Ghost Of Lats is a tribute to ex-currency of Latvia - Lats. It was swaped to Euro in 2014. Old money was gathered in Latvia Central Bank and destroyed. There was a little public anger, fear, excitement and other mixed emotions. At the time topic was hot also in Latvia Art Academy, and students were told to make tribute to money reform. I found one of artwork excellent - made by Rihards Ābeltiņš (picture below with wells lid in original size and picture of one Lat coin on it). I myself made a ghost like installation of thread printed with ex-currency paper banknotes.
Later on I came to an idea to combine both and install it the way that ghost of Lats emerges out of a well that has a lid with a picture of one Lats coin on it (made by Rihards Ābeltiņš). Installation of this kind have not been exposed in public.
There has been at least 2 attempts to contact Bank Of Latvia to arrange given sculpture by Rihards Ābeltiņš be casted from original metal used in Lats coins. Both attempts were kindly rejected. In my case ansver was that there is not enough metal available, which sounds more of a diplomatic way to say Bank doesnt want to be involved. I also un derstand their position, as this kind of sculpture and installation casts shadow on introduction of euro and disposal of national currency lats. National currency is attached to the pride of people, which is ususally shifted from rational to emotional and irrational attitude.
Later on I came to an idea to combine both and install it the way that ghost of Lats emerges out of a well that has a lid with a picture of one Lats coin on it (made by Rihards Ābeltiņš). Installation of this kind have not been exposed in public.
There has been at least 2 attempts to contact Bank Of Latvia to arrange given sculpture by Rihards Ābeltiņš be casted from original metal used in Lats coins. Both attempts were kindly rejected. In my case ansver was that there is not enough metal available, which sounds more of a diplomatic way to say Bank doesnt want to be involved. I also un derstand their position, as this kind of sculpture and installation casts shadow on introduction of euro and disposal of national currency lats. National currency is attached to the pride of people, which is ususally shifted from rational to emotional and irrational attitude.
This is first embodiment of Ghost Of Lats - a snippet of money printed on cloth I got from Alyona Bauska fashion design workshop QooQoo. After some time I started to think about having bigger piece of it. Finally I got it and it was really big and totally usable for putting up shows and installations.
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One Lid (Viens Vāks) - Sculpture by Rihards Ābeltiņš made during Latvia transit to Euro money. I found this sculpture in workshops of Arts Academy of Latvia and noticed that idea it carries is very much like installation of Ghost Of Lats. I got this sculpture from artist to exhibit at SSE Riga (Stockholm Scholl Of Economics Riga).
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