The exhibition features the photos of publicly significant monuments, memorial plates and decorative sculptures that reflect Riga sculpture sites over several centuries (1682 – 2012). Many of these architectonically and plastically created monuments have become symbols incorporating the signs of the destiny of the Latvian people.

The exhibition proves that Riga can be proud of such outstanding samples of monumental sculpture as the Freedom Monument (1935) and ensemble of the Brethren Cemetery created by Karlis Zale - the founder of the Latvian monumental sculpture. The image of Latvian writer Rudolfs Blaumanis has been embodied in stone (1929) by Karlis Zale’s contemporary Teodors Zalkalns, however, the monument to poet Rainis (1965) by Karlis Zemdega symbolizes incessant moral strength.

Latvian sculpture still features mass tectonics and traditions of granite hewing as seen, for example, in the monument to the first General Latvian Song Festival (1973). The large diversity of contents and forms of Latvian sculpture is reflected in the decorative works of figural sculpture in the parks of Riga. Young sculptors, however, are bringing new shapes, materials and finishing solutions into the city environment.

Publicity photo – outdoor sculpture “Inhabitants of Riga” (2012)