Riga Photography Biennial 2016 Award Exhibition

In August 2015, the Riga Photography Biennial 2016 launched a competition Seeking the Latest in Photography! with the aim of discovering and introducing to the wider public the creative efforts of young emerging artists. The competition was open to artists and photographers from the Baltic States aged 18 to 35 whose work revealed and demonstrated the power of image, and offered a relevant and original point of view which strived towards conceptual application of photography. Works by the winners of the top three prizes are now on show at Riga Art Space Intro Hall. The NoRoutine Books publishing initiative awarded its own special prize - an opportunity to publish her own photo book - to artist Ieva Balode.

Viktorija Eksta
God, Nature, Toil (2013 – 2015), photography series
“Told in a deliberate manner, with documentary style realism, Viktorija Eksta re- enacts fragments of a possible life of a Latvian country woman who has passed away a long time ago. The result is an intimate and very humane exploration of conventional life. The series brings a rich narrative filled with memories and dreams – including artist’s own interpretation of her childhood memories. And lastly, this work demonstrates a potent connection with the current issues in the Latvian countryside – devastation, an ageing population and emptiness.” (Sofie Crabbé)

Viktorija Eksta (born 1987) lives and works in Riga. She studied photography at Andrejs Grants’ photo studio and currently holds an MA in Visual Communication from the Art Academy of Latvia, having previously studied audiovisual culture at Latvian Academy of Culture. She has devoted her project Time Machine to the study of cinema chronicles. “I use photography, performance, film and text in my projects. I am interested in human beings as physical entities as well as social constructs. Mostly I am slow and analogue, although sometimes things get fast and digital.”

Andrejs Strokins
Cosmic Sadness (2013-2015), photography series
“Cosmic Sadness is a strong body of work which captures contemporary society from the author’s personal point of view. The series balances between being outwardly humorous and inwardly sombre. It is well edited and reflects the use of mobile photography. The contrast between mobile photography snapshot aesthetics and the well-considered, almost surreal content makes this work refreshing and lasting”. (Marie Sjovold)

Andrejs Strokins (born 1984) studied Graphic Design at the Art Academy of Latvia and since graduation has taken part in several photography competitions and creative workshops. He has exhibited in group shows in Latvia and abroad, and has had two solo exhibitions People in the Dunes (2014) in Lithuania and Disorders and Obstacles (2015) at the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art Office Gallery. Andrejs Strokins works as an independent photographer and during the past few years has won several awards – Kaunas Photo Star, La Quatrieme Image, the documentary category of Photo Annual Awards and others.

Alissa Nirgi
A New Land Outside My Window (2014-2015), photography series
‘This is optically and psychologically well-composed photography, which maintains the precise atmosphere for the narrative of alienation. Surprisingly, this psychological story is conveyed without the use of a portrait, but simply by applying the empty articulation of space and the exact positioning of the figure within this space’. (Inga Šteimane)

Alissa Nirgi (born 1993) lives and works in Tallinn. Since 2013 she has been studying photography at the Estonian Academy of Arts and has had several solo shows in Estonia and abroad, whilst also taking part in group exhibitions. In 2015 she was awarded the Eduard Wiiralt Scholarship.

The panel of judges: Tuula Alajoki, director of Backlight Photo Festival (Finland); Sofie Crabbé, journalist and critic (Belgium); artists Marge Monko (Estonia) and Marie Sjøvold (Norway); artists, curators and NoRoutine Books founders Gytis Skudzinskas and Vilma Samulionyte (Lithuania); Zane Onckule, programme director of kim? Contemporary Art Centre and curator (Latvia); Inga Šteimane, director of Art Station Dubulti and curator (Latvia), and Maira Dudareva, director of the Latvian Museum of Photography (Latvia).

Organizer: Riga Photography Biennial in cooperation with Association of Culture Institutions of Riga City Council, exhibition hall Riga Art Space and NoRoutine Books (LT)

Image: Viktorija Eksta, from the series God, Nature, Toil, 2013‒2015