The painter Vija Zariņa’s (1961) solo exhibition „Landscape Code” is on view at the gallery „Daugava”. The artist here continues to interpret landscape, her art subject of the last decade.

The exhibition is made up from the artworks of this year, in which the main motif  is arable land. It could be an introduction of a unique subject for the galaxy of    contemporary Latvian landscape painters who in their own  individual way visualize our national identity code by means of a landscape.

In Vija Zariņa’s art, landscape is abstracted from a definite place, but the vast panoramic view and specific colour-scheme allows to identify it as a typical Latvian landscape, and viewers can easily retrace a familiar scene.  The artist’s interpretation of landscape is a kind of contemporary solution of national landscape where vibrations of the plane created by pure colours and laconic accents distance themselves from romantic nature lover’s emotions, addressing a modern man who feels at home in nature, but never forgets the urban part of his life. Thus, the artist invites her contemporaries to identify themselves with this significant art subject for Latvia, where modern interpretations naturally resonate with a life rhythm nowadays. The artworks are characterized by a specific discretion, which  is so typical of contemporary society. Vija Zariņa’s landscapes are mood saturated, her colour-scheme and technical virtuosity distinguish her from other artists and emphasize her individuality.

Diana Barčevska, art researcher

Vija Zariņa: „ For this exhibition I have been drawing inspiration from nature.  I do not paint nature directly, but by reconstructing my feelings from what I have seen and experienced.  The focus of attention is Latvian landscape with its wide horizon, fields, meadows and arable land. I wish to paint it clearly, straightforwardly, precisely and emotionally, like a folk-song. My paintings are done in oil on canvas.”