Painting titled "Seagull Flew over a…" by Janis Zingitis, Original Artwork, Oil

Seagull Flew over a Cookoo's Nest (2010) Painting by Janis Zingitis

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Original Artwork Painting, Oil

Artworks classification

Original Artwork

Original Artwork refers to any work that is considered authentic and not a copy or imitation of the original works of an artist. Original artwork can be any type of painting, sculpture, performance, or other media. There are many types of original media. Mixed media includes oil, acrylic, and watercolor paintings. For workshop paintings that bear evidence of master craftsmanship, this attribution must be further qualified. While they may be less valuable for different reasons, reproductions and copies have had a tremendous impact on our experience. They reach a greater audience than originals and act as a tonic against commodification. Original Artwork could also refer to the first work, which is always preceding all others. It could also refer to a prototype or a model from which other works can be made. Each work bears great similarities to the original.
Dimensions Height 47.2in, Width 1.2in

In my native country, Latvia, once lived a nation, called Livonians, or the Livs. Livs were the indigenous inhabitants of today’s Latvia. They settled there around 1800 BC and spoke a language that was similar to Estonian and Finnish and different form Latvian. Livs were fishermen, tradesmen and warriors. They were resilient people as in the course of 2000 years they survived many wars, plagues and famines.

The last of the Livs died in 2009. Today there are around 30 people who speak the Liv language as the second language.

In 1970-ties, when I was a child in summers I used to live in a fishing village on the west coast of Latvia, in the area where the Livs lived. (If you ask me where the paradise is my answer is that it is on the west coast of Latvia in the summer). As a child I once heard an old Liv woman say that the only time when she speaks her mother tongue is in her dreams when she speaks to her dead parents as none of the living people knows the language.

The population of my native country, Latvia, in the last 20 years has decreased by 450 000 people. If this decrease continues in a hundred years there will no more Latvians. Will my great grandchildren say that the only time they speak Latvian is when they speak to their dead parents in their dreams?

My painting is a tribute to the Livs, but it may well be a tribute to Latvians.

Janis Zingitis

Latvia

Janis Zingitis, a contemporary Latvian painter, is known for his profound exploration of realism as the ultimate abstraction. Born with an innate curiosity for capturing the essence[...]

Janis Zingitis, a contemporary Latvian painter, is known for his profound exploration of realism as the ultimate abstraction. Born with an innate curiosity for capturing the essence of existence, Zingitis believes that the human perception encompasses only a fraction of reality. Thus, he perceives realistic representation as a gateway to unveiling the unseen layers of the world's soul, a notion he fervently transmits through his artistic compositions.

Zingitis's artistic journey spans across various mediums, including watercolors, pastels, acrylics, and collage, each serving as a unique conduit for his creative expression. However, his current artistic endeavor revolves around the rekindling of his passion for oil painting, a medium he finds particularly conducive to his artistic vision.

Education played a pivotal role in shaping Zingitis's artistic trajectory. He graduated from the esteemed Janis Rozentals Art School in 1992, laying the foundation for his artistic prowess. Subsequently, he pursued higher education at the Latvian Academy of Art, specializing in the Department of Painting, where he honed his skills and refined his artistic philosophy, graduating in 1998.

Zingitis's quest for artistic enrichment extended beyond the borders of his homeland, as he embarked on a transformative academic journey at the University of Southern Maine in Portland, Maine, USA, from 1994 to 1995. This international exposure not only broadened his artistic horizons but also enriched his cultural perspective, influencing his artistic discourse.

Throughout his illustrious career, Zingitis has worn many hats, including that of a translator, art teacher, and headmaster of an art school, embodying his multifaceted approach to creativity and education. However, painting has remained the cornerstone of his identity, with Zingitis devoting himself to the craft since 1993.

Zingitis's artistic endeavors have garnered widespread acclaim, as evidenced by his participation in numerous exhibitions across Latvia, USA, Austria, Belgium, Norway, and Poland. His evocative works have found a permanent place in private collections around the globe, spanning across Latvia, USA, Austria, Belgium, France, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and beyond.