Under the Sun

The exhibition Under the Sun began as a conversation between two contemporary art spaces located on either side of Europe: TUR in Riga and 1646 in The Hague. At a time when Europe’s social and political fabric feels increasingly fragile, it becomes necessary to reinforce cultural relationships and deepen mutual understanding through artistic exchange. Art, at its most vital, opens a space to reflect with nuance, to listen closely, and to respond thoughtfully. From this shared belief in the importance of dialogue grew the foundations of this exhibition: a collaboration shaped by four artistic practices and three curatorial visions from two independent art spaces. The exhibition, in its tone and themes, echoes the impulse that initially brought TUR and 1646 together: a desire to engage with the present through art.

The four artists in this exhibition – Eric Giraudet de Boudemange, Agnieszka Polska, Līga Spunde, and Agate Tūna – were invited for the distinct ways their practices engage with the conditions of contemporary life: how we make sense of the world around us, and how we navigate our place within it. Their works explore how we respond to a time shaped by ecological collapse, war on our borders, rising political unease, technological saturation, and a longing for spiritual grounding. The artists are united by a shared attentiveness to the emotional and ethical dimensions of contemporary life, even as their methods and materials diverge. Within the exhibition, their visions come together as an extended layer of perspective that shifts between planetary, psychological, and metaphysical realms, a constellation made up of distinct sensibilities that overlap and diverge. Together, they invite the viewer to reflect not only on what we see, but on how we respond and what forces shape our capacity to remain present, perceptive, and responsive in this liminal time.