Jēkaba Bīnes ornamenta teorijas un lietojuma izmaiņas pēckara periodā. Uzskatu evolūcija vai konformisms?

Abstract

Latvian ornament is an integral part of Latvian identity. Ornament is one of the sources of Latvian life wisdom – a set of spiritual and moral values. The theory of Latvian ornament symbolism was first developed in Latvia by Ernests Brastiņš (1892–1942) and later supplemented by Jēkabs Bīne (1895–1955). Both Bīne and Brastiņš can be considered representatives of the mythological school, who sought expressions of ancient Baltic mythology in ornamentation. They were dievturi – followers of the recently created Latvian neo-pagan religious movement. Bīne widely popularised his aesthetic views and ornament theory in the interwar period press and monographic publications. Since 1940, this movement has been officially banned, and its members have been repressed. The views of the mythological school were contested and denied.

The study aims to clarify Bīne’s views and their evolution in both theory and artistic creation during the Soviet period, from 1944 until the artist’s death in 1955. The research comprises the analysis of archival and museum materials, press publications, and the artist’s extensive creative legacy. In this report, the author has attempted to develop his own view on the subject, possibly an alternative version of the existing concept of the evolution of Bīne’s views on ornamentation in the post-war period. This publication represents a segment of the broader research conducted in 2012.