Unique contemporary street art piece in a sports setting!
In July this year, the Sigulda Bobsleigh and Luge Track unveiled “The First Ride,” the longest street art work by a single artist ever created in Latvia. On a 184-metre-long concrete wall, internationally renowned Latvian street artist KIWIE has depicted a scene familiar to many from childhood — a ride on a sled — through 90 individual drawings, creating an animation-like visual story.
“The wall of the Sigulda Bobsleigh and Luge Track is unusually long and narrow. From the very first moment it reminded me of a strip of film, and именно this association became the starting point for the idea to create not a single static painting, but an animation. It is an unusual solution in public art in Latvia and at the same time an experiment that allowed us to test the boundaries both technically and creatively,”
artist KIWIE.
The main characters of the animation are a little girl on a sled and a little boy who pushes her down the hill. The sled is made from Sigulda’s symbol—walking sticks—creating a link to the place where the artwork is located, while also serving as a symbolic connection to Sigulda’s identity. The realization of the wall drawing project took a month and two days, but work on the creative concept began much earlier. The work is also unique because it is entirely hand-drawn, without using stencils, and this approach requires high precision.
In each of the 90 sequentially depicted frames, elements can be seen in the background that characterize Sigulda— landscapes, culture, speed, luge sport, and the city’s most recognizable places. Throughout the animation, the two children seem to dash through Sigulda, experiencing different seasons and emotions. The color palette deliberately reflects all four seasons, reminding us that Sigulda lives and changes in step with nature’s rhythm.
KIWIE: www.kiwie.com, https://www.instagram.com/kiwie
KIWIE is an internationally recognized Latvian street artist who, since 2005, has been developing a unique visual language around the iconic, round character with a sharp-toothed smile, the “KIWIE monster”. The artist works anonymously, creating works that balance between graffiti, contemporary art, pop culture, and performance. Over the past twenty years, KIWIE has traveled to more than 50 countries, painted more than 1000 walls, and become one of the most recognizable street artists in the Baltic region.
Visit the legendary track, see the unique artwork, and finish your visit with an exciting entertainment ride.
Here, sport, art, and adrenaline meet in one place. See you at the track!
