From the afternoon of May 18 to the morning of May 19, the Riga Porcelain Museum will host an exhibition specially arranged for the Museu Night, dedicated to a special and complex technique of creating porcelain - lithophany.

The Museum Night in 2024 is held under the motto "Explore and acquire, study and understand". In the display windows of the Riga Porcelain Museum, from the afternoon of May 18 to the morning of May 19, visitors will see exposition specially arranged for the Museum Night dedicated to a special and complex technique of creating porcelain - lithophany. In Latvia, only one artist works with lithophany - Ilona Romule. It is Ilona Romule who increases awereness  about this technique to other artists in world; she runs a workshop every year at the Porcelain Factory in Kecskemet, Hungary. It is visited by professional artists from all over the world and subsequently take the secrets of lithophany home, each to their own country - the USA, Belgium, the Netherlands, Georgia, Germany, etc.

What makes lithophany special? With very thin porcelain, most often a plate, which has been cast in such a way that in everyday conditions it can seem like a simple plate, but when properly illuminated, it reveals a secret - there is a relief on its surface, which becomes visible thanks to the light and almost like a shadow theater reveals the hidden images of the artist , scenes and compositions. The lithophany technique is close to the engraving technique, which is very common for creating openwork solutions in porcelain. However, unlike engraving directly on porcelain, lithophany is more complicated, as it involves removing the casting in the material from a previously prepared surface. Given the fragility of porcelain, its tendency to warp when fired, and other technological challenges and obstacles, a high level of craftsmanship and experience is required to achieve a filigree, delicate, and artistically superior result.

During the International Museum Night, apropriate conditions will be created to experience porcelain lithophanes in the Riga Porcelain Museum's window in the courtyard of the Konventa Sēta; it will be especially impressive in the dark hours of the day! Inspired by the motto of the Museum Night, we invite you to explore, research and gain an understanding of how delicate, beautiful and special porcelain lithophany is!

Publicity Image: Museum Night. Lithophany. Author Ilona Romule. Riga Porcelain Museum. Photo: Gvido Kajons