Five very different, but equally magnificent Latvian artists – Dainis Lesiņš, Jevgēnija Loginova, Ainārs Rimicāns, Anna Rubene-Zīdere and Līga Skariņa – have teamed up for a joint exhibition exploring one concept and theme each with their own original approach.

The exhibition “Clone” invites to reflect on the role of modern technologies in contemporary ceramics. Its goal is to showcase ceramic works, the making of which has involved latest technologies, for example, a 3D printer adapted for use with ceramic materials.

The concept of the exhibition has two very distinct aspects. The Latvian heteronym “klons” has two meanings – on one hand, when the vowel “o” is pronounced as diphthong [ua̯] it means earthen floor, especially one made using clay. A traditional flooring in Latvian homesteads for centuries, it links both to Latvian identity and basic ceramic materials. On the other hand, the same word pronounced with an open-o means “a clone”, pointing to the ability of contemporary technology to create a perfect copy of almost anything.

By uniting the two aspects, the artists have looked each for their own path to create a self-portrait. Digital technologies have been used either as a conceptual principle or as an aid in creating the work.

The participants of the exhibition belong to the faculty of the Department of Ceramics of the Art Academy of Latvia, teaching the new generation of Latvian ceramists.

Curator Ieva Nagliņa