The Art Academy of Latvia, in collaboration with BDO Latvia and KIM? Contemporary Arts Centre, cordially invites you to the opening of the "BDO Young Artists Awards" 2023 exhibition. During this event, we will announce the competition winner. Join us on November 9th at 6:00 PM in the Experimental Art Space PILOT.

The mission of the "BDO Young Artists Awards" is to support emerging artists who have completed their master's studies at the Latvian Academy of Arts in the fields of visual, visual plastic, or audio-visual media arts. Our goal is to foster recognition and professional development for artists following their studies. The competition laureate will receive a prize of 2,000 euros.

This year, we are proud to present five talented finalists: Marta Viktorija Agruma, Katrīna Ieva, Dzelde Mierkalne, Annemarija Gulbe, and Agate Tūna.

Vita Liberte, Chair of the Board of BDO Latvia and a jury member, emphasizes the importance of fostering a dialogue with society about contemporary art. It reflects current societal issues through innovative artistic tools, encouraging both viewers and artists to think critically. The competition provides graduates of the Latvian Academy of Arts' master's programs with an opportunity to gain recognition, visibility, and, for some, their first exhibition experience in public spaces.

The works presented in this year's exhibition are all installations:

• Marta Viktorija Agruma's installation "Cloud of Uncertainties 101-112" consists of various groups of objects, primarily deconstructed and reconstructed pieces, created while exploring the process of abstraction.
• Katrīna Ieva's installation "High Fashion and Low Self-Esteem House" comprises several objects that address both the glamorous and exploitative aspects of high fashion.
• Dzelde Mierkalne's installation "Lowkey Katastrofy Funride" is a multifaceted artwork that explores the paradoxical connection between awareness of mortality and entertainment.
• Annemarija Gulbe's installation "ækt" (act – from English) aims to examine visual arts and the positions of their authors in Latvian culture, focusing on the act hall as a space that characterizes regional cultural events, subjecting its content to analysis and deconstruction.
• Agate Tūna's installation "Tehno-rēgs" focuses on the digital footprints people leave in the virtual world.

The competition jury includes Professor Kristaps Zariņš, Rector of the Latvian Academy of Arts; Antra Priede, Vice-Rector of the Latvian Academy of Arts; Vita Liberte, Chair of BDO Latvia; Jānis Zelmenis, Managing Partner at BDO Latvia; Evita Goze, Executive Director of KIM? Contemporary Arts Centre; and Sabīne Vernere, Manager of PILOT Experimental Art Space.

This competition has been held annually since 2020. Previous "BDO Young Artists Awards" winners include Liene Rumpe in 2022 with the artwork "Painter Ninja's Exercises," Reinis Bērziņš in 2021 with "///(((!", Amanda Ziemele in 2020 with a monotype from the solo exhibition series "Neunauge" in 2019, (Eckernförde, Germany).

Exhibition Dates:
November 9 - January 25, 2023
Open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM
PILOT Address: Riharda Vāgnera iela 3, Riga
Admission is free.