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LĪGA PURMALE
THE SAME LANDSCAPE

06.11.2008. - 27.12.2008.


Līga Purmale in her latest solo exhibition titled “The Same Landscape” ironically certifies her already established, brand-like individual style.

The artist’s first success came at the legendary exhibition together with Miervaldis Polis at Polygraphics Club in 1974 where a new style – photo-realism – was demonstrated in Latvia for the first time.

The artist has created 17 new large-size paintings that will show depictions of urban life and country landscapes.

Līga Purmale’s latest compositions of poppies are convincing rivals to the American art-world star Georgia O’Keefe’s works.

The entire new exposition was titled after the panoramic view of Latvian nature “The Same Landscape”. On the 1st floor there are pulsating, red flower scenes and painterly landscapes of Latvia with “Purmalesque” fogs and subtle moods of nature; on the 2nd floor – contemporary urban scenes of Riga with graffiti, transport movement, people in cafés (Miervaldis Polis in the foreground in “Absinth Drinkers”), dancers, figure skaters and types typical of present-day young people, etc.

The artist’s perfectionism and a very devoted attitude to her profession as well as the perfect ability to find great subjects is what always fascinates and attracts spectators. Purmale’s exhibitions, typical of their time, have always brought in large numbers of viewers. Her exhibition “The Visible World” (2003) at the State Museum of Art was seen by 17 000 visitors.

Līga Purmale (b. 1948) can be reasonably considered as one of the founders of photo-realist principles in Latvian painting. The artist has taken up several themes in her art – panoramic views of meadows and forests, foggy landscapes, close-ups of particular details as well as urban life and its rhythms. During the last years the artist’s world of images features vibrating figures of dancers in red. All subjects interpreted by Purmale are permeated by a certain atmosphere. The artist is able to transform reality, enriching it with the most varied effects. The subtle, painterly “portraits” of nature and urban scenes, balanced compositions of colours and lighting makes Purmale one of the most potent masters of painting. Although the artist’s favourite field is painting, she has worked also in graphic arts and stage design. She has created stage design for Peter Tchaikovsky’s ballet “Swan Lake” (2002) and Adolph Adam’s ballet “Le Corsaire” (2003).


Works in collections:

Latvian National Museum of Art, Riga / Latvia

Artists’ Union of Latvia Museum, Riga / Latvia

State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow / Russia

Klāvs Sīpoliņš Foundation / Canada

Ainārs Gulbis private collection

Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum, Rutgers University, BNew Brunswick, New Jersey / USA 
LIGA PURMALE. Landscape 3. 2007



LIGA PURMALE. Absinth Drinkers



LIGA PURMALE. Silent night.



LIGA PURMALE. Madonna with Child



LIGA PURMALE. Another Landscape



LIGA PURMALE. Private Landscape



LIGA PURMALE. Sun 1



LIGA PURMALE. The same landscape



LIGA PURMALE. Sun 3



LIGA PURMALE. Landscape 4



LIGA PURMALE. Flight



LIGA PURMALE. Summer 2



LIGA PURMALE. Summer 3



LIGA PURMALE. Landscape 1



LIGA PURMALE. The World of Garden



LIGA PURMALE. Landscape 2



LIGA PURMALE. Field of Poppies



LIGA PURMALE. Balletto 3



Exhibition in Riga Gallery



Exhibition in Riga Gallery



Exhibition in Riga Gallery