LATVIA.- London-based Latvian artist Arnis Balcus is showing work from his recent series "Flowers" at Riga Gallery, Latvia. In the series the artist photographs people at their homes and they are completely undressed and accompanied with flower or plant, chosen by them. Created in a classical portraiture manner the large scale photographs try to give an answer to the artist's question if flowers, just like pets, resemble their owners. Flowers are special attributes, which shield and moderate the nakedness of humans, as they and beauty of nature lend innocence transferred to the respective person.

Arnis Balcus was born in Riga, Latvia and in 2005 has gained MA in photography from University of Westminster in London, England. Since late 1990s his work has been widely shown around Europe and he has released a few artist's books, for instance, "Myself, Friends, Lovers and Others" (2003), and most currently the photo stories "Episodes Vol. I" (2006), "Vol. II" (2007) and "Behind the scenes" (2007). Balcus is currently working on a new project entitled "Contemporary Latvians", a fictional parody of his own natives, their stereotypes, fears and possible new identity.