Artists' Union of Latvia

The exhibition is devoted to the anniversary of the Russo-Ukrainian  war

   The grand opening of the exhibition took place in the heart of Riga. Journalists, artists, politicians came to the performance dedicated to the anniversary of the war in Ukraine. This tragedy does not leave anyone indifferent. Ukraine is the shield of Europe. Everyone in Latvia is trying to support Ukraine. 

   In the gallery of the Artists' Union of Latvia (LMS), in Riga from February 17 to March 19, the LMS annual visual art exhibition "Fall 2022. The war lasts a year”. The LMS tradition of holding annual "Autumn" exhibitions continues. LMS has invited artists for the exhibition "Autumn 2022. The war lasts a year" to submit works that express the attitude and assessment of the current world developments. Traditionally, the creative art process is formed in the paradigm of humanism and positivism and until now, it was also motivated to create forms without contact with war and its horrors. In previous practice, the heightened senses of the imagination of death and life were distanced. The artist is currently trying to recover, to find a purpose to bypass the hunger for survival and the ability to forget existentially. The creative spirit of the artist tries to distance oneself from the impersonal wall of propaganda political technology, to be self-sufficient and to preserve critical thinking, possibly overestimating the work of art. The exhibition was officially opened by Igors Dobičins. All events organized by Igors Dobičins unite the creative and intellectual elite of Latvia.

   Among the artists' paintings, the exhibition presents a lovely work by a Ukrainian artist Veronika Chekalyuk. The amazing story of the painting "Refugees. In search of happiness" by Ukrainian artist Veronika Chekalyuk: she created the painting "Hedgehogs", in the process of working on the canvas, the title "In search of happiness. Refugees". The picture won fans during the performance "ART AGAINST WAR", there is an idea to release magnets with the image and cups, currently they have printed a print of the picture on T-shirts. 

   Veronika Chekalyuk says: "This picture appeared spontaneously, far from my native Kyiv. Hedgehogs are refugees, thorns are "protection" from the dangerous outside world. In the picture, the huge eyes of the good characters are full of trace and sadness, sincere and spiritual, two hedgehogs touchingly hold their legs and confidently go forward "in search of happiness" with Ukraine in their hearts, with faith in the victory of good over evil, with the hope of finding happiness and living on the native free land is safe. The little hedgehog has a modest bag that contains everything that they managed to collect in a hurry, hiding from enemy missiles. The plot of the picture is in solidarity with those who are forced to leave their land and are now scattered around the world. I decided to hand over the picture to support Ukrainians in Latvia, with great respect for Latvia and thanks to every Latvian."

Take the time to visit the exhibition: Latvijas Mākslinieku savienības (LMS) galerijā 11.novembra krastmalā 35, Rīgā