Short film series:
Start with art

The project "Start with Art" contains eight short films that have been created by involving exhibition curators, art historians and various communities of foreigners living in Latvia. It all results in the interpretation of the museum's collection that combines cultural and academic knowledge.

The short films have been made in Latvian and English with the participants' personal interpretations of the works on display in the permanent exhibition of the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE. The project participants are from Belarus, Australia, Great Britain, Italy, China, Germany, as well as Russians living in Latvia. They share their stories and are united by their interest in culture and visual arts. In the process of creating "Start with Art" short films, knowledge about art mediation, narrative creation and digital storytelling has been developed and strengthened.

The short films were created in cooperation with video studio “Later”.

Start with Art

Start with Art: Story by Emma Baker

The author of the story Emma Baker was born in Dorset, the United Kingdom and currently lives in Latvia. Previously she has participated in writing workshops and creative projects in England. Emma found that exploring the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE with a storyteller's eye was an illuminating experience. Emma has created a story about the painting “Hansel and Gretel in the Witch House” by Hermann Kaulbach. The artwork is displayed at the European Art Gallery on the 4th floor of the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE. Hermann Kaulbach (1846–1909) was a German painter of the Munich School and was best known for his portraits of children.

Start with Art: Story by Giovanni Dominoni

The author of the story Giovanni Dominoni comes from Milan, Italy and currently lives in Riga, Latvia. He has written several novels, a collection of short stories and essays on art and music that he hopes to publish someday. Giovanni has created a story about the painting “On the Heights” by Nicholas Roerich. The display of works by the outstanding artist and thinker Nicholas Roerich (1874–1947) is located on the 3rd floor of the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE. Artist’s family roots are connected to Latvia, and since the 1930s Riga has a collection of his bestowed paintings, which the artist himself sent from India to the Latvian Roerich Society Museum (1930–1940).

Start with Art: Story by Pauline Lantermann

The author of the story Pauline Lantermann is a German and has come to Latvia to work as a volunteer at the Goethe-Institut. In the past three years she has studied English Literature and History. Pauline has created a story about the painting “The Path” by Nicholas Roerich. The display of works by the outstanding artist and thinker Nicholas Roerich (1874–1947) is located on the 3rd floor of the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE. Artist’s family roots are connected to Latvia, and since the 1930s Riga has a collection of his bestowed paintings, which the artist himself sent from India to the Latvian Roerich Society Museum (1930–1940).

Start with Art: Story by Viktorija Petrisceva

The author of the story Viktorija Petrisceva is 24 years old Belorussian who has studied Russian Philology in Latvian University. During her studies she realised that she is passionate about languages and started to learn Polish. Her hobby is reading and favourite authors at the moment are Haruki Murakami and Kazuo Ishiguro. Viktorija has created a story about the artwork “The Kiss” by Auguste Rodin, which is on view at the European Art Gallery on the 4th floor of the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE. French sculptor Auguste Rodin (1840–1917) is considered the greatest portraitist in the history of sculpture. He is one of the founders of impressionism in sculpture and during his time has also influenced many notable Latvian artists.

Start with Art: Story by Luke Welsh

The author of the story Luke Welsh is a poet and dramaturge from England. He has worked on various projects both in England and Latvia. Luke has created a story about artwork “Psyche” by Pietro Tenerani. The sculpture is on display at the European Art Gallery on the 4th floor of the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE and is one of the three examples of Carrara marble and Italian neoclassicism sculpture in the museum collection.

Start with Art: Story by Izabel Colton

The author of the story Izabel Colton is an Australian living in Latvia and moved here when she was 15 years old. She has always taken great interest in storytelling and after graduation she is planning to study English Literature and pursue her passion in creative projects in the future. Izabela has created a story about painting “Brunnhilde Brings Sieglinde to Safety” by Hans Makart, which is on view at the European Art Gallery on the 4th floor of the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE. Museum collection has many artworks of Hans Makart (1840–1884) from which five compositions are dedicated to Wagner's operatic tetralogy “The Ring of the Nibelung”.

Start with Art: Story by Giorgia Zhang

The author of the story Giorgia Zhang comes from China and has been living in Latvia since 2014. She speaks fluent Latvian and currently is studying in Riga State Gymnasium Nr. 2. She is passionate about filmmaking and hopes to work in the film industry in the future. Giorgia has created a story about painting “Portrait of a Girl” by Italian 18th century painter Benedetto Lutti (1666–1724), which is on view at the European Art Gallery on the 4th floor of the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE.

Start with Art: Story by Kristine Romanova

The author of the story Kristine Romanova was born in Latvia and her nationality is Russian. Currently she is studying in Latvian Academy of Culture. Kristine has created a story about painting “Small House by the Sea” by Paul Sandby. The landscape is on display at the European Art Gallery on the 4th floor of the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE. Paul Sandby (1731–1809) is an English painter, who along with his older brother Thomas Sandby (1721–1798), became one of the founding members of the Royal Academy of Arts in London.