The exhibition “Procrastination and Creation” offers a cultural and social perspective on two of the most beautiful languages of Latvian national culture – literature and music – spanning the period from the late 19th century to the present day. By deliberately blurring the traditional boundaries of a museum and its usual experience, the exhibition reveals the human world of writers and musicians – their hobbies, habits, and the threads of procrastination that often become part of the creative process. The 98 personalities represented across nine thematic sections serve as messengers whose experiences reflect the breadth of Latvian creativity.

The exhibition “Procrastination and Creation” is designed as an extraordinary book – one that can not only be read, but also heard, felt, and experienced. Once you step inside the building at 6 Mārstaļu Street, you have already entered a story that you are both reading and continuing at the same time. The experience of “Procrastination and Creation” begins with the Prologue, located on the building’s lower ground floor, where in childlike joy you can give yourself over to the playful process of creation.

Prologue

The experience of the exhibition begins with the Prologue, located on the building’s basement, where, in childlike delight, visitors can engage in a playful creative process.

Here you can play various musical instruments, discover what colour hearing – or synaesthesia – is, create a poem from magnetic word cards and listen to it, step into the role of a conductor, explore the stories of the old walls and the museum’s creation, and bring them to life on stage by shaping landscapes of light and sound, find out which character from Latvian literature you resemble and take a photo together, spend a peaceful moment in the “introverts’ corner”, enjoy the pleasure of reading, as well as colour and complete activity sheets.

Table of Contents

The ground floor serves as a table of contents, where you can learn all about the upcoming journey through the exhibition’s thematic sections, choose one of the guides or audio guides, or take on the challenge of exploring freely. Here, you can discover the diversity of creative tools at the Monument of Creative Tools and explore experiences of procrastination shared by authors captured on the screens.

Chapter One and Chapter Two

The core of the exhibition consists of nine sections, where creators meet through shared habits of procrastination. As you move through the exhibition, the order of the sections is not important – this book can be read from a different place every time.

Part One, where everyone reaps what they have sown. Emīls Dārziņš, Gunars Janovskis, Andris Kolbergs, Alfrēds Kalniņš, Māra Zālīte, Pēteris Barisons, Matīss un Reinis Kaudzītes, Pēteris Brūvers, Jānis Baltvilks, Regīna Ezera, Jāzeps Vītols, Arvīds Klišāns.

Part Two, where a healthy mind dwells in a healthy body. Andris Akmentiņš, Leonīds Vīgners, Klāvs Elsbergs, Vizma Belševica, Rainis, Tālivaldis Ķeniņš, Leons Briedis, Pēteris Vasks, Dzintars Sodums.

Part Three, where nothing is as it used to be. Eduards Veidenbaums, Emilis Melngailis, Augusts Dombrovskis, Mariss Vētra, Imants Ziedonis, Veronika Strēlerte, Brāļi Kokari, Anšlavs Eglītis, Egils Plaudis.

Part Four, where the door to the room opens.Ādolfs Skulte, Raimonds Pauls, Elza Stērste, Zenta Mauriņa, Rūdolfs Blaumanis, Maija Einfelde, Jēkabs Graubiņš, Knuts Skujenieks, Vladimirs Kaijaks, Gunārs Priede, Jānis Endzelīns, Jānis Sudrabkalns, Māris Čaklais, Edvarts Virza, Jānis Einfelds, Alberts Bels, Inese Zandere, Jānis Rokpelnis, Uldis Bērziņš, Lūcija Garūta, Andrejs Jurjāns.

Part Five, where guests arrive.Juris Kunnoss, Artūrs Grīnups, Arvīds Norītis, Jānis Kalniņš, Austra Skujiņa, Jānis Ezeriņš, Kārlis Baumanis, Linards Tauns.

Part Six, where other worlds are revealed. Juris Karlsons, Aspazija, Velga Krile, Fricis Bārda, Jānis Ivanovs, Broņislava Martuževa, Jānis Jaunsudrabiņš, Kārlis Zariņš.

Part Seven, where order reigns. Alīda Vāne, Anna Brigadere, Nora Ikstena, Jānis Zābers, Inga Ābele, Agris Engelmanis, Pauls Putniņš, Romualds Kalsons, Jānis Akuraters, Jānis Medenis, Jānis Mediņš, Žermēna Heine-Vāgnere, Aleksandrs Čaks, Ēvalds Berzinskis, Jānis Ķepītis.

Part Eight, where no one leaves the house.  Ēriks Ešenvalds, Arturs Maskats, Pēteris Plakidis, Jānis Poruks.

Part Nine, where no one is home. Vilis Plūdons, Jānis Zālītis, Mārtiņš Zīverts, Imants Kalniņš, Jānis Peters, Zigmunds Skujiņš, Haralds Mednis, Jānis Ziemeļnieks, Marģeris Zariņš, Kārlis Skalbe, Eriks Ādamsons, Ojārs Vācietis.

Epilogue

After exploring the first and second floors, which contain the core content of the exhibition “Procrastination and Creation”, the staircase leads you to the Epilogue, located in the attic – the third floor. This is a space for gathering your thoughts, exploring, listening, and creating. In the music listening nook, you can hear all or selected pieces featured in the exhibition. On the attic’s upper level, or even on the stairs, you’re welcome to spend time creating, reading, or reflecting on what you’ve seen. As you leave, don’t forget to take a photo by the “Procrastination and Creation” mirror – and come back again!

Visiting the exhibition Procrastination and Creation

“Procrastination and Creation” is best enjoyed in an unhurried and intimate atmosphere, so we recommend choosing and reserving one of the available time slots for your visit. As visits to writers and musicians can sometimes be a little cosy, priority for viewing the exhibition will be given to visitors who have purchased tickets for a specific time in advance.

When visiting the children’s creative space, we kindly ask you to bring a pair of indoor shoes.

The Prologue, or children’s creative room, is accessible with a full exhibition ticket or a separate entry ticket.