Rīga Stradiņš University Anatomy Museum Holds Sketching and Music Festival saMAŅA: ANATOMIJA

This summer, from 4 to 6 August, the Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU) Anatomy Museum, the group Drink and Draw Latvia, and the association Musica Humana are organising the sketching and music festival saMAŅA: ANATOMIJA in collaboration with the RSU Student Union and the RSU Alumni Association. Participants do not need to have a background in art, music, or anatomy. Everyone is invited to enjoy the special atmosphere of the Anatomy Museum and its courtyard to explore the diversity of the human body in a creative way by taking part in sketching sessions with live models, sketching anatomical preparations, audiovisual performances, a lecture on anatomy, and other activities.

The festival is taking place for the second time this year and focuses on sketching the human figure and exploring anatomy. Sketching figures, including nude models, is not only a technical learning experience, but also an opportunity to get to know yourself. The audience’s participation in the sketching process helps to reduce prejudices about what a correct or beautiful body should look like, and fosters an accepting attitude towards others and yourself. ‘The human body, as depicted in anatomy books, is an abstract, simplified model. In real life everyone is unique. We differ not only in muscle mass, length or fat layer, but also, as we can see in the Anatomy Museum’s collection, in the positioning of our organs or the number of bones. Diversity became the main point of contact between the museum and Drink and Draw and core value in organising the festival,’ says Assistant Professor and Head of the Anatomy Museum Ieva Lībiete.

Among the participants will be para-rower and #BeActive European Week of Sport 2022 ambassador Krists Mickēvičs, who points out that ‘Nothing is impossible and there is light at the end of the tunnel even in the worst situations. I had already retired from hockey and motocross before my accident, but I kept thinking that I could have made it to the Olympics one day. Parasports has given me that opportunity and I will do everything I can to qualify for the Paralympics in Paris or Los Angeles. I am taking part in the festival so that people can look at my body. Children call me a transformer, adults call me a terminator. This is no barrier to leading a full and meaningful life!’

The idea for the festival was created by Drink and Draw, who will organise the sketching activities, and Musica Humana, who are responsible for the musical programme. The interactive anatomy lecture will be organised in collaboration with the company Anatomy Next. Artist and head of Drink and Draw Kristīna Virse, conductor and musicologist Kristiāna Vaickovska, singer and conductor Pēteris Vaickovskis, guitarist Rihards Lībietis, composer Platons Buravickis, artist and head of Anatomy Next Uldis Zariņš, and other prominent participants will take part in the festival.

The festival is supported by the Latvian Paralympic Committee, Vilhelms, Maraprint, MAKE, Sidrērija, CITA cidonija, Anatomy Next, Radio NABA and Kseda UAB.

The festival is open to adults only. Everything needed for sketching will be provided.

Tickets

RSU staff get a 25% discount. Please write to anatomijas[pnkts]muzejsrsu[pnkts]lv to receive the discount code.