Julijs Madernieks (1870-1955) – an outstanding Latvian painter, decorator and designer, whose art florescence was in the 20s-30s of the 20th century, a master of design, one of the founders of professional applied art in Latvia and the father of national romanticism.
The permanent exposition of the museum contains a set of furniture by Madernieks, which is a unique sample of the Latvian interior style of the inter-war period.
According to art historians, in the first half of the 20th century, the issue of identity and the search for new forms of expression in decorative-applied art was especially topical in the creative art of outstanding scientists of that time, who were persistently searching for a new national style.
Due to historical and political reasons, this fruitful and bright period, which coincided in time with the peak of the European art deco evolution, turned out to be quite short and left a few authentic artefacts and original works of Latvian masters, such as a set of carved oak dining room furniture made by Madernieks.
This is not the only experience of cooperation of Rietumu Charity Fund with the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design this year. In summer, with the support of the Fund, the museum collections were supplemented with the artistic drapery-coverlet by Latvian textile artist Ella Udre-Dviele (1904-90) and original documents related to her life. The coverlet was made in the 70s of the 20th century under the influence of European modernism ideas topical at that time.
“This year we have gratefully accepted several exhibits acquired for us by the Fund.
The period of the 60s-70s in Latvian design and decorative art is extremely interesting, though it is not very well known to art connoisseurs. In that period wonderful masters worked, who pursued their own path, trying to catch tendencies in world art and combine them with their national artistic traditions.
Regrettably, many samples of this art are now scattered worldwide, therefore we are always happy when they become part of the collection of the museum, thus being accessible for scientific and museum research,” believes the chief curator of the collection of the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design Velta Raucepa.
In 2014 Rietumu Charity Fund rendered various forms of support to other Latvian museums as well. Thus, this year the Fund acquired and deposited the so-called Bourse Cup, made of silver in 1902 by Riga master Rihards Millers in honour of celebrating the 700th anniversary of Riga, in the Art Museum Riga Bourse
Another example of successful cooperation was with Jurmala City Museum, to whom the Fund presented a collection of several dozens of unique original negatives of photos made in Jurmala in the 30s of the 20th century. In addition to this, the museum collection has been supplemented with a series of drawings and sketches of the outstanding Latvian seascape painter Janis Osis (1926–1991). The works depicting the Jurmala seaside were created in the 60s-70s of the 20th century.
“Public interest in museums, especially art museums, has grown considerably. We are pleased to see how museums are successfully developing, how they are being renovated, how new exhibition areas and interesting expositions are appearing.
For our part, we will continue providing support to museums in different forms and invite everyone to render all possible assistance to museums in supplementing their collections and other areas,” said Chairman of the Board of Rietumu Charity Fund Inga Sina.
Sponsors of the exhibition are Gennady and Zlata Khazanovs.