Built with Berta

  1. ISSP Gallery, Riga, October, 2023

    • 1

      ISSP Gallery, Riga, October, 2023

    • 2

      Mark Rothko art centre, Daugavpils, 2015

    • 3

      Mukusala Art Centre, Riga, August 2014

    • 4

      AusstellungsHalle 1A, Frankfurt, 2013

    • 5

      Riga Art Space, 2009

    • 6

      CAME, Tallinn, 2011

    • 7

      Winzavod, Moscow, 2008

    • 8

      Overgaden, Copenhagen, 2003

    • 9

      Giedre Bartelt Gallery, Berlin, 2003

    Arnis Balcus was born in Riga, Latvia. He is a documentary photographer whose work focuses on exploring Latvian identity, history, and society. He approaches his subjects in a straightforward, raw manner, using photography as a means of documenting and preserving the world around him. Through his images, he aims to capture the essence of his subjects, whether they be environment, society, or youth.

    In his work, Balcus seeks to shed light on the complexities and nuances of Latvian life, and to challenge viewers to think about the world in new and unexpected ways. His images are powerful and evocative, inviting viewers to look beyond the surface and to consider the deeper meanings and implications of what they see. Ultimately, he hopes that his work will inspire people to engage more fully with their own identities and the world around them, and to see the beauty and significance in even the most mundane or overlooked aspects of life.

    [Above text written by AI ChatGPT]

    EDUCATION

    2004-05
    University of Westminster, London, Photographic studies, MA
    1998-2002
    University of Latvia, Riga, Communication studies, BSc

    SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS

    2023
    The Scene, ISSP Gallery, Riga
    Latvia via AI, Riga Photomonth gallery, Riga
    2018
    Exhibition After Exhibition, Latvian Museum of Photography, Riga
    Victory Park, Central European House of Photography, Bratislava
    2017
    Victory Park, Opera and Philharmonic - Podlasie European Center for the Arts, Bialystok
    2015
    Beyond the Blue River, Rummet at Fotogalleriet[format], Malmo
    2014
    Victory Park, Mukusala Art Centre, Riga
    Victory Park, Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow
    2009
    Amnesia, Riga Art Space, Riga [touring to Ventspils and Talsi]
    2006
    Episodes, Riga Gallery, Riga
    Episodes Vol. I, Matthew Bown Gallery, London
    2005
    Naked, Matthew Bown Gallery, London
    2004
    Exhibition Hall Arsenals of the State Museum of Art, Riga
    Fotogalerie Wien, Vienna
    2003
    Overgaden, Copenhagen
    Myself, Friends, Lovers and Others, Giedre Bartelt Gallery, Berlin
    2002
    Out and Home, Museum of Photography, Siauliai, Lithuania
    1996
    Young People Portraits of Liepaja, club Utt, Liepaja, Latvia

    SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

    2024
    In the Name of Desire, Latvian National Museum of Art, Riga
    We Don’t Do This. Intimacy, Norms and Fantasies in Baltic Art, Mo Museum, Vilnius
    2020
    Art Vilnius project space, Vilnius
    2019
    W Ramach Sopotu, Sopot Centre, Sopot
    Pärnu Photo Festival, Pärnu City Gallery, Pärnu
    2018
    Looking In, Looking Out, Mark Rothko Art Centre, Daugavpils
    2015
    Latvian Landscape, Siauliai Art gallery, Siauliai
    Evidence, Format Festival, Quad, Derby
    Latvian Landscape, Mark Rothko art centre, Daugavpils
    2014
    Sense of Place, Y Gallery, Minsk
    Sense of Place, Prospektos Gallery, Vilnius
    On the Wave, Riga Art Space, Riga
    2013
    Sense of Place, AusstellungsHalle 1A, Frankfurt
    East and Europe - Eastern European Contemporary Art, City Exhibition Art hall, Hong Kong
    ...for an occurrence to become an adventure... Riga Art Space, Riga
    I See Europe!, Kunstbezirk gallery, Stuttgart
    Revisiting Footnotes, LCCA Office gallery, Riga
    The Red Room, Daile theatre, Riga
    2012
    Urban Renewal, City council exhibition hall, Mersin
    Survival Kit 4, Tabakas fabrika, Riga
    The Naughty Ones, Arsenals, Riga
    GRID festival of photography, Amsterdam
    Only You, Only Me, 8th Biennial of Photography, MAMAC, Liege
    The Memory of Images, Tukums Museum, Tukums
    2011
    ReSearching Baltics, Tallinn Art Hall, Tallinn
    Lost In Transition, CAME, Tallinn
    2010
    Survival Kit 2, Berga bazars, Riga
    2009
    Gender Check, MUMOK, Vienna [touring to Warsaw]
    Private, Arsenals, Riga
    2008
    From M to ZZZ, Langhans Gallery, Prague
    Love II - Being, Fotogalerie Wien, Vienna
    Private, Winzavod contemporary art centre, Moscow
    Baltic Pop, Giedre Bartelt Gallery, Berlin
    2007
    Festival of Contemporary Arts, Cesis
    2006
    I am an artist, I love myself, Giedre Bartelt Gallery, Berlin
    Nidon, Meno Parkas Gallery, Kaunas
    2005
    (Un)dressed, Giedre Bartelt Gallery, Berlin
    Asking For It, Atlantis Bridge Gallery, London
    Das Land und Das Ich, Ausstellungshalle 1A, Frankfurt aM
    2004
    So weiss wie Schnee, so rot wie Blut, Giedre Bartelt Gallery, Berlin
    What is important?, K.Valdemara 3, Riga
    2003
    MiteinAnders, Schonbrunnerstrasse 223, Vienna
    Adaptation, Rotermann Salt Storage Exhibition Hall, Tallinn
    2002
    Sex - social exhibitionism, Railway Museum, Riga
    Everything Everyday, Artist's Project Studio, Vilnius
    2001
    Too Close/Too Distant, Stock Exchange Grand Hall, Riga
    2000
    Moving Images, The Radiant Light Gallery, Portland Maine, USA
    Contemporary Latvian Art Photography, Latvian Museum of Photography, Riga
    1999
    Self-portrait of Generation, Gallery Russkoje Pole, Moscow
    Can You Hear Me? [2nd Ars Baltica Triennal of Photographic Art], Stadtgalerie am Kulturviertel / Sophienhoff, Kiel [touring to Rostock, Vilnius, Dresden, Bergen, Espoo]
    1997
    Fotokunst aus Lettland, Gallery Station3, Vienna
    TJN stu dios exhibition, Kiek In De Kok, Tallinn
    1996
    Moment, club Slepenais eksperiments, Riga
    Kill your darlings /Moving Art, Edison theatre, Copenhagen
    1994
    TJN studios exhibition, Latvian Museum of Photography, Riga

    VIDEO FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

    2008
    The Pesaro Film Festival, Rome
    Udensgabali, Riga
    Purescreen 22, Manchester
    2007
    Newport International Film festival, Newport, Wales
    Sefton Short Film Festival, Liverpool, England
    Senef, Seoul, South Korea
    At Home in Europe, touring to Sofia, Stockholm, Bergen, Riga and Newcastle
    Wise Thoughts - LGBT short films night, Cineworld Wood Green, London
    2006
    Blinks video tour, Espace Apollonia, Strasbourg & Hellenic American Union, Athens
    2005
    15th Bochum International video festival, Bochum
    2004
    Screen Spirit, Staedtische Galerie im Buntentor, Bremen

    SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

    Arndt, Melanie "Arnis Balcus on Arnis Balcus", Plotki, Berlin, Nr 4, 2003
    Auzina, Ieva "Arnis Balcus", Orbita, Riga, 2000
    Auzina Ieva "Desire to be Adored", Ptjuch, Moscow, November, 1999
    Baal, Iphgenia "Arnis Balcus", Dazed & Confused, London, April 2006
    Bankovskis, Pauls "Everyone's eyes are red again", Myself, Friends, Lovers and Others artist's catalogue, Riga/Berlin, 2003
    Cerny, Katherina "Arnis Balcus - Myself, Friends, Lovers and Others", Eikon, Vienna, Nr.43/44, 2003
    Dietz, Camilla Haseriis "Negaiditas simpatijas - Arnis Balcus Danija", Diena, Riga, 18 august, 2003
    Forquy, Romain, "Non-films: Arnis Balcus' photographic road trip", Fotokvartals, Riga, issue 1, February 2006
    Hanselle, Ralf "Arnis Balcus", Zitty, Berlin, 14 may 2003
    Huttner, Per "Report from Riga", Creative Camera, London, October/November, 1999
    Jablonski, Simon "Arnis Balcus", Dazed & Confused, February, 2012
    Kalnina, Ieva "Arnis Balcus", Can You Hear Me? catalogue, Oktagon Verlag, 1999
    Kalnina, Ieva "Created to be Admired", Desire to be Adored artist's book, Riga, 1999
    Karathanos, Dimitris "Arnis Balcus", Soul Magazine, Thessaloniki, May, 2006
    Klavina, Anda "Arnis Balcus", Flash Art, Milan, October, 2004
    Klavina, Anda "Arna Balcus personalizstade Berline", Diena, Riga, 19 may, 2003
    Krumina, Zane "Episodes Vol. I", Imago, Bratislava, Winter 2007
    Kyan, Dmitry "O druzjah i lubovnikah", Foto&Video, Moscow, June, 2002
    Morgante, Dario "Storie sexy degli adolescenti globalizzati", Blue, Rome, Nr 164, 2005
    O'Reilly, Sally "Arnis Balcus", Time Out, London, 4 May, 2005
    Peschke, Marc "Das Gedachtnis der Bilder", Photographie, Essen, November, 2004
    Sandbye, Mette "I virkeligheden", Weekendavisen, Copenhagen, 4 august, 2003
    Sutton, Veronica "Arnis Balcus", Black and White Magazine, Novato (USA), August, 2000
    Steimane, Inga "Seksualais cilveks tomer ir maigs", Forums, Riga, 15 august, 2003
    Tifentale, Alise "Alone with/without yourself", Desire to be Adored artist's book, Riga, 1999
    Tifentale, Alise "Arna Balcus fotografiju izstades Lietuva", NRA, Riga, 8 apr il, 2002
    Tifentale, Alise "Dzive bez vizazista un friziera", Studija, Riga, June/July, 2003
    Therond, Eve "Exposition privee sur rendez-vous", PHOTO (French), Paris, December, 2003
    Upleja, Sanita "Balcus fotografijas majas Bruklina", Diena, 13 november, 2003
    Vejs, Vilnis "Atcereties vai aizmirst", Diena, Riga, 6 June, 2009
    Vejs, Vilnis "Having said A says B", Studija, Riga, Februray/March, 2002

    RESIDENCES

    2003
    Gothenburg, Sweden (by NIFCA)
    2002
    Vienna, Austria (by KulturKontakt Austria)
    2000
    Kunstlerhaus Schloss Wiepersdorf, Germany