Brūs Kalniņš’s personal show “Turn off the sound!” opened in the Jurmala Museum.

In the Jūrmala Museum, the interannual exhibitions of the biennial “Marīna” dedicated to the theme of the international sea continue – Laima Bikše’s exhibition “People, animals, trees and wallpapers”, the exhibition from Latvian museum collections “Jūrmala in pictures and graphics. From history”. The exhibition “One or two” by the young sculptor Roberts Bāliņš has replaced the first solo exhibition “Turn off the sound!” of another young artist, speaker of the Biennale competition exhibition “Marīna 2023” Brūs Kalniņš.

Brūs Kalniņš’s first solo show “Turn off the sound!” is a collection of the author’s creative thoughts, which came about in the past year. The works are multifaceted and invite visitors to think about a subject that the majority of society does not associate with on a daily basis: non-commercial music, in particular – heavy metal . This topic will accompany the author himself every day. The deep, 15-year involvement in the details of heavy music and the background of the subculture created a desire to invite people not to turn off the sound, but to look at this genre from the author’s point of view, hearing it, see. and perhaps understand it in their personal, individual way, freeing themselves from the heavy burden of stereotypes.

In his creative expressions, the author challenges himself to work with large formats, testing his technical knowledge and creative abilities to create works of art mainly from His most familiar material – steel. The works are characterized by the author’s interest in mechanical systems, as well as liking their beauty. The author tries to involve the viewer in his artwork both as an observer and as a participant, using the viewer’s senses – sight, hearing, touch. For example, the work “Ne ponimayem pa français” allows the viewer to participate in the creation of music. The work “Illusions of emotions” represents the author’s desire to tell the general public about the peace and beauty found in metal music and make them look at it with an open mind. The work “Plaisa” is very personal, created from drum cymbals that were broken during the career of the author, who has now retired and gone to a well-deserved rest in their beds.

After graduating from high school in 2014, Brūss Kalniņš entered Riga Technical University (RTU) and received an academic bachelor’s degree in engineering. Later, he began his studies at the Latvian Academy of Arts (LMA), majoring in metal design. Kalniņš graduated from the bachelor’s program with a well-defended diploma thesis “False perceptions of emotions” in June this year.

Until now, the author has participated in several group exhibitions organized by LMA and LMA Metal Design Specialty, also in exhibitions of artists known in Latvia, in the exhibition ” Art Days 2024. Looking up” by the Union of Artists of Latvia. Last summer, Brūss Kalniņš participated in the 4th International Art Biennale competition exhibition “Marīna 2023” “Water God on the Shoulders”, where he won first place in the student category with the work ” Cycle”, and this gave the author an opportunity. to hold a personal exhibition in the Jūrmala Museum this summer.

Bruce Kalniņš presentation “Turn off that noise!” On view at the Jurmala Museum until September 8.