The Birth of an Exhibition. Curatorial Practices in Memory Institutions

The publication “The Birth of an Exhibition. Curatorial Practices in Memory Institutions” approaches the exhibition as an interdisciplinary form of expression positioned between art and cognition, between curator and researcher, and between visitor and institution, highlighting its capacity to transform complex content into an emotionally and intellectually engaging experience. At the heart of the book is the exhibition practice of the National Library of Latvia, which serves as a springboard for a broader insight into exhibition-making processes both in Latvia and internationally. The authors analyze the interaction between the roles of the curator and the researcher, the significance of exhibition design, issues of institutional responsibility and sustainability, as well as the visitor experience in contemporary cognitive exhibitions.

The book is compiled and edited by art historian and curator Anda Boluža and designer and curator Anete Krūmiņa. The contributing authors are historians, art historians, and curators: Ieva Astahovska, Anda Boluža, Pauls Daija, Anete Krūmiņa, Auguste Petre, Inta Pujāte, Andra Silapētere, Gustavs Strenga, Inga Surgunte, Maija Treile, Ineta Vaivode, and Zane Zajančkauska. Foreword by and project manager: Katrīna Teivāne.

Title: Izstādes dzimšana: kuratoriālās stratēģijas atmiņas institūcijās
Publisher: Latvijas Nacionālā bibliotēka
Design: Anete Krūmiņa
Language: Latvian
Release date: 2026