Anthology Illuminates Latvia's NSRD, Pioneers of Participatory Art

A 2016 bilingual anthology published by the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art offers the first comprehensive study of the experimental group Workshop for the Restoration of Unfelt Feelings (NSRD). Founded by Juris Boiko (1954-2002) and Hardijs Lediņš (1955-2004), NSRD was active primarily in the 1980s, blending music, architectural theory, philosophy, and visual arts to produce Latvia's first multimedia and participatory artworks. The 480-page volume, edited by Ieva Astahovska and Mara Žeikare, organizes archival materials into sections on key projects like the Walks to Bolderāja and Binocular Dances, alongside essays by Latvian scholars such as Māra Traumane and Jānis Taurens. These participatory walks from Riga to Bolderāja covered about 10 miles along railway tracks, while Binocular Dances involved meditative eye exercises. The book highlights NSRD's concept of 'Approximate Art,' which blurred boundaries between artistic mediums. Influences cited include John Cage, Charles Jencks, and the Slovenian collective NSK, though the group forged a distinct path. Despite gaps in analysis—such as limited discussion of postmodernism in Latvia or NSRD's local impact—the publication makes previously scattered materials accessible internationally, filling a significant research void in contemporary art history.