Ojārs Pētersons (1956)
Latvia

"Born on March 10, 1956, in Riga.
1970 – 1975 Architecture Department of Riga Applied Arts Secondary School.
1975 – 1980 Design Department of the Latvian Academy of Arts.
Since 1990, a lecturer at the Visual Communication Department of the Latvian Academy of Arts.
Since 2015, head of the department KAS (Movement. Image. Sound)
Participated in exhibitions since 1976"
(Source, website, LMA)

"Ojārs Pētersons is one of the generation of so-called "border breakers", who in the 80s of the 20th century brought a new, bold way of expression and messages to Latvian art. In his posters, graphics, installations and video installations, he has used metaphors and symbols that comment on current times. Peterson is also one of t. s. "super-graphics", whose large-format neo-expressionist graphic works figuratively reflected the social and political contradictions of their era, elevating them to philosophical generalizations and apt visual metaphors. Images of breakouts and hunger for brightness became the main motifs in the stylistically similar graphic works of Peterson and his associates.

Two unique Peterson silkscreens that have added to the LNMM collection belong to the "Continuous Selection" cycle. The theme of continuous and inevitable choice as a guiding motif permeates many of the artist's works. The grand cyclopean people in these scenes tear down walls, climb over obstacles and break out of the darkness. They are simultaneously heroic and tragic characters - the "Sisyphus" of their time, who make a choice despite the apparent hopelessness and destiny to always return to the zero situation. They cannot do otherwise, because the thirst for action and breakthrough is greater than the fear of failure."
(Source, website, Makslaskolekcija)

Work :

• Orange Tele-footbridge (1986)