International Symposium “ElektrON – The Future of Amber”

On Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13, the International Symposium “ElektrON – The Future of Amber” will take place in Liepāja and Pāvilosta as part of the “Liepāja 2027” programme.

The symposium’s public program will open on Friday, June 12, with a lecture by German artist Lisa Rave at the Art Research Laboratory (MPLab) of RTU Liepāja Academy, located at 13 Kūrmājas Prospect, Liepāja. In her artistic practice, Lisa Rave explores human relationships with the geological environment, combining perspectives from art and anthropology. Following the artist’s discussions with the audience, her essay film “Europium” (2014) will be screened.

On Saturday, June 13, the symposium will continue at the Pāvilosta Cultural Center. From 13:00 to 16:00, a series of presentations will explore the cultural and historical significance of amber, as well as its potential in contemporary art and technological culture. Speakers will include artist and curator Zane Cērpiņa (Norway), Latvian Academy of Arts professor and designer Barbara Ābele, new media artist and researcher Paula Vītola, and Sigita Talačkiene, Director of the Palanga Amber Museum (Lithuania), along with other guests.

Starting at 16:00, symposium attendees will have the opportunity to discover the artistic visions developed within the “ElektrON – The Future of Amber” project as part of the PAiR residency research process. The participating artists presenting their projects will be Michael Saup (Germany), Mikus Svikulis (Latvia), Ieva Viese (Latvia), Zane Zelmene (Latvia), Aistė Ambrazevičiūtė (Lithuania), Kim Hankyul (Norway), Trevor Yeung (Hong Kong), and Helen Liene Dreifelds (Canada).

The symposium is part of the project “ElektrON – The Future of Amber,” which seeks to rediscover amber as a symbol of the Baltic Sea coast’s identity while critically re-examining perceptions of fossil resources and their role in today’s world. The international symposium forms part of a broader art and research process, the results of which will be presented in the exhibition “ElektrON – The Future of Amber” at the Liepāja Museum from January 8 to June 27, 2027, marking the opening of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme.

Participation free of charge; pre-registration requested.

Organised by: Association “ASTE. Art, Science, Technology, Education ” in collaboration with “VV foundation” Pāvilosta Artist in Residency (PAiR).