Videography

Within the SCCF (State Culture Capital Foundation) program "Kultūrelpa," the Latvian Performance Art Center produced the film "Homo Ludens" about sculptor Ojārs Arvīds Feldbergs. The film emphasizes performative expressions in his artistic practice. It includes a performance created by Ojārs Arvīds Feldbergs and the performance group "Animist" at Pedvāle Art Park in July 2021.

Credits

• Director, Producer, Screenwriter: Laine Kristberga
• Cinematographer, Editor, Sound Director: Artūrs Aizikovičs
• Music: Kristaps Dubļāns
• Editing Consultants: Laura Feldberga, Anna Maskava
• Aerial Video: Viesturs Graždanovičs
• Performance "Universe" Participants: Performance group "Animist"
• Drums in "Universe": Anna Maskava
• Drum Maker: Ina Dziļuma
• Filming Location: Pedvāle Art Park

Ojārs Feldbergs. Performance "Visums". Fragment from the film "Homo Ludens".

As part of the SCCF (State Culture Capital Foundation) program "Kultūrelpa," the Latvian Performance Art Center produced the film "Homo Ludens" about sculptor Ojārs Arvīds Feldbergs. The film focuses on performative expressions in his artistic practice. It includes a performance created by Feldbergs and the performance group "Animist" at Pedvāle Art Park in July 2021.

Credits:

• Director, Producer, Screenwriter: Laine Kristberga
• Cinematographer, Editor, Sound Director: Artūrs Aizikovičs
• Music: Kristaps Dubļāns
• Editing Consultants: Laura Feldberga, Anna Maskava
• Aerial Video: Viesturs Graždanovičs
• Performance "Universe" Participants: Performance group "Animist"
• Drums in "Universe": Anna Maskava
• Drum Maker: Ina Dziļuma
• Filming Location: Pedvāle Art Park

The documentation for the Riga Performance Festival STARPTELPA 2022 covers the fifth edition of the festival, held from June 15 to June 19, 2022, at the Art Academy of Latvia.

Central Theme: Otherness

The theme for 2022 was "Otherness," a concept used to explore how we define the "Other" and where boundaries are drawn between the self and others. The festival examined:

• Political and Social Identity: How the "Other" is often marginalized through stigmas related to race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability, and socio-economic status.
• Polarization: Reconsidering identity in the context of rising populism and societal division.
• Cross-disciplinary Interaction: Using performance art to bridge the gap between different disciplines and perspectives.

Featured Artists and Performances

The archive and recap video showcase a diverse group of local and international artists tackling the theme through physical and conceptual works:

• Daria Kalashnikova (UA): "How long this can last?" – A performance reflecting on the endurance and impact of the war in Ukraine.
• Timo Viialainen (FI): "Bulb" – A work utilizing light and physical tension.
• Simona Orinska's Butoh Studio (LV): "9" – A group performance rooted in the Butoh tradition.
• Josef Ka (FI/RU) & Aleksandrs Aleksandrovs (LV): "War and Elephant" – A conceptual exploration of conflict.
• Milan Djerkovic (SB): "Build a Person" – A piece examining the construction of identity.
• Huge Sillytoe (UK): "Another Otter in the Gutter, What Other Bother Could be Better?" – A work likely using absurdist or creature-based metaphors for otherness.
• Mailo (LV): "Gender Bender II" – Exploring gender boundaries and identity.
• Anna Maskava (LV): "Animacy"

Performance Environment

Held at the Art Academy of Latvia, the festival utilized both indoor studios and outdoor spaces, allowing for a variety of scales—from intimate solo actions to larger ensemble pieces like those from the Butoh Studio. The video documentation captures the tension between the individual body and the environment, emphasizing the festival's role as a platform for social and political commentary through the lens of performance art.

The documentation for the Riga Performance Festival STARPTELPA 2023 focuses on the festival's sixth edition, which was held from June 13 to June 18, 2023, primarily at the Art Academy of Latvia.

Central Theme: Collaborative Authorship

The 2023 festival explored the concept of Collaborative Authorship, treating collaboration as both a strategic and aesthetic tool to create pluralistic works. The documentation highlights:

• Spectator as Co-Author: A shift from passive viewing to active participation, where the audience facilitates the creation of the artwork.
• Process-Based Situations: Many works were constructed situations that prioritized social dynamics, togetherness, and communication over a physical art object.
• Affective Dynamics: Research into the synergy between artist and spectator, focusing on the agency of both parties.

Highlighted Artists and Performances

The recap video and archive capture a wide range of international and local artists. Notable performances include:

• Kira O'Reilly (IE): "Untitled (Copper Action)" – A performance involving physical endurance and materiality.
• Tomasz Szrama (PL/FI): "Collaborative Authorship" – A direct exploration of the festival's theme.
• Jack Catling (UK): "Chair Dance"
• Tetiana Kornieieva (UA): "Lullaby" – A poignant work reflecting on conflict and comfort.
• Māras Ganģes (LV): "Second Self Battle. Conversation with Benjamin Button."
• Josef Ka (FI): "I am Edith Södergran"
• Milan Djerkovic (SRB): "Claustrophilia"
• Linda Boļšakova (LV): "Intimacy Of Strangers"

Artistic Scope

The festival featured a heavy emphasis on Butoh (represented by the BUTŌ LAB and BUTŌ STUDIO), as well as multimedia works involving sound (e.g., Ilmārs Šterns and Mathilde Bernard's "Two Humans and a Harp"). The documentation illustrates the festival's use of the Art Academy's unique spaces to facilitate intimate and high-energy interactions, reflecting the transition from traditional performance art to more experimental, interactive forms.

The program also included workshops and academic components, reinforcing the festival's mission to serve as a platform for both artistic practice and theoretical reflection on performance.