The Latvian and His Cosmos

Where to go with friends and family, events in Latvia

In celebration of the national holidays in November, the Valmiermuiža Cultural Association invites you to enjoy the light installation “The Latvian and His Cosmos” by artist Krišjānis Strazdītis. The opening event will take place on November 11th at 8:00 PM in Valmiermuiža Park. The installation will be available for viewing from November 11th to 18th from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM.

As the philosopher Martin Heidegger pointed out, the connection between being, dwelling, staying, inhabiting, and building, expressed through the Prussian word “buan,” has been lost in modern times. I am, you are—in the ancient understanding, means that I dwell, you dwell. Being or existence is inseparable from building, erecting, and caring. Krišjānis Strazdītis' work reflects the Latvian's inhabiting of his homestead within the pulsations of the universe, where the vast and infinite dwells, builds, erects, and cares for the small, and vice versa—the small stays, remains, dwells, erects, builds, and cares within the vast and infinite. Through the Latvian, the distinction and fusion of these two are illuminated, which has been significant in Valmiermuiža through the ages.

At the source, I lit a fire,
Smoke rises through the stone;
Through the moon, I threaded a string,
There blooms a golden buttercup.
/Latvian folk song/

Krišjānis Strazdītis is a light artist and an organic farmer who manages his farm in the Valmiera region, in the parish of Kauguri, at “Sietiņi.” Krišjānis Strazdītis has worked as a light artist and lighting designer at the Valmiera Theater, the New Riga Theater, and in various projects, creating light scores for more than 100 theater productions, such as “Krauklītis” (M. Ķimele), “Zojas Apartment” (I. Roga) at the Valmiera Theater, “Oblomov,” “Onegin. Comments,” “Sonya” (A. Hermanis), “Tenderness” (E. Cērpa) at the New Riga Theater. He was the light artist for an interdisciplinary performance at the Riga Circus “Set Sound to Riga Circus,” collaborating with Danish performer Gudrun Holck. Together with artist Ieva Lapiņa-Strazdīte, he created the light installation “Garden of Light Drops” in the herb garden of the Valmiera Museum.

The light installation is easily accessible—with strollers and also wheelchairs. To enhance the art experience, you can visit the Valmiermuiža beer shop and beer kitchen to enjoy delicious and warming drinks.

The event is organized by the Valmiermuiža Cultural Association, supported by the Valmiera region and Valmiermuiža Brewery.

Information prepared by: Inese Tone, project manager of the Valmiermuiža Cultural Association.