The works of the Latvian artist Ilgvar Zalans will be exhibited on the hallmark international modern art show Scope Basel 2015. You’re welcome to visit booth HO1 in SCOPE Basel Pavilion, Uferstrasse 40, Basel, from June 16 to 21.

Regulāri apceļojot un kopš 2008. gada arī dzīvojot bijušajās Rietumvalstu kolonijās Dienvidaustrumāzijā, nācies personīgi saskarties ar šo sajūtu, kad, pārceļoties uz jaunu valsti, integrējoties tās kultūrvidē, piedaloties mākslas procesos, rietumu kultūras modelis tiek eksportēts un pielāgots lokālajiem apstākļiem. Tas izpaužas kā formu vienkāršošana, reducēšana un jaunās vides – dabas, klimata, etnosa – atainojums (review of the exhibition in the biggest daily “Diena”).

Bridges, which link and separate, which open new worlds and new opportunities allow to get enough courage and fearlessly go and explore the unknown. This is the description that can be given to the recent-year style of artist Ilgvars Zalāns – the ability to build a bridge between the western and eastern lifestyles, to bring to life what he has seen on that other bank – the bright light, the joy of colors, unusual features, and roughness of textures; the ability to express experienced moments and feelings encompassed in canvases, and to share them with a viewer in paintings (full text of the press release see here http://www.rothkocenter.com/rmc/ekspozicijas/Zalans/en).

In January 2014 Zalans has left for work in residence of Perahu Art Connection in Yogyakarta, Indonesia (http://perahuartconnection.com/). During the first 2 months he has completed 6 wonderful large format paintings (see in Gallery on zalans.com). We are looking forward to see more additions to the series of Indonesian Stories.

February was marked by the volcano eruption near Yogyakarta. Zalans is using fresh ashes in his paintings of volcanos – see more very soon!