On November 3, the government supported the awarding of the Cabinet of Ministers prize to artist and designer Valdis Celms. The award of the Cabinet of Ministers is the highest award of the Latvian government – the next highest after the Order of the Three Stars. Letters of Recognition from the Cabinet of Ministers will be presented to seven outstanding personalities for significant achievements in the fields of Latvian culture.
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The Ministry of Culture proposed to award the prize of the Cabinet of Ministers to the artist and designer Valdis Celmas for his contribution to the development of Latvian art and design, informs Lita Kokale, Head of the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Culture. V.Celms was born in 1943, he has been active in the field of design and art from the 1960s to the present day.
V.Celms has actively participated and organized kinetic art exhibitions. He was the chief artist of the Latvian War Museum. Starting from the mid-1970s, V.Celms has become one of the leading Latvian design and kinetic art theorists and practitioners. The artist has been active in the development and implementation of urban and interior projects. Together with a group of like-minded people, V.Celms was one of the first to get involved in researching the issue of the relationship between art and the environment, the role of art in preserving the environment and finding solutions. An important part of the artist’s creative work is formed by multifunctional kinetic objects, which are characterized by the search for art synthesis and pronounced abstract visual solutions, says L. Kokale.
The most significant works of the artist include the photo collage “Prague (1967/68)”, kinetic objects “Rotating Cylinders” (1972), “Daugava” (1974), “Positron” (1976), kinetic sculpture “Lighthouse” created in the late 1960s. “(1978). An important manifestation of the creative activity of the artist V.Celms in the field of urban design is the creation of the idea of the landmark” Riga “.
In addition to active creative work in the field of design and kinetic art and design, V.Celms has worked in the field of research on Latvian life messages, symbols and signs, studied Baltic writings and is the author of the books “Latvian Writings and Signs” and “Basics of Baltic Divinity”. Created the Latvian flag and symbolism of the folklore festival “Baltica”. He has acted as a consultant and co-author of the symbolism of patterns and signs in the creative groups of general Latvian song and dance festival dance performances in 2003, 2008, 2013, reports L. Kokale.
On October 3, the Government decided to award the Cabinet of Ministers Letters of Commendation to seven outstanding personalities / work teams in the cultural fields:
• Anna Jurkāne, the director of the specially protected cultural monument – Turaida Museum Reserve – for her contribution to the development of the Turaida Museum Reserve;
• Helmī Stalte, a folklorist, public figure and representative of Liv culture, for her contribution to the preservation and development of Latvian and Liv culture in Latvia and the strengthening of revival processes;
• poet and translator Velta Snikere for her contribution to the maintenance and implementation of the idea of Latvia’s independence in the Latvian exile society and her outstanding performance in Latvian literature;
• the editorial board of the magazine “Latvijas Architektūra” for its contribution to the identification and popularization of the values of contemporary architecture and design, architectural heritage in Latvia, as well as to the reflection and analysis of architectural processes;
• poet, playwright and publicist Anna Rancāne for her contribution to the development of Latgale culture and Latgalian language;
• violin teacher Roman Šne for his contribution to the professional development of Latvian talent;
• Doctor of Arts, Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, Vice-Rector for Foreign Affairs, Professor Emeritus Maija Sīpola for her merits in promoting the international recognition of Latvian music education.
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