March 8, 1859, Mazsalaca district – June 23, 1928, Kissing, Germany, buried in Riga
Konstantīns Pēkšēns is one of the most outstanding Latvian architects of all time. He is the personification of the second generation of Latvian architects (after J. F. Baumanis). His buildings adorn many Latvian towns and villages, yet in Riga alone he has built more than 250 stonework and many wooden buildings. 2009 is the 150th anniversary of the brilliant Latvian architect. Since Riga Art Nouveau Museum is situated in the house of 12 Alberta Street, designed by Konstantīns Pēkšēns, Riga Art Nouveau Centre is collecting information in order to create a complete database of Konstantīns Pēkšēns buildings.
If you want to participate in the development of Riga Art Nouveau Museum and have any information concerning Konstantīns Pēkšēns’ life and work (photos, documents, personal archives, etc.), please contact us at Riga Art Nouveau Centre by phone 67012401 or email zaiga.bogdanova@riga.lv 

Riga Culture Agency and Riga Art Nouveau Centre invite everyone to the screening of the travelling film "Art Nouveau and society" created by the European Art Nouveau cities association Reseau Art Nouveau Network from March 12 to 15 at the exhibition hall Riga Art Space.
The screening will open the celebration event program of the 150th anniversary of architect Konstantīns Pēkšēns. "Art Nouveau and society" is the currently latest of projects by the association, made in 2008 and showing the history of culture and social processes that deeply influenced the advancement of Art Nouveau. The film explains the phenomenon of Art Nouveau in Europe, linking the past with current processes. The unusual and original format of the screening, enabling three screens at the same time, is so abound in information that we suggest several watching times for the best comprehension. The aim of the film is to rouse explorer’s spirit and intellectual and emotional experience, giving the opportunity to renew the way we look at Art Nouveau.
The film was premiered on May 16, 2008 in Germany, city of Bad Neuheim. Since then it has been travelling around the world and screened in many cities. "Art Nouveau and society" portrays the processes of art and society in the beginning of the 20th century. Although Art Nouveau was a common phenomenon, it had different forms of expression. It was the time of peace and economical stimulation, when industrialization and urbanization were altering the world. New technologies changed our life, and so the meaning of "leisure" was changed as well. The film is narrated in the present tense to captivate the public; by the usage of audiovisual means, details of our common cultural heritage are explained.
 
"Art Nouveau and society" has been made by the assistance of curator David Sandved, production company Instamatic (Norway) and 16 Reseau Art Nouveau Network partners: Ǻlesund, Bad Neuheim, Barcelona, Brussels, Glasgow, Havana, Helsinki, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Lodz, Ljubljana, Nancy, Varese, province of Lombardy, Reus, Riga and Terrasa. The making of the film was supported by European Union program "Culture 2000". The film will be screened from March 12 to 15 at the exhibition hall Riga Art Space, opening hours: 12 a.m. to 5 p.m., previous booking by phone 67181184 or email jugendstils@riga.lv 
Free entrance.