Exhibition of Sculptor Roberts Bāliņš

On June 16th of this year, the Latvian Academy of Arts (LMA) in collaboration with "Semarah Hotels" opened the personal exhibition "PERSONĪBAS" by talented LMA graduate Roberts Bāliņš at the "Grand Poet" design hotel. The hotel collection already includes seven paintings by young Latvian artists, and this year it will be supplemented with one of the sculptures created by the young sculptor.The exhibition "PERSONĪBAS" brings together works that focus on the understanding of human essence. Each work provides a glimpse into the essence of a human being. These insights are directed towards specific situations that were important to the sculptor at the moment of creating the works. The works combine traditional sculpting knowledge, technical skills, and contemporary issues, creating sculptures with great intensity."While creating my works, I always try to find something interesting, something different - I call it the 'sweet dish' that you can't resist. The more such places in the works, the better! They emerge when, in the process of creating a sculpture, a stage is reached where everything known is already there, and what remains is the unknown and the part of creation that is full of surprises. It is in this stage that the work acquires its brilliance and uniqueness - the reason why it was worth creating. These are the nuances that make you want to say 'Mmmm' and create a sweet pleasant taste. Then you want to linger with the work for as long as possible and understand its essence," invites visitors to the exhibition the artist Roberts Bāliņš.Gleb Panteļejevs, professor at the Latvian Academy of Arts and head of the Sculpture Department, describes Roberts as a sculptor who skillfully embodies his story in physical form: "In Robert's anthropocentric art, there is an intangible, ethereal materiality, and the effect of lightness is organic and understandable. It feels like the works have arisen by themselves, crystallized from the primordial solution of chemical elements and, conjured by the author, take shape and grow from an unknown substrate. Roberts is a great storyteller, and he skillfully avoids stumbling in his desire to tell everything, here and now. One of the conditions for the artist's success is finding his own artistic language and technical means."In creating a unique collection of works by young Latvian artists, "Grand Poet" acquires the most highly regarded work by visitors to each exhibition and includes it in the hotel's art collection, "Grand Poet Art Collection.""I am delighted that, continuing the tradition we started, visitors to our hotel can enjoy art again this year. This time, a different direction of art - sculpture - is on display, and soon the hotel collection will be supplemented with a sculpture by a promising young artist," says Māris Alnis, the director of "Grand Poet", adding that anyone can evaluate the works by affixing a sticker - a 5 cent coin - to their favorite piece. Voting stickers can be obtained at "Grand Poet".Photo gallery of the event can be found here.

About artist Roberts Bāliņš

Roberts Bāliņš graduated from the Latvian Academy of Arts in 2022, earning a bachelor's degree in the Sculpture Department. He has participated in projects such as the international group exhibition "Transformation" in Japan (2021), the group exhibition at the Liepāja Museum (2020), the group exhibition at the cultural center "Točka" (2020), the group exhibition near the Rainis Monument (2021), the group exhibition at the Railway Museum "The Other Side of Art" (2021), the cultural initiative "100g of Culture" (2020), and his environmental object was installed near the Ogre Hospital (2020).

Anyone can evaluate the works by affixing a sticker - 5 cents - to their favorite piece

In creating a unique collection of works by young Latvian artists, after each exhibition, "Grand Poet" acquires the most highly regarded painting by visitors and includes it in the hotel's art collection, "Grand Poet Art Collection.""Art has an enduring value, so we are pleased to support young Latvian artists who can inspire us in these challenging times. Sandra Strēle's artwork will be a great addition to the collection of works by young Latvian artists in our hotel," says Māris Alnis, the director of "Grand Poet", adding that anyone can evaluate the works by affixing a sticker - a 5 cent coin - to their favorite piece. Voting stickers can be obtained at "Grand Poet".

About "Grand Poet Art Collection"

On June 14, 2018, the Latvian Academy of Arts and the hotel chain "Semarah Hotels" signed a cooperation memorandum to support and develop young artists. Its goal is to support students of the academy and young Latvian artists, inspire new achievements, raise self-awareness, create an international career, provide financial support for talent development, create space for personal exhibitions, thereby promoting the development of art in Latvia.

About "Grand Poet"

"Grand Poet" is created in Latvia by the hotel chain "Semarah Hotels". Currently, the hotel chain can be proud of the resort hotel "Lielupe" in Jūrmala and two hotels in Riga - the four-star historic hotel "Metropole" on Aspazijas Boulevard and the elegant five-star design hotel "Grand Poet Hotel" on Raiņa Boulevard, 5/6. Each of them has its own unique story and values."Grand Poet", a new concept of "Diplogemija", combines design solutions characteristic of diplomacy and bohemianism, created by the internationally acclaimed and award-winning concept and design agency "Stylt Trampoli" (Sweden). The project was developed by the architectural firm "Sarma un Norde" (Latvia), preserving the architectural uniqueness of the building. The name of the hotel embodies duality, often embodied by poets - practicality and bohemianism.