Sound performance in Kuldīga honors historic 1905 park before planned changes

A sound performance titled "They Remember" took place in Kuldīga's 1905 park, aiming to draw attention to the site before it undergoes planned reconstruction. The event was organized by Maija Rudovska, head of the Studija art space, who explained it was not a protest but a chance to gather and remember the park as generations of Kuldīga residents have known it.

Participants imitated bird calls using clay whistles, while folklorist Ina Celitāne responded with traditional Kurzeme folk songs. The concept was brought to life by Polish artist Veronika Trojanska, currently in residence at Studija, who works with sound and other contemporary art forms. After learning about the town's and the park's history, she chose the bird as a symbol of the coming changes.

Personal memories tied to the park

Several Kuldīga residents attended, each with their own connection to the park. Ināra Ciņš recalled accounts of tragic events at Gotlība farmstead in 1919 and stressed the historical importance of the 1905 events for Latvia, expressing concern that a lack of historical knowledge sometimes leads people to mistakenly associate them with communism. He said the park's paths could be improved, but historical evidence should not simply be removed. Baiba Ciņa remembered walking through the park with her children on the way to kindergarten, as well as a Popular Front-era anti-war action once held there. Another visitor, Gaida, came because she personally knew sculptor Līvija Rezevska, whose monuments in the park are set to be relocated.

Artist Ilze Vanaga photographed attendees during the event, creating a kind of portrait gallery of the afternoon. According to Rudovska, documenting both the place and the people is important now, since the park may look very different within a year.

The performance is part of the project "Es un Līvija" (Me and Līvija). Until September 30, Studija, located in the Kaļķu Street quarter, is open Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00 to 18:00, showcasing works by contemporary female artists that engage with Rezevska's artistic legacy.