Tukku Magi: Rhythm’s” exhibition at the Latvian National Museum of Art includes works of African traditional art from the Tukku Magi Collection in a polyrhythmic integration with works by contemporary artists Nick Brandt (UK), Dickens Otieno (Kenya), Zoya Frolova (USA/Latvia), Janis Jakobsons (USA/Latvia), Moffat Takadiwa (Zimbabwe). The goal of our exhibition is, working with a single, concrete theme, to demonstrate both the enormous variability of local forms and the universal commonality and potential of the sense of rhythm and its combination and recombination across space and time. The rich offerings of the Tukku Magi collection of African traditional art expands this dialogue into a conversation between the global south and the global north and the distant past and the absolute contemporary moment.
We are extremely grateful to the Latvian National Museum of Art for supporting us in our third and most extensive exhibition to date, hosted in the Museum’s Cupola Hall. Our heartfelt thanks also go to the incredible artists participating in this exhibition, to private individuals and official organizations—including the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eastern African Museum of Art Nairobi (EAMAN)—and to all who helped us realize this in such an impressive and extraordinary space. Nothing could have been achieved without you.
The exhibition will be open from May 13 to September 7, 2025, at the Latvian National Museum of Art, Cupola Hall, 1 Jana Rozentala Laukums, Riga, Latvia
July 30, 2024
As part of the Tukku Magi educational program, we are grateful to John Warne Monroe,
Professor of Iowa State University, for agreeing to introduce his awarded book Metropolitan Fetish
And discuss current aspects of cultural mutual influences. Bourse Museum, Riga, Latvia
InternationalContemporaryJewelryParade, Jaunmokas Manor
The Tukku Magi courtyard in Tukums, which we continue to renovate and improve, became an extraordinarily important center for cultural activities, hosting more than twenty events of various kinds over the warm months of the spring, summer and early fall of 2024.
7Dialogues in FFazenda, former central committee of the communist party of latvian soviet socialist republic
Tukku Magi Courtyard, Open Stage
Tukku Magi Courtyard, Open Stage
May 13, 14. 2ANNAS International Short Film Festival with more than 2000 films. Short films selected from four categories: International, Baltic, Children and Youth films.
May 14. Museum Night, participants and Tukku Magi volunteers organized an excursion - the path from Tukums Historic museum (exhibition “Parallel lines intersect!” of Tukku Magi project) to Zebergs malt factory (Tukku Magi Courtyard) - historical facts, stories, and activities to explore and rediscover the city of Tukums.
May 15. Latvian Platform for Development Cooperation (LAPAS) and representatives of the European Commission in Latvia discuss “Upcoming Future”, in Tukku Magi Courtyard. Participants shared their visions on education and culture, digital transformation, environment, youth.
May 22. Planting of a sunflower garden in the Tukku Magi Courtyard in support of Ukraine, preparing of the Ukrainian borscht, and live music.
May 28. “Craft Day,” Children of different ages participated in various creative activities led by established artists - painting, ceramics, sculpting, jewelry making and live music.
June 5-12. ERASMUS+project “MADE4YOUth”, where participants from 7 countries - Latvia (Tukku Magi), Portugal (Associação Check-In), Turkey (TREX EVS (Turkish Ex-EVS Volunteers' Association), Cyprus (PlanBe, Plan it Be it), France(Association Resopa), Italy (Fattoria Pugliese Diffusa Associazione Culturale), Slovakia (ADEL Slovakia), engaged in discussions about the processes of decision making and social activity organization.
June 8. First Tukku Magi Open Stage program. Two separate stages prepared for any participant (individual or group), for creative activity/performance.
July 6. Opening of the Second Tukku Magi Open Stage program.
July 23. Jazz concert “Tukku Magi Night of Feelings.”
August 7. “Tukku Magi North-South Film Parade” African musical films from ‘40ies - present, in cooperation with the 2ANNAS International Short film festival, with live music by Itulya Fadhilee, Kenya.
August 13-14. Multidisciplinary festival “Sketch,” for children and adults - searching for impulses in world music, poetry, dance, and sketching of the human figure.
August 20. Contemporary dance performance “Reflection in Movement” in cooperation with the Academy of Culture of Latvia.
September 4. Afternoon of Ukrainian songs “Ukraine in Our Hearts.”
September 7. Tukku Magi Open Stage, music of different genres
September 9. “Our food. Our future” educational program for 15-35 year olds organized by the Foundation for Environmental Education, Latvia (FEE, Latvia) with the support from the European Union.
September 10. Workshop for youth, children and parents “Cube of Constellation”. Participants were invited to create songs together with Latvian pop stars, try various music instruments and get familiar with the work in the recording studio.
September 15. Nauris Puntulis, Minister of Culture of Latvia, Dace Vilsone, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, and representatives of Tukums County Council and Municipality visited the Tukku Magi Courtyard. Discussed Tukku Magi activities towards developing Tukums County uniqueness and further advancing Tukku Magi as a multicultural platform in northern Europe.
September 6-16. Survey of Tukums county residents on education in culture, art, tourism and the role of Tukku Magi project.
September 28. Tukku Magi Open Stage finale.
October 8. Day of Community service - planting, cleaning of the Tukku Magi Courtyard.
October 26. Visit of Tukums County representatives, guided tour of the Zebergs malt factory facilities, discussions about future projects.
October 28. “My love affair with marriage” animation future film (Riga IFF 2022 Feature Film Competition Winner) presentation in cooperation with the Tukums County Council and LOKOMOTIVE studio. Film viewing followed by discussion with the film's director Signe Baumane.
Bloomberg: Where to Go in 2021
Rumene Manor, Latvia, is # 24 destination by Bloomberg pursuits.
Opening Art and Events Barn with Tukku Magi “Without Fetish” exhibition on August 2019, made Rumene Manor a vital cultural site as well as a beautiful place to visit
Parallel Lines Intersect, online exhibition.
Celebrating World Art Day - IAA/USA by bringing world traditional and contemporary art in dialogue on Tukku Magi Dialogue digital platform.
"Tukku Magi. Parallel Lines Intersect”. Tukums History Museum “Castle Tower”
in collaboration with Tukums Art Museum and The Art Museum Bourse, July17, 2021 - July 17, 2022
President of Latvia Egils Levits visited the “Tukku Magi. Parallel Lines Intersect” exhibition at Tukums History Museum “Castle Tower” and Tukku Magi Courtyard, August 18, 2021.
‘The future world culture centre ‘Tukku Magi’ highlights the importance of cross-cultural dialogue. It shows the depth of each individual culture and common values,’ said President Levits wishing the centre all the best in its future activities.
Andrea Cipriani Mecchi (USA), “Family at a Distance”. First show of the international project “Children Create History”, July 17
Tukku Magi. NorthSouth Film Parade, in collaboration with DOCUBOX (EADFF), Kenya and 2ANNAS, Latvia
October
"zibTUKKU MAGI", Light festival. Light setting by Peteris Brinins.
October 1
Midsummer music, July 17: Ekaterina Suvorova, Girts Pavenis, Davis Bindemanis, EVVEntus String Quartet, Janis Rungis, Madara Kuksa
Choir music concert, Tumes choir, composer Pauls Dambis, conductor @rudolfsbacans
July 1
Pop Up Culinary Adventure
Two days dinners with @restaurantcorners, August 6-7
“Talantu Pils Seta 2021”, children program, August 4
Roses and Body, July 16
The group of Tukums local activists and supporters formed RadiTukkuMagi.
Tukku Magi Courtyard Opening and celebration at the Zebergs Malt Factory
Received and transported to Latvia the collection of 500 African traditional art objects, donated by Tim and Bobbi Hamill of Boston, USA.
August - “Bez Fetiša/Without Fetish” exhibition, Introduction of TUKKU MAGI Project, Rumene Manor, Latvia.
August 20 - Tukku Magi Today and Tomorrow, Panel Discussion, Rumene Manor, Latvia
Justs Karlsons donated the historic Zebergs Malt Factory building to Tukku Magi project.