LNMA Publishes Collection of Articles "Muzeja raksti 10"
The Latvian National Museum of Art invites readers to explore the new edited volume of “Muzeja raksti” (Museum Writings), published as the 10th edition in the series. The launch event will take place in the Conference Hall of the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE on Friday, 12 June 2026, at 12:00 PM.
The collection of articles "Muzeja raksti 10" addresses the themes of authenticity and originality from diverse perspectives, highlighting the Foreign Art Collection of Plaster Casts of the Latvian National Museum of Art and its history. The topics of the publications cover the international scientific lectures "Authenticity in Museum Collections. Experience, Critique and Future Perspectives", which took place at the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE in 2024, reflecting collaboration with both foreign and local researchers and practitioners. The new volume combines articles and interviews, creating an interdisciplinary and rich insight into the researched topics within the context of international cast collections, as well as the fields of contemporary art, graphic art, numismatics, decorative applied art, culture, and art history.
Museum Writings 10 is available in Latvian and English and is divided into four main thematic sections. This volume of articles is introduced by the Head of the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE, PhD Daiga Upeniece. The opening section of this volume focuses on plaster casts and their collections, bringing together contributions from both local and international curators, art historians, and cultural heritage specialists. The authors examine the provenance and history of specific collections, the complexities of their preservation, and their enduring role in art-historical research. Furthermore, the articles explore the intersection of plaster casts with contemporary art, investigating their reception and significance as autonomous art objects.
The second section explores the concepts of authenticity and originality through three distinct studies. The authors analyze these notions from the perspective of diverse cultural identities, evaluating authenticity also as a critical determinant of material cultural heritage value. Furthermore, this section interrogates the boundaries between reproduction, originality, and reconstruction, identifying their historical points of intersection.
The third section presents a series of case studies examining authenticity and originality, drawing insights from historians, art researchers, curators, archivists, and contemporary artists. The contributors analyze the authenticity of specific collections, including ancient coinage, decorative arts, and historical slides. Additionally, this section evaluates the criteria and parameters of originality within graphic art, while interrogating the mutability and transformation of authenticity in contemporary art practices.
The volume concludes with an interview section featuring seven international researchers and leading experts, offering critical insights into plaster cast collections and their respective workshops across Europe. The dialogues engage professors of classical archaeology, museum directors, heritage curators, and heads of sculpture collections and casting workshops. Collectively, these interviews establish a broader international context, illuminating the historical significance, provenance, and interpretive potential of the domestic collection.
As this is the first edition in the series to specifically highlight the Foreign Plaster Cast Collection of the Latvian National Museum of Art, we highly recommend visiting the permanent display of Antique and Renaissance Plaster Casts Forest of Sculptures at the Museum Storage Facility (8 Pulka Street). Admission to the exhibition is free of charge. Visiting hours: On Wednesdays (from 11:00 to 19:00), Thursdays, and Fridays (from 11:00 to 17:00).
The Latvian National Museum of Art began publishing Muzeja raksti in 2009 with the aim of publishing the results of the research work carried out by museum specialists – papers and articles – occasionally including the work of other researchers presented at conferences organized by the museum. Nine books have been published so far, and now the tenth is being offered to readers.
The book launch of Muzeja raksti 10 will take place on 12 June at 12:00 PM in the Conference Hall of the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE. Before the event, visitors will have the opportunity to view the museum's permanent exhibition and the current temporary exhibition.
Publication Details
Muzeja raksti 10
Texts of the collection of articles are in Latvian and English.
Compiler: Mare Heimrāte-Patačīni
Latvian Text Editor: Antra Bula
Latvian and English Translator: Marita Gintare, translation agency "iztulkot.lv"
English Text Editor: Uldis Brūns
Design: Rauls Liepiņš, SIA "Al secco"
Publisher: Latvian National Museum of Art, Riga
Printed by: Jelgavas tipogrāfija, 2026
Details: 418 pages, color and black-and-white illustrations
Circulation: 300 copies
The collection was published with the financial support of the State Culture Capital Foundation. The event is supported by "SALA" bakery.
Purchase
The book can be purchased at the souvenir shop of the Latvian National Museum of Art, at the ticket office of the Art Museum RIGA BOURSE, and online by filling out a form. Upon receiving the request, a museum staff member will contact you. For the first time, the collection will also be available online on the Latvian National Museum of Art's website.