On July 24, 2021, the stained glass artist, graphic artist, set designer Ludvigs Bērziņš passed away, and the Latvian Artists’ Union informed the portal “Delfi”. We publish the obituary prepared by LMS.
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In 1951, Ludvigs Bērziņš graduated from the Pedagogy Department of Janis Rozentāls Riga Art High School (now PIKC NMV Janis Rozentāls Art School). In 1958, the artist graduated from the Painting Department of the Latvian SSR State Academy of Arts with a degree in theatrical scenery (now the Scenography sub-branch of the Audio-Visual Media Art Department of the Latvian Academy of Arts) with a diploma work – Stage Costume in the theater ”, director – set designer Arvīds Spertāls (1897-1961).
Ludvigs Bērziņš has participated in exhibitions since 1955. Already during his studies at the Latvian Academy of Arts, the artist began to participate in exhibitions of young artists of the Republic (Riga, 1956, 1958; Moscow, 1958), an exhibition of works by stage painters (Riga, 1957), and an exhibition of fine arts at the Youth Festival (Riga, 1957). Later, the artist participated in the Exhibition of Cartoonists (Riga, 1962), the 1st Poster Exhibition of the Latvian SSR (1966), the 2nd Poster Exhibition of the Latvian SSR (1968), the 1st Poster Exhibition of the Baltic Republics (1968), etc.
In 2003, Ludvigs Bērziņš organized a solo exhibition “Dendijs un mermaid” together with the artist Gundeg Straut (Glass Art Gallery, Riga).
After graduating from the Latvian Academy of Arts, at the beginning of his creative work, Ludvigs Bērziņš turned to scenography, creating stage design for amateur and professional theaters.
The artist was a set designer for productions at J. Rainis Latvian SSR State Academic Daile Theater (now Dailes Theater; scenery for J. Rainis’ play “Blow, Winds”, 1958), Daugavpils State Musical Dramatic Theater (now Daugavpils Theater; Lūša’s play “The Rainbow Found (Only the Window Was Dusty)”, 1959, J. Lasmanis’ play “Pearls of the Heart”, 1960), LSSR State Academic Drama Theater (now the Latvian National Theater; created for production, 1959), VEF Palace of Culture (created for scenery for K. Goldoni’s play “Wives’ Languages”, dir. , 1960), at the State Youth Theater of the Latvian SSR (scenery for the production of N.Ivantere’s play “Former Boys”, 1961).
Ludvigs Bērziņš also worked in poster art, creating illustrations and cartoons. The artist was a long-term freelance cartoonist of the magazine “Dadzis”.
20th century In the 1960s, L.Bērziņš started working in the field of stained glass art, which was popular in the interiors of public buildings at that time. At that time, stained glass windows were created by artists such as Kārlis Freimanis (1909-1987), Ģirts Vilks (1909-1983), Egons Cēsnieks (1905-1978), also LAA teachers Tenis Grasis (1925-2001), Arnolds Vilbergs (1934-2019), etc. These In their works, the authors facilitated the change of the visual paradigm of the industry and the creation of stained glass in an independent art object. Free-standing, space-integrated works were exhibited in exhibition halls and the urban environment, including at the crossroads of the Riga Dome Cathedral.
From 1963 Ludvigs Bērziņš worked in the LMS Art Foundation (MF) complex “Art”, but from 1976 in the Stained Glass section of the LMS MF Decorative Arts Combine (now LMS Museum branch “Biķeri”, Riga). From 1994-2008. The artist worked in the stained glass workshop of SIA “Biķeru Vitrāža” (together with stained glass artists Gundega Strauta, Nora Cēsniece, Agri Butelis, Eila Vikmanis, Oleksijs Krasnovs, etc.).
Ludvigs Bērziņš made a significant contribution to the development of Latvian stained glass art. The artist has made more than 90 stained glass works for the design of various rooms in Latvia, Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
The artist created stained glass for the sanatorium “Jaunkemeri” (Jurmala, 1967), Riga Anglican St. Church of the Savior (1979), sanatorium “Belarus” in Jurmala (1981), cafe “Petergailis” (Riga, 1981), Talsi Evangelical Lutheran Church (1985), ex. restaurant “Rota” (Valka, 1985), Latvian Committee for Cultural Relations with Compatriots Abroad (now the building of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Latvia, 1985), House of Artists on Valnu Street (Riga, 1988), ex. For the building of the Ministry of Culture of the LSSR (now the building of the Embassy of the Russian Federation, 1987-1990), ex. cafe “Old Riga”, the Red Hall of the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia (1993), P. Stradiņš Clinical University Hospital (1996), etc.
In 2001, Ludvigs Bērziņš together with the artist Gundegs Strauts and Vilnis Butelis restored the stained glass “Portrait of Richard Wagner” made in 1912 in Girgenson’s stained glass workshop, which is currently exhibited in the building at 33 Brīvības Street – the place where the composer had stayed.
Ludvigs Bērziņš has been a member of the Latvian Artists’ Union since 1962 and was recommended by scenographers, painters Kārlis Miezītis (1902-1985), Artūrs Eglītis (1907-1997), Oskars Muižnieks (1922-1984) to join the LMS. Ludvigs Bērziņš was also the head of the Stained Glass Section of the LMS (1970-1991).
Ludvig Bērziņš’s works are in the Museum of the Latvian Artists’ Union, the Latvian National Museum of Art, the Riga History and Navigation Museum, the Kekava Local History Museum, as well as in private collections.
The Latvian Artists’ Union expresses its deepest condolences to the relatives and colleagues of the artist Ludvig Bērziņš.
Farewell to the artist Ludvig Bērziņš will take place on July 29, 2021 at 12:00 in the Big Farewell Hall of the Riga Cremation Center.
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