Juris Utans. Golden Era & Golden People. September 24- October 20

Historically speaking, it has always been the people of art who felt the injustices of their time stronger than others and fought it, naturally, using art as a weapon of choice.
   The Golden Age & Golden people exhibition is a reflection of Juris Utāns’ thoughts of his time and his attitude against the situation in the state. Right, attitude … against… It is about the symbols of power and the power of symbols as they travel from the political theater stage to the minds of the artist and society. The blown up portraits of familiar politicians are the prototypes and matrixes used for the artist’s intention to show the opposition between the power and society. The power consists of decision-making, consequences and responsibility. “If somebody traces similarity or associations, it’s only the viewer opinion. I personally don’t know anybody with four eyes. Even among the politicians. It’s only allegory and I just happened to be in the midst”.
  Already in the beginning of his artistic career, during the 80s of the XX century, Juris Utāns had a chance to use Soviet political formation as inspiration and target. Just like today, back then his art works were ironical, witty and saturated with an honest man’s hate to hypocrisy, fake ideals and blindness of the politicians. Birkenfelds gallery presents the works of Juris Utans until October 20.
The Latvian National Museum of Art acquired artist self portrait ( see picture with the title "...cut...")