In the summer of 2022 latvian artist’s Kaspars Groševs exhibition „The Old Man Goes Home“ was held at our office which we share with project space „Editorial“. Because of that, we share artist‘s literary recommendations.
Teenage: The Creation of Youth: 1875-1945 (2008) by Jon Savage
The book quite thoroughly goes through different stages of how teenagers as a separate age group appear culturally and socially. From personal tragedies and literature to social movements where teenagers emerge as a unique stage in life that is both transformational and increasingly present today. I reference my own teenage years quite often in my work – for me it was a time of completely opposite ideologies, trying to find something to belong to, anger, DIY art, alcohol, music, lots of crying while trying to figure out what I am.
Ha-Ha Crystals (2016) by Chris Fite-Wassilak
I simply love how the author moves through spaces and ideas that entangle a lot more within. Perhaps I find some similarities to my own writing or even painting – discovering objects as I move, only to later bring back a forgotten memory connected to it. Referencing Robert Smithson in the title, the book explores some particular traces of thought and everything else that thought might bring.
The Workshop for the Restoration of Unfelt Feelings. Juris Boiko and Hardijs Lediņš (2016), compiled by Ieva Astahovska and Māra Žeikare
A nice summary of texts on NSRD, the most amazing avant-garde group of late 70’s until early 2000’s in Latvia. NSRD was not my first encounter with underground culture in Riga, but it definitely left the biggest influence, their music was wacky, their videos were lo-fi, mysterious and weird – when I first heard it as a teenager I was struck. Ieva Astahovska and Māra Žeikare (LCCA) have done a great job in compiling essays on the different times and conditions in which NSRD existed and mutated.
Where My Cards Lay (2022) by Ieva Kraule-Kūna
It’s rather a beautifully designed exhibition catalogue, but there are some nice essays on the transformative 90’s in Latvia (and ex-USSR). In relation to Ieva’s work the topic takes a nice path between artworks from her and the invited artists, and essays on the wild 90’s and everything that included – first encounters with capitalism and contemporary art, but also starting the race in order to „catch up on the West“ while often appearing a misguided try-hard. The show wonderfully encapsulated these different reminiscences and ghosts of the era and its published extension feels very organic.
About artist.
Kaspars Groševs (b. 1983) is a visual and sound artist and curator based in Riga. He has exhibited at Kunsthalle Bratislava in Bratislava, darkZone in New Jersey, No Moon in Brooklyn, NY, Futura in Prague, BOZAR in Brussels, Shanaynay in Paris, and SIC in Helsinki, as well as the Latvian National Museum of Art, the Exhibition Hall of the National Library of Latvia, and the Kim? Contemporary Art Centre in Riga. He was a finalist for the Purvītis Prize in 2021. His works are in the collections of the Latvian National Museum of Art, the Zuzeum Art Collection, the VV Foundation in Latvia, and various private collections.
Photo credits:
Main picture: Kaspars Groševs personal archive photo.
Exhibition pictures by Ugnius Gelguda.
