Right from its very first days on view at the Latvian National Museum of Art, the exhibition BINDE 100-10 became a blockbuster. Here, Latvian photographic art legend, international photo salon laureate, and nude photography master Gunārs Binde reveals himself in a new and unusual light, this time literally. How was this accomplished and what role did the enterprise Gaismas Akadēmija play?

The idea of an anniversary exhibition came to the exhibition's organizers while working on a book of Gunārs Binde's photography, which showcases those series that best demonstrate the master's creative development and offer an introduction to the events and people that have influenced his artistic work and life. Although Binde's name is well-known to many in Latvia and elsewhere in the world, because the older generation grew up with his audacity in challenging the Soviet era's virtues, one of the team's main objectives was to find a way in which the exhibition could attract visitors aged 18-35 years.

According to the exhibition's curator, Anna Binde, &ldquo;When one considers recent exhibitions that have attracted widespread interest, what they often have in common is a specially designed layout, in the exhibition space itself, as well as on posters, in booklets, and ads. The idea of a huge hall with works of art arranged shoulder to shoulder has begun to seem monotonous, maybe even archaic. Accordingly, we got the idea of surprising viewers with a major exhibition of photographs in which the set design has been given just as great a role as the works exhibited. In the context of the exhibition, we wanted to create an unusual environment that would reflect the nature of the artist's work, at the same time allowing the photographs to tell their stories without disruption. In some places, the set design replicates the atmosphere visible in the image, whereas elsewhere it takes you to the time or place where the photograph was taken. Drawing inspiration from the 'staged approach' created by Binde, we stage an environment in which his photographs are staged.&rdquo;

Surprising Interaction with Gaismas Akadēmija

Right from the moment one first steps into the exhibition BINDE 100-10, the viewer finds himself in a semi-dark space reminiscent of a movie theatre during a screening. Large photographs are brought back to life as captivating stories, creating a surprising sense of presence and shared experience. But how is it that here one sees photographs, which have been viewed so often that they have become classics, seemingly for the first time? Closer inspection reveals the role played by another important co-participant in the exhibition. The role in question is played by light, in other words, that of the exhibition spaces, environmental lighting, forms of light, and chiaroscuro sculptures, delicately and intelligently illuminating Gunārs Binde's works.
Opting not to use the usual museum lighting, the exhibition's set designer Artūrs Analts teamed up with Gaismas Akadēmija to use various technological lighting solutions and approaches to transform the exhibition into a refined, elegant, and sensory art performance. Gaismas Akadēmija CEO Mihails Jefimovs acknowledges that this was both a great challenge and a risk for the enterprise, &ldquo;Although we have a wealth of professional experience, collaborating with interior designers, architects' firms, and designing lighting and environmental solutions for extremely complicated and prestigious projects not just in Latvia, but also abroad, at first the exhibition at the Latvian National Museum of Art prompted us to ask ourselves a lot of questions. Because this is a really unique project, and what's more, we're talking about a photo exhibition in which light plays a decisive role. Furthermore, Gunārs Binde, who is one of the outstanding masters of photography of our age, sets a very high professional standard for both himself and his partners. After creative discussions with colleagues, we decided to take the risk because, at the same time, it is an opportunity to showcase the professionalism and creative potential at the highest level of Gaismas Akadēmija to the wider public.&rdquo;

A special approach has been found for the subject of each exhibited work &ndash; be it Origins, Flight, or Theatre. Thus, very organically, in the photo series Flight against an illuminated background, Binde's lines of poetry to a lover are transformed into a graphic miniature in a frame of light. Meanwhile, the iconic portrait of Eduards Smiļģis is rendered even nobler by its oval radiance. In the Colour room, thanks to the lighting, which is also integrated into a kinetic object, numerous surprising nuances reveal themselves, generating a sensation reminiscent of an exhibition of paintings. In turn, the intimate atmosphere in the Nude room must be experienced by each individual viewer for himself. It is no exaggeration to say that the concept of the BINDE 100-10 exhibition &ndash; the interaction of the photography master's works with the set design of the environment and light &ndash; would grace the world's most prestigious museum premises.

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The Master and Light

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