Between Expression and Understanding. Grand Poet Hotel to Open Emīls Kocers’ Solo Exhibition “the bewildered”
- September at 17:30, the art gallery at Grand Poet Hotel will host the opening of artist Emīls Kocers’ solo exhibition “the bewildered”. The exhibition continues the longstanding collaboration between the hotel and the Art Academy of Latvia, aiming to introduce Latvian artists to a wider audience and develop the Grand Poet Art Collection of contemporary art.
“the bewildered” is a series of paintings exploring the broad spectrum of human emotions and how we read and understand them, with particular attention to the human face, its expressions and distinctive features. Curated by Paula Eglīte, the exhibition includes 6 works created in 2026 in oil on canvas. In these works, the human face and its expressions become a means of exploring emotional perception and the boundary between a person’s inner experience and what others can discern from it. The paintings also invite viewers to consider the gap between what is expressed and what is understood.
As artist Emīls Kocers explains: “The human face, with its softness, roughness, firm gaze or warm smile, waits for someone to capture its expression. Facial contours, eyes, the corners of the lips and even scars can tell our brains a great deal. We are social beings, and our ability to perceive one another creates a kind of bridge of understanding between us and the world around us.”
“the bewildered” also marks Emīls Kocers’ return to painting after a break during which the artist stepped away from studio work to reflect on whether painting was truly his calling, returning to it with renewed conviction. In recent years, the young artist has further developed his skills in oil painting, focusing particularly on portraiture and experiments with tonality.
The solo exhibition forms part of Grand Poet Hotel’s longstanding project in collaboration with the Art Academy of Latvia, creating a platform for young artists to bring their work to a wider audience while allowing contemporary art to become part of the everyday experience of hotel guests and city residents.
Commenting on the collaboration with the Art Academy of Latvia and the new exhibition, Grand Poet Hotel General Manager Māris Alnis says: “Art has become an integral part of Grand Poet Hotel’s identity, and it is a true pleasure to see the artists we have collaborated with achieve increasing success both in Latvia and internationally, while also strengthening the value of our collection. Emīls Kocers’ exhibition, which invites reflection on non-verbal communication, is particularly well suited to the hotel environment, as this subject is undeniably important in the hospitality industry too.”
“the bewildered” will be on view at the Grand Poet Hotel gallery until the end of 2026. Visitors will have the opportunity not only to discover and purchase Emīls Kocers’ works, but also to vote for their favourite work in person, thereby contributing to the development of the hotel’s art collection. The work receiving the highest rating from visitors will become part of the Grand Poet Art Collection.
To date, the Grand Poet Art Collection includes works by Madara Kvēpa, Justīne Seile, Ella Mežule, Agate Bernāne, Kristīne Rublovska, Laura Veļa, Sandra Strēle, Roberts Bāliņš, Alise Builevica, Madara Freidenfelde, Haralds Saknītis, Megija Zonne, Paula Viļuma, Elīna Vagre, Katrīna Levāne, Elīna Sanda Zaķe and Valdis Putniņš, displayed on all floors of the hotel and in its courtyard.
About the “Grand Poet Art Collection”
On 14 June 2018, the Art Academy of Latvia and the “Semarah Hotels” hotel group signed a memorandum of cooperation to support and develop young artists. Its purpose is to support the academy’s students and Latvia’s young artists — to encourage new achievements, build confidence and develop international careers, provide financial support for nurturing talent and offer space for solo exhibitions, thereby contributing to the development of art in Latvia.
About “Grand Poet”
“Grand Poet” was established by the Latvian hotel group “Semarah Hotels”. Today, the group boasts the “Lielupe” resort hotel in Jūrmala and one hotel in Riga — the elegant five-star design hotel “Grand Poet Hotel” at Raiņa bulvāris 5/6. Each has its own unique story and values.
The “Diplobohème” concept created for “Grand Poet” combines design elements characteristic of diplomacy and bohemian life, developed by the internationally recognised and award-winning concept and design agency “Stylt Trampoli” (Sweden). The architectural project was developed by “Sarma un Norde” (Latvia), preserving the building’s architectural uniqueness. The hotel’s name embodies a duality often found in poets — a businesslike approach and a bohemian spirit.