Since February 2023, Zuzeum has welcomed visitors to the ceramics exhibition Celebrate Porcelain with Kuznetsov to discover the rich history of the Kuznetsov porcelain and appreciate its artistic apogee in the Riga factory during the interwar period. The first porcelain factory to be established in Latvia – the Kuznetsov factory in Riga – occupies an important place in the history of Kuznetsov porcelain. It was the only one to carry the Kuznetsov name in the interwar period when all other factories of the Kuznetsov family in Soviet Russia had been nationalized. This period coincided with considerable global changes, which were reflected in art through the formation of entirely new, distinct artistic styles.
We offer you the catalog of the exhibition, which contains photos and information on nearly 2000 objects on view. The story of Kuznetsov porcelain in Zuzāns collection began with a decorative dish Wedding by Romans Suta. Although the initial focus was only on works that could be classified as art porcelain, over time the collection expanded to include a wide variety of objects made in the Kuznetsov factories as examples of the industrial production of the era. Today, it has developed into a magnificent, multifaceted collection that shows diverse artistic and technical aspects of porcelain production.
The object photographs are accompanied by information about the factories and the main themes of the inter-war period, which were prominent in the collection’s objects – Art Deco, Latvian national style, small figurines, and others. The catalog also includes visual materials from Zuzāns Collection, historical photographs, and porcelain production materials from other private collections, as well as photographic fragments from the video created for the exhibition.
The delicate and inventive scenography of the exhibition and the large-scale objects conceived by architect Toms Kampars is what allow the porcelain objects to shine. Toms Kampars explains, “In some places, the feast of subtle imagery is interrupted by larger-scale object installations that offer the opportunity to explore the porcelain forms by touching them and viewing them in blown-up dimensions. Rest your feet on the profile of a mug, take a photo in a teapot, or step through a vase.” While these design elements can only be seen for a fleeting moment in the exhibition hall, they are immortalized through the photographs on the pages of this publication, providing an informative and historical reference to these unique objects.
It can be purchased in the Zuzeum shop, price – 25 EUR.
For shipping options contact hello@zuzeum.com
The catalog is available in Latvian, Russian, and English.
The exhibition Celebrate Porcelain with Kuznetsov is on view at Zuzeum until 6th August 2023.
