Fundraising is underway for the implementation of a monument project dedicated to Eduards Rozenštrauhs at the Meža Cemetery in Riga, and everyone is invited to support the initiative.
In sculptural art, masters typically strive for simplicity, discarding all unnecessary elements. This time will be different - I will strive to retain everything possible! Flower beds, countless embraces, kisses, a sea of spectators who brought their cushions to concerts, numerous songs, repeated calls, several concerts a day, sincere love, alongside endurance and a firm stance - all this once again characterizes Eduards Rozenštrauhs' creative peak, manifested alongside Latvia's awakening.
Today, on the Instagram platform, there is an effect where photos can be showered with petals and gifts. A similar effect was always enjoyed on the live stage by the esteemed artist, receiving homemade gingerbreads, a wreath of midsummer flowers, and even a blue hat. It is noteworthy that the translation of his surname means "rose bush," which I plan to playfully incorporate into this work. Songs of everyday life genre literally ingrained themselves in the auditory memory just like magnetic tape recordings. I remember in early childhood, sliding down steep hills with slingshots, pushing off and melodiously shouting "Oh, mother Latgale!!!" I learned that this song was also by Rozenštrauhs, only now, starting this project. He always emphasized that stories are for the people. Time has passed, but what about us, have we said "thank you"? I plan to carve the sculpture with my own hands at the Kurzeme workshop. Stone roses, never withering, are a gratitude for the creative contribution to life. Specifically for this project, I have designed several stylized samples of roses in red Latvian stone. They will be carved, planted, and secured on the monument's slab. Eduards' expressive gesture and the composition of the figure will evolve during the work process, at a 1:1 scale. The total height of the monument is approximately 2.2 meters.
The stone chosen will be polished and sculpted to reveal the natural tone of the Latvian flag as it caresses and adorns the musician's neck. The texture of the remaining surface will be meticulously chiseled with alternating rough backgrounds. What are roses without their sharpness? The performer's autograph will be etched on the background slab, and the years will be carved in figurative stone, currently set on a semi-circular stage.
Link to the video: https://youtu.be/pt0BQ_9jfwM?si=m0K1kX5VRFsQ313Q
Author of the work - sculptor Ronalds Jaunzems (www.Jaunzems.Lv)
