https://elephant.art/biennial-breathes-new-life-forgotten-buildings-latvia/
Art, Weetabix and a Zombie Apocalypse in Latvia
The remarkable architecture of an abandoned biology faculty lends itself well to installations that question human behaviour within the natural world, as the new Riga Biennial of Contemporary Art welcomes more than one hundred artists to the Latvian capital. Words by Holly Black
…The far more utilitarian set-up at Andrejsala (an industrial port area) focuses on Riga’s history as a trading post and the connection with (and occupation by) the Soviet Union. A reclaimed boat forms the prominent exhibition space, but the real gems are found in the vicinity of a (badly signposted) warehouse. On the approach, a sinister livestock trailer appears abandoned, until you hear a booming and crashing from within. Is someone trapped? Are we in danger? Is this the beginning of the zombie apocalypse? In fact, it’s a sound installation by Estonian artist Jevgeni Zolotko, known for his ability to ignite an emotional response through simple cues that evoke a collective fear of an impending doomsday.
Another Armageddon seems feasible in Alex Destoop’s documentary film Phantom Sun. The piece presents parallel narratives that tell of abandoned industrial sites and even whole villages along the Norwegian-Russian border. Heavy snowfall envelops buildings that never technically existed, and mounds of discarded gas masks tell of forgotten fears of mass poisoning. It marries together the bitter reality of conflict and commerce, as present-day container ships roll into harbours, before the narrative switches to old battlefields.
The film is enthralling, and the chill of the Norwegian winter seems more real than the baking sun outside. This immersion is as much a testament to the film as it is to the incredibly attentive installation process (the exceptional sound and epic proportions of the screen truly envelop you), which is of an impressively high standard throughout the biennial.