Munch meets Rothko in Daugavpils
In April a unique event will be marked in the art history of Latvia – an art work by the world-famous Norwegian artist Edvard Munch from the collection of Trondheim Art Museum (Norway) will be exhibited at the Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre. It will be the first time that an art work by the Edvard Munch is displayed in Latvia.
Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre in cooperation with the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments, Trondheim Art Museum and with the support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Latvia and Daugavpils City Council will offer a temporary display in Latvia of the original work “Portrait of advocate Ludvig Meyer” by the outstanding Norwegian artist Edvard Munch.
This project is continuation of cooperation between Trondheim Art Museum and Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre implementing the Letter of Intent on cooperation between both institutions signed in 2016 during the visit of a delegation from Daugavpils to Trondheim which aimed at exploring potential areas of cooperation between the institutions of both cities. It is an excellent example how an inter-municipal cooperation between two cities can result into a culture event of national importance allowing for a meeting of two art geniuses – Munch and Rothko – in Daugavpils.
Edvard Munch is a famed Norwegian artist whose works are highly valued at the world’s largest auction houses. Munch is one of the most renowned masters of the 19th century Symbolism and the 20th century German Expressionism.
Munch’s work “Portrait of advocate Ludvig Meyer” (1909) from the collection of Trondheim Art Museum will be exhibited at the Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre from April 21 till September 19 this year. It will be displayed next to the hall of Rothko’s works, thus providing for a symbolic yet tangible meeting of two geniuses of art – Munch and Rothko.
The opening ceremony of the Munch’s work will be held on April 21 within the framework of the 4th anniversary celebration of Daugavpils Mark Rothko Art Centre, it will be one of the opening events of the new exhibition season of the Centre. It will include an international seminar-discussion forum of art experts and a press conference.
The event is supported by the Bilateral Cooperation Fund of the Norway Grants 2009-2014 program “Capacity-Building and Institutional Cooperation between Latvian and Norwegian Public Institutions, Local and Regional Authorities” and the National Bilateral Fund of EEA/Norway Grants 2009-2014.