Optižūns

PIČIŅU PAČIŅU

17/01 - 20/02/2026

 

 

Optižūns “veterans” are visiting their neighbors in Madona, joining forces at Maboca Gallery “Universe Center 2” for the group exhibition “Pičiņu Pačiņu.”

It is widely known that the Optižūns festival took a break in 2025, so we will begin 2026 with an exhibition that introduces viewers to the theme of the upcoming festival, encourages reflection on both the outer and inner sauna, and invites everyone to cool down from the heat of everyday life. Following Optižūns traditions, the exhibition is based on dramaturgy, this time created by dramaturg Jānis Golubovs, inspired by Vilis Plūdons’ poem “Zaķīšu Pirtiņa” (The Little Bunnies’ Sauna). These texts may serve as a metaphor for inner and outer purification, comparable to society’s need for a pause from daily rush and life’s frenzy, or conversely, as an opportunity to rekindle familiar problems.

Both the texts written and found by J. Golubovs and the artworks in the exhibition could exist independently, yet when viewed as a whole, they create a new and deeper interpretation of each work’s message in both directions, as well as an opportunity for people to meet, get to know strangers, and form new connections without prejudice and with an open mind. This way of thinking may also be applied outside the gallery space and does not have to be connected to art at all! As is customary at Optižūns, the works are not confined to a specific medium or visual direction, resulting in a diverse exhibition experience that reflects contemporary art trends.

Exhibition opening: January 17 at 6:00 PM

 

At the opening:

Briežrags

Vija Moore x Raivo

DJ Hotglue

Exhibiting artists:

Aina Bikše

Katrīna Milta

Marta Madara Grantiņa

Matīss Daudziņš

Creative collective “PAMA”

Raivo Mihailovs

 

Exhibition scenographers: Ildze Jurkovska and Marianna Lapiņa
Exhibition dramaturg: Jānis Golubovs
Curator: Raivo Mihailovs

The exhibition is supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia.