“Moors, Swamps, Marshes” is the title the artist Jānis Andris Osis has given to his anniversary solo exhibition currently on display in the gallery. Although his nuanced paintings display delicate tonality, the motifs, swamps and marshes might seem a bit harsh. Yet viewers are lured to the gallery to see the artist’s conception of a swamp as an oasis untouched by the civilization and inhabited by the many wonders of nature with its multiplicity of lights, moods and peaceful atmosphere but also a vulnerable fragility that must be protected. Protected from what? From humans’ greed determined to turn everything into tangible benefits. A swamp is a harmonious part of nature that can make us think, dream, meditate and inspire awe with its seriousness and unspoiled beauty. The Old Master Jānis Valters once said that a small puddle of water in nature suffices to be a motif for painting. Thus swamps abound in motifs. Mysterious deep waters, enticing clouds, and flora of a seemingly humble beauty invite one to experience delicate nuanced tonal relationships and the interplay of light and shade. Additionally, another dimension, one of expanse accentuated by the height of the sky, the depths of the waters and the distant horizon has always motivated painters and art lovers. The artist himself is so obsessed with this environment that he is inextricably drawn into it, allowing him to escape from the daily routine to collect his thoughts and ponder the answers to his unanswered questions. There the artist is alone surrounded by the silent timeless beauty of nature. It is there that new ideas, colour relationships and moods emerge. This would never be found in the sidewalks of Riga. /Jānis Andris Osis/