Orbīta's exhibition "Stage Works"

08.11.-29.12.2024. 11.00-18.00

From 8 November to 29 December, the exhibition "Stage Works" by Orbīta will be on view in the Great Hall of the Riga Contemporary Art Space.

In the surroundings of Valmiera, on the stages of the cultural centres of small towns and villages, firewood is split, branches are chopped, hair is cut... In other words, something that does not usually happen on stage - completely mundane practical activities - household services that are often offered on bulletin boards or in the local press. Captured on video, these documentary actions are projected in parallel on several improvised screens on curtains, while their soundtracks overlap, creating an ensemble of unexpected interactions.

In their project "Stage Works", Orbīta addresses a whole range of themes and questions without trying to give a clear-cut answer. The first of these is the question of the survival of cultural centres and community centres in less populated areas, which is often approached from a purely economic point of view. Orbīta seems to materialise this approach by bringing to the stage entirely practical activities-services. On the other hand, these mini-movies bring to the stage, or frame them in, professions that are common and in demand in our time. Thirdly, they raise the question of where the boundaries of art are drawn: to what extent does the framing of cultural space turn any activity on stage into a kind of work of art or a statement in the cultural field?

In recent years, Orbīta has partly moved its centre of activity from Riga to Strenči. Masterclasses and exhibitions are held there, and the overall cultural context is explored. The multi-screen media installation "Stage Works" continues this vector, allowing "provincial" stages to find their place in the capital, organising their peculiar representation in Riga Art Space.

"Orbīta is a Latvian collective of poets and multimedia artists, founded in 1999. Its members are Semjons Haņins, Artūrs Punte, Vladimirs Svetlovs un Sergejs Timofejevs. Orbīta is based on the synthesis and interaction of text, sound and image.  Although the presence of text is not a prerequisite, the authors' own poetic texts often serve as the impetus for the creation of the works.

The exhibition is organised by the Riga Contemporary Art Space Exhibition Hall of the Riga State Municipality Association of Cultural Institutions and supported by Riga City Council, the State Culture Capital Foundation and Mūrbūdu sidrs.