RIGA IN CANVAS. 10 abandoned houses 10 years ago and now.

10 years ago I made an analogue photo series called "Riga's Make-ups". Its main purpose was to document once occupied, beautiful and impressive architecture heritage being abandoned and, ironically, covered in canvases imitating their facades. 10 years have passed, and I wanted to document the same buildings to see if things have been looking up or not.

"Riga's make-ups" was inspired by the works of an English photographer Will Webster in Moscow and responded to the growing amount of vacant houses in Riga back then. The series highlighted Riga's dilapidated buildings and their faux covers (whose aesthetics sadly and absurdly, yet ironically, even claimed to be a completely new art form, unconscious to the builders and owners themselves).

Ironically, 2014 was the year of Riga being the European Capital of Culture - a city that's historic centre is a UNESCO heritage. It was also the year of Free Riga, the contemporary placemaking pioneers in Latvia, marking empty and dilapidated buildings in the capital with yellow signs "Occupy me". Soon their work in placemaking would prove to be one of the most influential things happening to Riga it the 21st century with multiple addresses and creative quarters being revitalised and put back on the map. Meanwhile, the city was influenced by oligarchs, run by pro-Kremlinists, and faced many of its residents leaving and downshifting for smaller towns or suburbia. In short - it was a very busy and also a very schizophrenic moment in our lives.

 

Ten years have passed, and I'm back in the same addresses where I took the photos in 2014. It's interesting to see the various scenarios taking place at each of them - some buildings are gone, some are still forgotten, some ironically have new covers, some are renovated, some are renovated yet still empty. Who would've thought the pictures will be useful ten years later!

The best thing here - many places are different and it proves that the city is changing. The worst thing - some buildings are gone for good to be replaced by, for example, a parking. To conclude - have a look of these 10 best comparisons of then and now and decide for yourself. Sometimes it's just interesting to look at the changing urban landscape without making any assumptions. After all - the city is a living organism, and Riga will never be ready!

(NB. It takes a wee time to load the sliders and there is a weird white gab between them, thanks for your patience :)