The Return. The Oldest Surviving Book in Latvian
The exhibition was an opportunity to see, in person, in Rīga, the oldest surviving book published in Latvian – the Catechism of Dutch Jesuit Petrus Canisius (1521–1597), translated into Latvian and published in 1585.
Although this book is a key testament of Latvian national cultural heritage, it is not permanently located in Latvia. The only complete copy of this publication is held by the Uppsala University Library (UUL, Sweden). Swedish troops took it across the Baltic Sea in 1621 as a spoil of war, along with other Jesuit books.
The ascetic design of the exhibition correlates with the vow of poverty given by the members of Jesuit order, as does the lowered gaze towards light boxes in the floor. Visitors are guided by a voice narrating the light boxes, where the historic story is laid out, before arriving at the climate controlled display case.
On display at the National Library of Latvia 21.09.2021. – 29.01.2022.
Curated by Gustavs Strenga
Design concept & Art direction by Anete Krumina
Design execution by Madara Lesīte-Volmane
Project management by Anda Boluža
Technical execution by Ainārs Egle & Eugene Sysoev
Photos by Madara Gritāne
