting on the upcoming exhibition.
Jasmīna Simsone studies in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia, where she is pursuing two bachelor's degrees in the arts - visual art and film. The film projects she has produced have been screened at various film festivals in Seattle, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Portugal. Jasmīna's artworks have been exhibited in Vancouver, including her triptych “Budēļi,” which was exhibited at The Hatch art gallery, and, most recently, her series of drawings “The Red Curtain” was exhibited at The Audain Arts Centre. Simsones's style is an expressive combination of realism and expressionism, based on color theory and executed in oil paint. Her works seek to evoke a sense of nostalgia by portraying the cultural and historical significance of Latvia from a fresh and distinctive perspective.
The exhibition will be on view at the exhibition space of Ola Foundation (12a Ogļu Street, Riga) until January 15, 2025.
Exhibition team:
Curator: Katrīna Jaunupe
Exhibition installation: Kristians Brekte
Graphic design: Anete Krūmiņa
Organized by: Aija and Pēteris Šmidres, OLA Foundation, and the Foundation “Mākslai vajag telpu”
Information support: “Rīgas Viļņi” Publishing House
Contacts:
Katrīna Jaunupe
Phone: +371 26578344
Email: info@makslaivajagtelpu.lv
OLA Foundation
Phone: +371 29464384
Address: 12a Ogļu Street, Riga, Latvia, LV-1048
www.olafoundation.lv
