The gallery exhibits photographs taken by I. Tîre and processed in a special manner, in which gorgeous women of the Art Nouveau era are depicted in frescoes by artists of the Czech firm Alfons Muha, and next to them – bright modern women photographed by her grandson.
“I really wanted to pay tribute to the frescoes that can be seen here. I know it’s all under the chalk that’s slowly falling off. But whether it will ever return, I have great doubts.
I saw all this when I was young and it was extremely beautiful. I wanted to at least show it to you that way. Because you don’t know at all, those who haven’t lived on Republic Street, what it looked like.
My family doesn’t know either, only my little brother,” explained I. Tîre at the ceremonial opening, why the exhibition was created.
Since 1945, the artist’s family has lived in the house designed by Paula Maks Berchi at Republikas Street 13, every time she ran to the apartment on the third floor, the frescoes painted in delicate pastel colors were in front of her eyes.
The ceilings of the apartments were also decorated with paintings and the walls of the bathrooms – swimming fish.
In 1957, when she was studying at the Art School, one day when she came home from classes, a surprise awaited her – the ceiling of the stairs was whitewashed, instead of the delicate marbling of the walls, indifferent green oil paint…
I. Tirei managed to capture the reflections of the fine paintings more than ten years ago. In 2011, when Valters Palaps, a future graduate of the then Liepaja Art High School, wrote his diploma thesis, there was an opportunity to photograph fragments of frescoes.
Irina has used this unique opportunity to show the harsh fate of works of art. Frescoes were once made using photographs of real models, and I. Tīrei had the idea to create a joint exhibition with her grandson, who in turn photographs portraits of women.
“When I saw David’s photos, I had to think about those frescoes with young, beautiful girls. Even though it’s all damaged, it’s still very beautiful.”
confident I. Tire.
“I wanted to show these models, where they have remained in such sad frescoes, and these very young girls, also models, – simply wonderful. You have to think about how it would be if someone painted her too.”
Looking at her grandson’s works, I. Tîre admits that he takes photographs in a way that she likes very much.
”Girls are not simply photographed. He creates some space for them. I myself had entered the black and white, as I like to say, the silver one, so the veil was so light for me. But his pictures are completely different. I’m excited.”
“The compatibility of our images and at the same time the visual difference is very visible,”
says David Widwood, agreeing that the chosen name of the exhibition “Contrasts” fits well.
“Stylistically, I tried to achieve flowing cloths and draperies, and I succeeded. I made a dominant darkness, and the model is like an accent that illuminates it all,” describes his works Dāvids, for whom this is the first exhibition in his life.
“I’m rather shy about showing all of this, I put my portfolio more in the digital environment. But Ome suggested that it is necessary in a tangible way, because then the picture has a different resonance.”
The photos feature professional models as well as fellow photographers and other acquaintances. The oldest picture was taken five years ago, the newest one a few weeks ago.
David Widwood has always gotten along well with Omi, so it was not difficult to cooperate with him.
“She is my teacher in many ways, because her influence is the main drive in my artistic career.
If it wasn’t for her, I would definitely be doing something else. And her influence can be seen in these pictures as well. When we look at her photos, she has light, I have more dark again, I play with darkness, a little light. She is more airy again. So that’s our contrast, bringing these two worlds together.”
Dāvids Vidvudus currently works more in Riga. He has been able to draw since childhood. The first public work – drawings for the design of Father Igo’s song disc. Interest in photography arose at home, where mother Irina and older brother Miks were busy in the photo lab, preparing for photo exhibitions.
One of the last projects in which the young artist participated is the creation of the visual identity of Rēzija Kalniņa and Ainārs Rubiķas Music and Drama room “Oratorio”, photographing theater performances and concerts.
The “Oratorio” premises became the place where all the works that can be seen in the exhibition in Liepāja were created. Another art that David is passionate about is tattooing, skills honed in Sweden, England, Spain, etc.
The photo exhibition “Contrasts” can be viewed at the Latvian Society House in Liepāja until March 4. Last fall, I. Tîre celebrated its 85th anniversary, and “Contrasts” is a continuation of the anniversary exhibition series.
