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Ambisonics Sound Residency Programme
in collaboration with Dirty Deal Audio
The Ambisonics Sound Residency Programme is an international spatial sound residency developed by Laidi Palace Residency in collaboration with the experimental sound platform Dirty Deal Audio. The programme takes place in the ambisonic dome located within the Laidi Manor territory, offering a multi-channel spatial audio environment where artists can explore sound movement and spatial composition.
During the residency, artists conduct field recordings in the surrounding park and landscape using hydrophones, stereo and ambisonic microphones. These recordings are combined with musical instruments, voice and electronic processing, forming a working process that investigates the relationship between natural sound environments and performative practices.
This process results in new spatial sound compositions, improvisational performances and audiovisual experiments. The residency environment supports artists in developing new works, collaborating across disciplines and exploring the dramaturgy of sound in space.
Each residency concludes with public concerts and listening sessions, presenting the works created during the programme. These events are open to the local community and visitors, offering the experience of spatial sound within the acoustic and architectural context of Laidi Manor.
Participanting Artists
Dominykas Snarskis, Andrius Siurys, Matas Samulionis, Paulina Simutyte, Gintare Smigelskyte.
Katrina Anna Verhoustinska, Mariss Daniels Kirisis, Edvards Kalva, Alma Kalnina, Daniela Danenbergsone.
Xiaoya Zhao, Jiaya Wang, Peifeng Cai, Riccardo Boiteux, Sodai Furuzawa.
Otto Iivari, Erik Alalooga, Karolin Poska, Theodore Parker, Gabriel Solis.
Andrea Szigetvari, Agnes Mathe, Balint Barath, Akos Lovasz, Zeteny Nagy.
Simone Spampinato, Emilio Casaburi, Yui Ka Zheng, Kristine Tukre, Laura Mehmeti.
The programme was realised with the support of Kuldiga Municipality and the State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF).
Katrina Anna Verhoustinska, Mariss Daniels Kirisis, Edvards Kalva, Alma Kalnina, Daniela Danenbergsone.
Xiaoya Zhao, Jiaya Wang, Peifeng Cai, Riccardo Boiteux, Sodai Furuzawa.
Otto Iivari, Erik Alalooga, Karolin Poska, Theodore Parker, Gabriel Solis.
Andrea Szigetvari, Agnes Mathe, Balint Barath, Akos Lovasz, Zeteny Nagy.
Simone Spampinato, Emilio Casaburi, Yui Ka Zheng, Kristine Tukre, Laura Mehmeti.
The programme was realised with the support of Kuldiga Municipality and the State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF).
Lamp Design Marathon
“Laidu Light Stories”
“Laidu Light Stories” is a collaborative design workshop hosted at Laidi Manor Palace Residency, inviting artists and designers to create new lighting objects inspired by the architecture and historical interiors of the manor. The project explored historical lighting forms of the 18th and 19th centuries and their reinterpretation through contemporary design and craftsmanship.
The programme began with an introductory lecture by restoration specialist Inese Ozoliņa on the history and development of lighting fixtures, providing historical context for the participants. Artists then experimented with wood, metal and recycled materials, developing a series of lamp prototypes within the shared working environment of the residency.
Several lighting objects were created during the process, contributing to the interior atmosphere of the manor and becoming part of Laidi’s evolving artistic environment. The project also included an open workshop for the local community, allowing participants to engage with the design process and explore principles of craft and material experimentation.
Participanting Artists
Kaspars Lielgalvis,Daina Šteinerte, Inga Bermaka,Tota Bermaka, Lelde Biteniece, Toms Grīnbergs, Vita Meijere, Aurora Pambianchi, Poļina Garškova, Roberts Kumsārs, Jānis Bora, Krista Kipure, Kristīne Martinova, Linda Zvejniece
The project was realised with the support of Kuldīga Municipality and the State Culture Capital Foundation of Latvia (VKKF).
Exhibition
“Sympatheia” - Agnese Gutovska
Photographer Agnese Gutovska’s solo exhibition “Sympatheia” was created during her residency at Laidi Palace Residency in August. The series is inspired by the myth of Saint Agnes of Rome, exploring layers of narrative, symbolism, and emotional resonance. At its core, the exhibition reflects on empathy and interconnectedness, inviting the viewer into a personal experience of reflection and emotional engagement.
Performance
“Ghost Evening” - MARIA KOLEV & THAI QUEEN CHANIDA
Bulgarian sound artist Maria Kolev explores the sonic world of abandoned houses as an invisible archive of memories. By recording and collecting the natural sounds of a space — the whisper of wind, creaking floors, resonating walls, and the vibrations of silence — she reveals how buildings continue to “breathe” even after people have left them behind. Her work creates an atmospheric sound narrative about traces of time, lost lives, and the emotional presence of space.
Exhibition
“LI BOND” - Lienas Bondare
Lienas Bondare’s interactive installation exhibition “Detective” . The chalk drawings on blackboard surfaces strongly resonate with the building’s recent function as a school. Visitors are invited to actively participate by intervening in the artwork — drawing, commenting, and even erasing existing drawings on the boards — thus expanding the viewer’s experience and becoming part of the creative process. In this way, the artist explores the interaction between the viewer and the artwork, gaining direct insight into the semantic impact of the work.
Exhibition
”Princes Is Not Dead” - Auce Biele Jeans
Auce Biele’s exhibition tells a story of a woman’s self-preservation instinct and inner strength, built on contrasts between rough denim and femininity, softness and rebellion. The artist’s works are created through an experimental process in her studio, where she combines painting, chemistry, and textile treatment techniques — including working with chlorine, pigments, and emulsions — to achieve unique surfaces and layered visual depth.
02.04.2023
Well-Deserved Rest
During the Big Clean-Up Day, local residents of Laidi actively took part in improving the surrounding environment, working together to clean and maintain the area. The event became an important moment of community bonding, where people not only practically improved their living environment, but also strengthened mutual cooperation and a sense of belonging to Laidi.
As a thank you for the effort and contribution, Laidi Palace Residency organized a special relaxation event after the clean-up, featuring performances by more than 20 musicians and artists, including concerts and artistic performances.