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Honoring the outstanding Daugavpils-born ceramist Pēteris Martinsons (1931–2013) and highlighting the importance of contemporary ceramics, for the fourth time in the international competition “Martinson Award” of the Latvian Biennale of Ceramics, awards were solemnly presented at the Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Center. This year, out of 685 applications submitted at the competition exhibition, the jury determined that the gold award in the national category goes to ceramist Sanita Ābelīte for the work “Behind the mirror”, while in the international category – Milena Pirštelienė from Lithuania for the work “Panic Rooms”.
This year, the prize fund of the international competition exhibition “Martinson Award” was 21,000 euros, divided into gold, silver and bronze awards. The gold award in the national category, receiving 5,000 euros, was won by ceramist Sanita Ābelīte for the work “Behind the mirror”, while the silver award and 3,000 euros went to Dainis Lesiņš with the work “In search of the lost world”, and the bronze award and 2,000 euros to Haralds Jegodzienskis with of “Flinstone #22”.
Photo; https://failiem.lv/u/nf9ke9b9s
On the other hand, in the category of international works, the Lithuanian artist Milena Pirštelienė received the gold award and 5,000 euros for her work “Panic Rooms”. This year, exceptionally, two silver award winners were announced – Ziwen Xu from China with the work “Bonsai. Ritual” and Marta Radiks (Marta Radics) from Hungary with the work “Cave Creek”, both receiving a cash prize of 3,000 euros, therefore the bronze award was not presented this year.
A. Baranovskis, one of the curators of the ceramics biennale, continues about the results of the “Martinsona Award” competition: “The fourth Latvian Ceramics Biennale and the “Martinsona Award” are proof of the importance and diversity of ceramic art in the world. The international and local artists who participated in the competition exhibition demonstrated a wide range of approaches and techniques, also showing never-before-seen and unique performances. The award-winning artists have done an impressive job and deserve to be recognized by the jury for their creativity and excellent skills in working with materials. I have no doubt that the biennale will continue to be an important international event and will also encourage young, emerging artists.”
The jury also praised the works of other artists, presenting certificates of honor to two Latvian artists – Olga Melehina for the work “24 Hours before disappearance” and Juta Rindina for the work “Benign Sample Catalog (Collection through the ages)”, as well as to ceramicist Remī Dubib (Remy Dubibe) from France for the work “Under…lines” and Kaiting Chan from Taiwan for the work “Tears”. On the other hand, Juta Rindina received a special award from SIA “Keramserviss” for the work “Benign Sample Catalog (Collection through the ages)”.
“It is truly a great honor for me to receive the ‘Martinson Award’ and to feel a sense of community with other ceramic artists. “Behind the mirror” is a brand new work created for this competition exhibition, and it was inspired by the Biennale’s curator, Valentíns Petjko, with his passion for organizing such competitions. I have been associated with ceramic material for more than twenty years, and my works are created intuitively. The works of this year’s biennale are fantastic, and I can recommend everyone to come and see them,” Sanita Ābelīte, winner of the “Martinson Award” gold award, shares her wonderful impressions.
The “Martinsona Award 2023” jury consisted of Latvian Ceramics Biennale curator, artist Valentīns Petjko, artist, teacher, “Martinsona Award 2021” winner in the National category Dainis Pundurs, artist, curator, “Martinsona Award 2021” winner in the International category Agne Šemberaite (Lithuania), editor-in-chief of the international ceramics magazine “Ceramics now” Vasi Hirdo (Romania), art scholar, director of the Faenza International Museum of Ceramics Claudia Casali (Italy), artist, member of the International Academy of Ceramics in Geneva and former member of the board Ilona Romule (Latvia), Aveiro Biennale of Ceramic Art representative Andreia Vale Lourenco (Portugal) and Ceramic Art Andenne artistic director Gaëlle Cornut (Belgium).
The following events will also take place within the framework of the Latvian Ceramics Biennale:
until September 30, Sanitas Abelīte’s personal exhibition “Terra”.
until October 15, the international ceramics symposium “KUR” exhibition at the Riga Porcelain Museum.
Until September 30, an exhibition of contemporary Portuguese ceramics “Kopsoli” in the Riga Art Space.
On October 4, the opening of the contemporary Korean ceramics exhibition “Self-therapy”. In the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, Riga.
On October 28, the opening of the contemporary ceramics exhibition of the Baltic States “Baltic Current” in the Aveiro City Museum, Portugal.
The detailed program of events can be found on the website of the Rothko Center: https://www.rothkocenter.com/4-latvijas-keramikas-biennales-programma/
The Biennale is organized by the Contemporary Ceramics Center of Latvia in cooperation with the Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Center and exhibition venues. The Biennale is supported by the State Cultural Capital Fund and the Latgale Cultural Program.
Arta Baliņa
2023-09-10 06:21:54
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