Kristaps Zarins

"And once more "in the shadow of young girls in flower""

In collaboration with “Maksla XO” gallery (Riga, Latvia) and gallery “Meno Parkas” (Kaunas, Lithuania), celebrating Latvia’s centenary in 2018, Lithuanian public has a chance to see Kristaps Zarins’ latest works in the exhibition "And once more "in the shadow of young girls in flower"", which will open at gallery “Meno Parkas” on 14^th of February, 2018.

Nur Mahal. 2017, watercolour, gouache, acrylic on paper, 150x150cm

Kristaps Zarins’ exhibition "And Once More "in the shadow of young girls in flower"" (Latvian National Library, 2017, Curator – Helena Demakova) is the most significant and highly recognized performance by the artist in recent years. The exhibition is dedicated to Marcel Proust’s novel “In the Shadow of Young Girls in Flower”, where in his typical manner Kristaps Zarins depicts women figures and gardens of flowers, reflecting on Proust’s described passion.

Although the works could be described as playful and even tempting or sadistic, they speak about a greater idea – “bare life”, which stands in the crossroads – to be or not to be. This moment “before”, in which the young ladies have been halted, in its consciousness gives everyone a chance to make a decision whether to continue this scene – cease one’s existence, or stop and let the other one to live. It is not only violence, depicted encompassed with bright flowers, it is culture given opportunity to a person to make a choice not to commit violence, because Kristaps Zarins’ characters are conditioned by culture not existence.
The garden is also a phenomenon of culture, and for the past years Kristaps Zarins has been purposefully devoted to these studies. The famous French gardens have left a particular impression on the artist, which in the paintings shows in the adopted rhythms and accents, as well as in the broad knowledge of diversity of flowers, especially roses. Every painting has its own special feeling to it. And it is achieved by the always changing selection of flowers – they never repeat throughout the works, and every title of the painting is taken from a particular rose bread.

In this latest series of works, Kristaps Zarins’ painting confidentially reveals itself in a new way – for the past two years the artist has devoted himself to painting on paper with mixed media – watercolour, gouache and acrylic, and subsequently varnishing to deepen colour. Brand-new are not only the used materials, but also the fact that the artist has changed, without even noticing it. The accompanying thinking of the works has gained a symbolic meaning, and depicted women figures and flowers have not only the visible, decorative side, but the cognitive side as well.
In this latest series Kristaps Zarins’ temperament has unfurled – the works are full of vitality, but at the same time of an internal peace, as well. The same colour richness and in realism-based form of a woman remains, only now, everything is much lighter and airy. Kristaps Zarins’ characteristic painterly brush strokes have gained transparency, although physically not being such. Where previously the oil painting found its place on canvas, now shines in the light, which was accomplished by leaving white, colour-free spots on the surface. The vibrant reds, browns and yellows have faded away and in their place combinations of lively purples, yellows and blues have emerged.

     De Meaux. 2017, akvarelis, guaša, akrils, laka uz papīra, 148x198 cm

Since 2017, Kristaps Zarins is the rector of the Art Academy of Latvia. He has graduated from the Department of Painting of the Art Academy of Latvia (1986). Since 1994 – a professor at the Art Academy of Latvia; from 2007 to 2017 – the prorector at the Art Academy of Latvia. He has organized more than 20 solo exhibitions and participated in numerous group exhibitions in Latvia and abroad.
Kristaps Zarins works are in public collections – Latvian National Museum of Art (Riga, Latvia), Collection of Artist's Union of Latvia (Riga, Latvia), Art Foundation Collection (Moscow, Russia), Collection of the Russian Ministry of Culture (Moscow, Russia), Collection of the Russian Art Academy (Moscow, Russia).  As well as in private collections in Latvia, UK, USA, Denmark, France, Italy, Japan, Russia, Norway, Switzerland, and Germany.

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