Orbita (collective)

Orbita is a Latvian Russian-language poetry and multimedia art collective formed in Riga, Latvia in 1999.

The Orbita Group performing their “Motopoesis” show in Riga, Latvia in June, 2019. Left to right: Semyon Khanin, Vladimir Svetlov, Artur Punte, and Sergej Timofejev.

History

Orbita was originally founded by five members: Semyon Khanin, Artur Punte, Vladimir Svetlov, Sergej Timofejev, and Zhorzh Uallik. At present, all founders (excluding Zhorzh Uallik) are active in the group. Additionally, the group is affiliated with a myriad of other Latvian and Russian artists and creatives spanning many genres and such forms of art as photography, composition, visual art.[1] Orbita is heavily involved in Latvian literary and visual culture. In fact, nearly all of the poetry presented by Orbita is published in Russian-Latvian bilingual editions.[1] The group organized five of "Word in Motion" multimedia poetry festivals between 2001 and 2011. It also founded a press, active since 2000, that publishes the collective's own poetry, but also poetry by other Latvian poets and authors, photography editions, and anthologies.[2]

To celebrate Riga as the EU's European Capital of Culture for 2014, Orbita presented the "Riga Poetry Map," a participatory installation inviting Riga's artists to add to it.[3] Their installation "2 Sonnets from Laputa" was featured in the 2015 Venice Biennale Collateral program.[4] The following year, the group went on tour in the United States to promote the release of "Hit Parade: The Orbita Group," a collection of Russian/English translations.[5] In 2018, Orbita's installations were featured in two Latvian festivals: the Riga International Biennial of Contemporary Art and Survival Kit 10.0.[6][7] Additionally, that year Orbita mounted a solo exhibition titled "Where Does The Poetry (or "Do Poems") Come From?"[8] In 2020, they collaborated with the National Library of Latvia to create "2020: A Prospective on Eternity," which ran until June of that year.[9]

Artistry

As a group, Orbita is known for its use of free verse, which is quite distinct from classical and even the majority of contemporary Russian-language poetry. Orbita is also known for their extensive ventures into video poetry and performance poetry.[10]

Much of the group's work observes and explores many themes relating to geography, borders, and the movement (both temporally and metaphorically) between these borders.[10]

Reception

Orbita has been cited as an influential force in the shaping of contemporary Latvian poetry.[11] The group has been well-received not only in Latvia, but in many other European and North American countries as well.[11] This reception includes things like exhibition and publishing of the group's works in festivals across these countries.

Recognition

As a group, Orbita has received the following awards:

  • Annual Literary Prize of the Union of Latvian Writers - 2005[2][12]
  • Annual Prize for the Best Photography Album - 2006[2][12]
  • Annual Prize for the Best Photograph Exhibit - 2007[2][12]
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References
  1. Platt, Kevin M. F. Global Russian Cultures. The University of Wisconsin Press, 2019.
  2. Platt, Kevin M. F. "About the Translation.". Orbita: The Project. Jean Boase-Beier (ed.). Cornwall: Arc Publications, 2018. 9-10. Print.
  3. Kultūra, DELFI (2014-01-07). "Tekstgrupa 'Orbīta' papildina Rīgas dzejas karti". delfi.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  4. "Arc Publications - Biographies". www.arcpublications.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  5. Bonta, Dave (2016-11-12). "The Orbita Poetry and Multi-Media Group to Tour in the United States". Moving Poems Magazine. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  6. Orbita (2018-09-12), Like thronging beasts, 2018, retrieved 2020-07-22
  7. www.rigabiennial.com https://www.rigabiennial.com/en/archive/riboca-1/artists/orbita. Retrieved 2020-07-22. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ""Where do poems come from?" Opening of the multimedia exhibition by "Orbita"". Arterritory.com. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  9. "Exhibition "2020: A Perspective on Eternity" | National Library of Latvia". www.lnb.lv. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  10. Platt, Kevin M. F. "Introduction.". Hit Parade: The Orbita Group." Platt, Kevin M. F. (ed.). Ugly Duckling Press, 2015. Print.
  11. Fowler, Steven J. "Introduction.". Orbita: The Project. Jean Boase-Beier (ed.). Cornwall: Arc Publications, 2018. 13-14. Print.
  12. Fedorova, Natalia. “Orbita.” ELMCIP, 1 Jan. 1970, elmcip.net/node/8428.
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