Dārta Madara Cielava studies at a Master’s program in painting. Although the artist is a painter by education, other media and materials also play a significant role in her practice. Each technical solution is chosen deliberately, as painting becomes a language that freely transcends the boundaries of a single medium.

The author of the exhibition reflects: “I am a student; I have school, work, and home. And at home, I also work, paint, write, and send endless rows of emails. Routine arises from comfort and the connection of small problems and joys. I am affected by expensive heating in a rental house; I am affected by stupid, ill-considered expressions uttered by people whose staged plays we are all subjected to. My bed is my safety; it is like the starting point of a coordinate plane. I am not untouchable; I am in a cage of my own building. Stepping out of it, a new act begins.”

In her works, Dārta Madara Cielava perceives everyday objects as signs that form a personal visual language. Compositions are formed intuitively, seeking connections between the visible and the experienced, between the physical environment and its emotional resonance. The artist does not try to provide unambiguous answers but rather draws attention to questions and experiences that characterize the daily life of a modern person. In the paintings, impasto brushstrokes, bright colors, and unpainted areas of linen canvas intermingle. This contrast creates a balance between presence and absence, allowing meaning to form not only in what is depicted but also in what remains unsaid.

Dārta Madara Cielava became the laureate of the 2025 competition exhibition “Artists of Ogre Municipality” with the work “Grandpa Doesn’t Know My Name,” which depicted a personal story of the artist. The jury commission consisted of Māris Grosbahs, curator of exhibitions at the Ogre History and Art Museum, photographer Georgs Avetisjans, art historian Māra Lāss, graphic artist and art historian Valdis Villerušs, and scenographer and multimedia artist Ineta Sipunova. The winner of the competition’s main prize received the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition in 2026 in the museum’s Great Hall. Through the work “Grandpa Doesn’t Know My Name,” the author touches upon a relevant and new theme in Latvian painting—dementia. It is important for the Ogre History and Art Museum to support young artists from the region, promote their professional growth, and enhance the visibility of their work in the broader cultural space.

The exhibition will be open to visitors from July 3 to September 27.

Exhibition artist: Dārta Madara Cielava

Project manager: Elīna Cērpa

Creative process mentor: Madara Kvēpa

Graphic design: Kristīne Martinova

Photo: Oksana Okmi Mizgajeva

The exhibition tells the story of the struggle for freedom by the people of Latvia and Ogre Municipality, leading to the independence of the Republic of Latvia.

The exhibition provides an understanding of the continuity of the Road to Freedom, the heroism demonstrated by the people of Latvia and the Ogre region, and the sacrifices made in the name of freedom. The exhibition highlights key events in Latvia’s struggle for independence and presents significant personalities from the Ogre region who took part in these historical events.
The exhibition conveys the understanding that the freedom and independence of the Republic of Latvia are fundamental values – values that also define the freedom and independence of each individual. It emphasises that state independence was historically won through great courage, perseverance, and sacrifice.

Visitors are invited to embark on the Road to Freedom, beginning in the early 20th century, when the idea of Latvia’s independence first emerged. The journey leads through the trenches of the Latvian Riflemen and the War of Independence, ultimately arriving at the establishment of Latvia as an independent state. The exhibition emphasises that the struggle for the country and its independence continued throughout the long years of occupation, culminating in the events of 1990–1991. The exhibition concludes with reflections on the responsibility of preserving the state and its freedom.

In the new building of the Ogre History and Art Museum at Brīvības Street 2, on the third floor, visitors can experience the guided tour “Us or Them”, accompanied by a museum specialist. The tour takes place in a specially designed space that allows visitors to form an emotional connection with Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine. The room displays authentic military artefacts and materials from Ukraine, deposited by the Chernihiv charity fund DOBRODIYA. Tours are held on weekdays (except Tuesdays) and are available only with a guide – a military specialist.

Video series about the Ogre History and Art Museum’s exhibition “Road to Freedom”

Narrated by: Dr. hist. Ritvars Jansons, Deputy Director for Scientific Work at the Ogre History and Art Museum

Video by: Oksana Okmi Mizgajeva

1. Where in Ogre Municipality did the battles of the Latvian Riflemen take place?

5. Was there an attack during the Barricades of 1991?