The Photorealist Period

Exhibition Līga Purmale. The Garden of Past Pleasures

During her studies, Līga Purmale was indifferent to the then-dominant so-called 'harsh style' – deformed and disproportional compositions, simplified and more abstracted forms, accentuated rhythm, and a focus on colour and texture in painting. The artist chose a different path. Her works had no place for accidental colour excesses or expressive sensations. Instead, she searched for the beauty of photographic precision, striving to create painterly images closer to real life. During this period, Purmale's works were notable for a unique technical approach – the artist painted reality employing the effects of photographic negatives and colour solarisation. Her paintings are like chance instants recorded through the camera's lens, yet they are not frozen – the intensity of their colours creates the impression of movement. In these works, there were no heightened emotions or symbolism – she put the focus on everyday moments captured using simple photographic precision.