By Inese Bujane
Symbols of cities with towers are all very alike. Inguna and Holgers
Eleri wanted to find something distinctive, characteristic to Riga alone.
Every bigger event, be it a cultural, business or sports event, needs
its token or distinctive sign, which is called "logo". Such sign was also
necessary for the forthcoming EBRD Board of Governors' meeting in Riga, May 2000. The
co-ordination centre for the organisation of the meeting - Birojs 2000 - selected
designers of this logo through a tender. Time to summarise the results of the tender came
in February this year. As it turned out there were 11 applications, from which the Tender
Committee had to choose one. Logo is a sign of identification, it encompasses the sum and
substance of the event, and at the same time characterises the country, where it is
supposed to take place. Artists Inguna and Holgers Elers had found the most successful
solution, they had picked an item from the Riga City Coat of Arms of the 14th
century as the basis of their logo.
How The Idea Came?
As to the first ideas related to the logo, Holgers remembers:
"This event is a meeting of banking people, therefore we automatically thought of a
coin". Inguna agrees: "The coin seemed the most appropriate idea, and we
developed logo of the meeting taking this as a bases. Besides, our task was also to show
symbolically the place where the meeting is to take place, this is why we chose a coin of
the 14th century with a gate and keys - these elements have served as symbols
of Riga City for many centuries.
However, the artists admit that they had contemplated other variants as
well. The scene of Riga church towers with gilded roosters on tops and the Daugava river
is often presented as the most characteristic feature of Riga. Inguna Elere reveals that
initially they also had this idea in mind, but they had laid it aside in favour of the
historical coin: "These symbols of cities with towers are all very alike, we wanted
to find something distinctive, characteristic to Riga alone."
Form Also Bears A Meaning
The artists had submitted two variants of logo for the tender – a
round and a rectangular one, representing the gate of the city and crossed keys over this
gate. Holgers informs: "One of our proposals was a round form logo, where the drawing
was more elaborate. While we were developing this idea, an association arose with Latvian
ancient currency Verdins, with Latvian fairy tale about Ansis and his money saving,
which for me seemed to be a symbolically linked motive with the event of the financial
world. Inguna is also supportive to the round form logo: "These very elements –
the gate and keys are also used in the coat of arms of Riga, which in its turn is a print
of the history, a historical mark." Nevertheless, the rectangular form was approved,
bearing in mind that this logo is to be placed next to the round logo of the EBRD, and
therefore it is important that the two form an integral picture, at the same time being
distinctive and different.
From Lisbon To Hannover
This is not the first tender, where the artists participate and win
awards. We remember the name of Holgers Elers in connection with the international
exhibition EXPO – in the exhibition held in 1998 in Lisbon authors of Latvia's
project were Holgers Elers and his colleagues Eriks Stendzenieks and Aigars Bikse.
Besides, in the exhibition of 2000 in Hannover Latvia will be presented in a pavilion, the
architectural image of which will be designed by Holgers Elers in co-operation with
architects Andrejs Gelzis and Aigars Bikse.
Which is the most difficult part for artists in the creative process?
Inguna and Holgers Elers answer to this question with one voice: "The most difficult
is to find an idea. When the idea flashes, you have a wonderful feeling –
satisfaction that you have resolved the task that you charged yourself with."
