Exhibition “Balsam for the Soul” – paintings by Aija Prince

An exhibition of paintings by artist Aija Prince, titled “Balsam for the Soul,” will be on display in the Exhibition Hall of the Mentzendorff’s House from October 2 until November 1. The opening takes place on Friday, October 2, at 4:00 PM.

Aija Prince—a painter, art educator, and landscape architect—explains that the balsam mentioned in the exhibition’s title “promises not oblivion, but a respite—a peaceful gaze and a reminder that the world does not end with whatever currently weighs heavy on the heart.” A balsam is created by combining many distinct ingredients, the harmony of which produces its characteristic flavor. Similarly, a painting emerges from colors, light, experience and memories; as individual elements come together, they create something special and unique—a work of art.

“The balsam for the soul is not always sweet. Beauty does not signify merely pleasant solace. Sometimes a landscape awakens a sense of longing within us, while a flower reminds us of the fleeting nature of all things beautiful. These feelings, too, have their place in our inner world; they bear witness to the fact that the human heart has not yet grown indifferent. Art heals not by suppressing emotions, but by helping us accept them without collapsing under their weight.

A landscape in a painting is more than just a depiction of a place. It can become a space the viewer enters for a moment to encounter their own self. The vastness of the sky frees the mind from confinement, the distance evokes the idea of ​​a journey, and the light upon the earth or water allows one to sense the world’s peaceful continuity. Nature offers no explanations and seeks to persuade no one. It simply exists—ever-changing yet faithful to its own rhythm. In these landscapes, that rhythm is not static; one senses a movement that extends beyond the boundaries of the canvas.

Flowers speak a different language. While a landscape opens up a vista of distance, a flower invites us to draw closer. It directs our attention to the small and the seemingly ephemeral. In the flowers painted by Aija Prince, one senses a quiet presence where fragility and the tenacity of life converge. There is no calculation in them, nor any desire to…” …to prove. A painting does not halt the natural flow of things, but preserves the moment when a flower is truly seen.

Every viewer at this exhibition will see something different. One person might pause at the color, another at the light, while someone else might suddenly recognize a long-forgotten place or a mood from their own life in the painting. A work of art imposes nothing; it allows one to encounter one’s own memories and feelings. The painting remains the same, yet the person standing before it may be different each time.

These paintings invite us simply to look—unhurriedly and without preconceived judgment. If, following this encounter, we notice a flower in a city courtyard that we might otherwise have walked past, spot more colors in the sky, or feel a deeper sense of inner peace—even if only for a moment—then the balm will have begun its quiet work.

Art is a conversation with oneself… Every person has come into this world to create something, to leave something behind, and to rejoice in the gift of life. In the rush of daily life, we often forget to find joy. Through my work, I aim to create an experience where, upon entering the gallery, a person is moved by at least one piece—remembering it and feeling joy fill their heart. Even if it is just because of a single landscape. We are in this world to… “…to do it in this—in one’s own moment…” Aija Prince shares her thoughts.

Aija Prince founded and leads two painting studios—one in Dobele and the other in Jaunpils. The artist describes herself as a Dobele native “down to the tips of her hair.” Her artworks can be found in the collections of the Dobele Local History Museum, the Tukums Art Museum, and the Ojārs Vācietis Museum, as well as in private collections across Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Russia, Portugal, the USA, Canada, Australia, France, Finland, and elsewhere.