The article at the moment is available only in Latvian.

International Conference on Outsider Art

Thursday 26 April 2012

Outsider art is flourishing. On 26 April 2012 the book On the Map. Exploring European Outsider Art – a Notebook will be presented at an international symposium in Ghent. The publication explores 60 initiatives – good practices in the field of outsider art – in 26 countries in Europe. Not only does it look at the places where outsider art is created (workshops, sheltered workshops, etc), but also the places where it is presented (museums, galleries, etc).

At the symposium Outsiders on the Map, details of many of the initiatives in the book will be presented. Great emphasis will be placed on the organisations, workshops and museums that have done outstanding work to give outsider art a place in the cultural and social debate.

One of these 60 initiatives also is Naive Art Museum of Latvia located in Riga, Andrejsala -  a former port district.

Information obtained from http://www.museumdrguislain.be/

Naive Art Museum of Latvia invites everyone to enjoy the positive energy from the images created by the artists’ fantasy, that ordinary things transforms into unusual, leading viewers to a fascinating mythical imaginary world.

Irena Aizen in her pictures usually paints animals, mainly hares, to tell about people, especially relationships between women and men.

Art historian O.Marozova writes about naive artist: “Irena Aizen, who possesses a philosophical mind and a satirical outlook on life, paints philosophical and satirical pictures. Or perhaps, vice versa – satirical and philosophical ones. The trademarks of the artist’s style is a psychological approach, fine analyses of human relationship and an impeccable sense of humor.

For example, when we want to show affection to a child or to a dear person, we might involuntarily call him or her “kitten” or “rabbit”.

“Rabbit” can be a little girl or a big man: rabbit or hare is a controversial creature. It is a symbol of procreation, continuation of the line, and it is also a spiritual creature. The Chinese considered The Hare to be an eternal animal, condemned to live on the Moon under cinnamon tree and pound in the mortar the Devine potion of immortality (The Immortal Powder). Karl Yung calls the Hare “the helpmate animal”, pointing out to the “not awaken one” the way to the Temple, and to “not enlightened one” – the way to revealing a mystery. The Hare is many sided, fickle and deceptive.

The works of Irena Aizen give the viewer what each of us lacks so much: warmth of heart, stability, constancy. As we grow up we learn and accept the “rules of the game” of the adult life, forgetting this magic, subconscious childish feeling, telling us that everything will have a happy end.”

The exhibition will be open also at the Museum Night, when everyone in Naive Art Museum of Latvia is invited to participate in the event “Come yourself and take at least one Naive artist (person)”. We will be ope from 19:00 to 01:00.

Also you are welcome to the artist’s lecture about naive and symbolism in Israel art on Tuesday, 17th May, at 16:00.

The exhibition: 14th – 21st May

Naive Art Museum of Latvia, Andrejsala, Andrejsostas street 4, Riga.

Museums opening hours from Wednesday to Sunday, from 12:00 to 19:00.

Entrance is free.

Pictures from the opening:

The exhibition was created by the Israeli Embassy and the Latvian Culture and Art Project NOASS support.

]]> http://vecs.noass.lv/irenas-aizen-personalizstade/feed/into/en/ 0