Cultural program of the Lithuanian Presidency of the European Union in Latvia - the Pre-war Photography Collection “Vilnius Elegies” was opened in Riga
On 2 September the Pre-war Photography Collection of Bolesława and Edmund Zdanowscy “Vilnius Elegies” was opened in Riga City Hall at Ratslaukums 1at the initiative of the Lithuanian Embassy in Latvia in cooperation with Riga City Council and the Lithuanian Art Museum. This exhibition is a part of a cultural program of the Lithuanian Presidency of the European Union in Latvia. The Lithuanian Ambassador H.E. Mr. Ričardas Degutis and the Executive Director of Riga City Mr. Juris Radzevičs warmly welcomed the guests to the opening of the exhibition.
Bolesława (née Tallat-Kelpšaitė, 1908–1982) and Edmund (1905–1984) Zdanowscy were representatives of Vilnius school of photography, followers and developers of Jan Bulhak’s aesthetics of photography. By making the scenery of the ancient city, the photographers romanticized Vilnius, in this way continuing the tradition entrenched already in the 19th century; checked by the time and without any special efforts understandable to everyone symbolic elements consequently resulted into a common expression of identity of the Lithuanian and the Polish photographers. Chosen by the authors’ ideological program has fulfilled a common concept of Vilnius as being one of the most important spiritual and political focuses.
The photography collection brings back the lost scenery of the traditional ancient city, by making a powerful impression it distinctly represents not only the capital city, but also a more general concept of an ever-lasting and ever-changing city life. The panoramic views, architectural or nature sketches are much more than photo-documents preserving the memory of the city: rather, they are elegies, highly intimate, lyrical and sacred.
The exhibition will be open for visitors until 27 September 2013.
