“In the dark times
Will there also be singing?
Yes, there will also be singing.
About the dark times.”
Bertolt Brecht, Svendborg Poems, 1939

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The Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art (LCCA) launches the 13th edition of its annual contemporary art festival Survival Kit, one of its key endeavors and a major art event in the Baltics.

The upcoming edition of Survival Kit 13 is conceived by curator iLiana Fokianaki and takes as its form of departure the cultural imprint of the Russian occupation of Latvia. The exhibition is titled The little bird must be caught, and is inspired by the homonymous title of a poem by Latvian poet Ojārs Vācietis, known and loved in the country not only for his literary talent, but also for his courage in discussing the political conditions of his time. His work addressed the oppression of the Soviet regime, but also spoke about global social issues, from his native Latvia.

The poem written during the latter period of the Soviet Union in the late ‘70s during Brezhnev’s rule, warns of the dangers of letting the little bird free to sing, hatch its eggs and continue being. It is an ironic allegory, in favor of free speech and against authoritarianism and repression. The poem reads urgent and timely, in a global reality where free speech and self-determination are threatened by far-right nationalism and authoritarianism.

Supported by NEON.