Guntis Pakalns will participate in a conference at the Rainis and Aspazija Summer House

On 11 October at 1:00 p.m., the annual scholarly readings will take place at the Rainis and Aspazija Summer House in Jūrmala (Jāņa Pliekšāna iela 5/7). This year’s theme is “From Myths and Folklore to Aspazija’s Play Zalša līgava.”

Since June this year, the exhibition “Two Worlds. On the Border. Aspazija’s Play Zalša līgava” has been on view at the Rainis and Aspazija Summer House. In the exhibition, research into the play’s creation, its mythological layers, and the idea of world renewal—conducted by Astrīda Cīrule, researcher at the Rainis and Aspazija Museum, in collaboration with scenographer Reinis Suhanovs—has resulted in a multifaceted artistic interpretation.

In connection with the exhibition and the play—which marks 95 years since its publication in 2023—this year’s annual scholarly readings at the Rainis and Aspazija Summer House are dedicated specifically to Aspazija’s play Zalša līgava. The play is based on Latvian and Lithuanian fairy tales as well as myths of the ancient world. Its mythological layers, symbols, and the idea of world renewal constitute a broad field of research and lend themselves to rich, multi-layered artistic interpretation.

The scholarly readings will bring together folklore and literature researchers to explore in depth the genealogy of the play’s creation, its sources of inspiration, and its cultural-historical contexts. Among the participants will be Guntis Pakalns, researcher at the Institute of Literature, Folklore and Art of the University of Latvia (LU LFMI), with the paper “The Fairy Tale Zalkša līgava in the Context of European Folk Tales.”

Programme available here:
https://memorialiemuzeji.lv/events/no-mitiem-un-folkloras-lidz-aspazijas-lugai-zalsa-ligava/