An exhibition under the title, ‘Sweden from a Bird’s Eye View’, which presents the work of Dmitry Karpenko, a Swedish photographer of Russian origin, was opened in the central office of Rietumu Bank. This collection of photographs of Stockholm and its environs which were taken from on board an airplane is being exhibited in Latvia thanks to an initiative undertaken by Alexander Gafin, a member from Russia of the Council of Rietumu Bank, with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Sweden in Latvia. 
Mats Staffansson, the Swedish ambassador to Latvia, attended the opening ceremony along with the heads of the diplomatic representations from Norway, Greece, Uzbekistan and other countries, as well as representatives of the artistic community, the Bank’s customers, the press and high society. The exhibition was opened by Arkady Sukharenko, the deputy chairman of the Council of Rietumu Bank, and the head of the Council of the Jewish Communes of Latvia.
As Mr Sukharenko said, Rietumu Bank devotes itself to charity and patronage; significant resources are being invested in culture projects along with social projects, the protection of childhood and in help of the poor. The present exhibition will certainly promote better familiarity with Sweden as our nearest western neighbour. ‘This is necessary both for us and for Riga, which is going to serve as the European Capital of Culture in 2014,’ he pointed out.
Mr Staffansson noted the highly professional and artistically developed level of the work that, in his opinion, perfectly conveyed the spirit and impression produced by Swedish nature. As the ambassador noticed, the author of the works, Dmitry Karpenko, and he are ‘dual’ compatriots: before moving to Sweden, Dmitry lived in Moscow and Mats Staffansson worked in the Swedish diplomatic representation to Moscow. Nowadays, Stockholm is the home city for both of them.
Arkady Sukharenko provided a memorable present for the Swedish ambassador, one that relates to the history of Swedish diplomacy: a rare photograph which highlights the visit of Nikita Khrushchev to Stockholm in June 1964.
The author of the work, who is not only a professional photographer but also an amateur pilot, recognised the fact that he had hoped not only to show the beauty of his second homeland to the visitors of the exhibition, but also to spark their interest in this country that is amazing in many aspects, a country in which capitalism is getting along perfectly well with socialism, and developed technology and industrialisation are getting along perfectly well with the country’s charming virgin nature.
Fifty photographical works by Dmitry Karpenko, which were taken in the air, have been presented at the exhibition. They do not simply depict Sweden from a bird’s eye view but also communicate in their nuances a wonderful colour palette, the play of light and shadow, and the natural colours of the country.
Dmitry Karpenko was born in Moscow in 1961. He has been keen on photography since school, and has worked with major publishing houses and magazines in the USSR. In 1987 he moved to Sweden where he continued with his artistic photography. A few years ago Dmitry became a licensed pilot. This opened up new opportunities for him that are inaccessible for most photographers, offering him the chance of taking photographs from the air. His camera engraved various slices of Swedish landscape: fields, meadows, the sea and offshore islands, big cities and small settlements, all of which were taken in different seasons, in different lighting, and from unexpected angles.
The exhibition in Rietumu Bank will last for four weeks. The organisers have taken the decision to give it as a present to the Swedish embassy in Latvia. Due to the support of the embassy the exposition will continue travelling all over Latvia and will visit community centres and schools in various regions of the country.
Eleonora Gailisha Mass Media and Public Relations
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