On August 14, Riga witnessed a spectacular event: opening of the new Nordea house in K.Valdemāra street No. 62. A new building means a new feature in the centre of Riga. The building has been designed in the architects’ office Sarma&Norde. Over 300 guests were present at the opening. The invitation said:” Let us be together to enjoy art and pleasant atmosphere”. It was a significant event also for the Gallery “Daugava”, since we had collaborated with the Nordea bank and architects’ office Sarma&Norde in selecting art works for the bank’s interior, thus, for its art collection. The Gallery’s collaboration with the Head of Nordea bank Administration Anatolijs Peškovs proved to be a success: his interest and responsiveness to contemporary art helped the sculpture by Igors Dobičins, Pauls Jaunzems and Kirils Panteļejevs enter the bank’s premises. The head designer of the building and its interior is the architect Visvaldis Sarma. Displaying artwork is the same creative process as making it. The bank’s interior with its aesthetics of minimalism is an inviting space for contemporary art. Creative exchange of ideas with the architect and his understanding of contemporary art as well as his guidelines and suggestions had a positive impact on the result. Another important contribution to the process was made by the architect Inga Zūdiņa, due to her keen and clear perception of art and space. In further collaboration she could be a good advisor to artists in resolving problems of how to integrate sculpture or site-specific objects in the city or interiors. The architects seemed to be greatly interested in the artworks that entered the interiors they had designed, now professionally supporting the process. In the premises of Private Banking Dainis Pundurs’ exhibition works “Bee Here” and “Dry River” delight the viewers with their emotionally delicate touch. They represent man and nature, the latter being not only a source of inspiration, but life philosophy. On the roof terrace of the building there is a composition from boulders designed by the architect Visvaldis Sarma, in their execution assisted by Inga Zūdiņa. Among the forms of nature the stone by Pauls Jaunzems “The Sprout”, on the verge of flouring, seems to be rightly placed. The terrace is a Nordea hanging garden: a spot of nature in the city centre. Stone as the material for artwork dominates in the bank’s interior: about two metres high granite works by Igors Dobičins “Finger I”, “Finger II”, “Finger III” and Pauls Jaunzems’ “Morning Sun”: four polished granite spheres, on the sixth floor. There are also canvases by Dace Lielā “Patheon I” and “Patheon II” depicting granite pillars. These two large-scale works, an example of superb painting, were created for the artist’s solo show in the National Art museum. If we talked about art in public spaces globally, we would not be able to boast of any challenges. But now Riga has gained a lot: contemporary sculpture with its emotion, imagery and power of form has entered a public interior. 12.05.2012. Uģis Auziņš. Rustica. Opening of the Exhibition 19.01.–18.02.2012. Exhibition in two parts: I. Imants Vecozols. Routine Close Up II. Imants Vecozols & his students 1.12.2011. Vilnis Titāns. Gallery Daugava. 2011. — 152 pages 11.05.2011. Mr. Guntis Rāvis had a meeting with the students who received the Boriss Bērziņš’s scholarship in the previous academic year... 7.04.2011. Opening of the Exhibition Days of Art in Rietumu Bank, Rietumu Capital Centre, 7 Vesetas Street 27.01.2011. Opening of the Exhibition Seasons in Painting, Rietumu Capital Centre, 7 Vesetas Street 1.12.2010. Opening of Laima Bikše's Exhibition, Rietumu Capital Centre, 7 Vesetas Street 20.10.2010. Opening of Dace Lielā's Exhibition, Rietumu Capital Centre, 7 Vesetas Street 14.05.2010. The President of Latvia is visiting Gallery Daugava to view the exhibition On the Way of Biruta Delle 7.05.2010. Art Academy students awarded Boriss Bērziņš’ scholarship 14.01.2010. The President of Latvia is visiting Aleksejs Naumovs' Exhibition Landscape. XXI Century Gallery Daugava 14.08.2009. Opening of the new Nordea house

Gallery Daugava 10/12 Alksnāja Street Ph. 371 67212896 daugava@galerijadaugava.lv Working hours: Tuesday–Friday 11.00 a.m.–6.00 p.m. Saturday 11.00 a.m.–6.00 p.m. Sunday, Monday closed