Unveiling of the “Atmodas līkloči” Memorial

An environmental sculpture, “Atmodas līkloči,” has been created in Daugavpils in memory of the January 1991 barricades and the people’s aspirations for independence. The new sculpture will be unveiled on 11 November at 14:00 in the square of Daugavpils University, at 13 Vienības Street. It was created by sculptor Ansis Dobičins. At its centre is a spiral, a universal symbol of unity, continuity and shared movement through time. The work reflects society’s ability to mobilise and unite at decisive moments in history to defend freedom and national independence. The sculpture is made from a granite boulder, combining the enduring qualities shaped by nature with transformation brought about by human intervention. The spatial structure revealed within the stone creates a tension between massive stability and inner movement, evoking social cohesion, historical experience and the continuity of time.

The sculpture’s title, “Atmodas līkloči,” refers to the historical essay “Atbrīvošanās. Atmodas līkloči” (2013) by Daugavpils writer and publicist Anita Liepa. It tells of the complex, uncertain and contested path to the creation of a free state. The memorial was created as part of a sculpture residency organised by the Rothko Museum. Its creation was supported by Daugavpils City Municipality.

Thirty-five years ago, the barricade period was a significant expression of the Latvian people’s national identity and determination to establish a state. United in their resolve to defend their land and freedom, more than 50,000 people from across Latvia gathered in Riga in January 1991, including several hundred from Daugavpils and its surrounding area. At the same time, the square by Daugavpils University became the epicentre of a historically significant event of the Third Awakening in Daugavpils. On 11 February 1989, a rally was held outside what was then the Daugavpils Pedagogical Institute, where the flag of Latvia was raised. On 19 January 1991, during the barricade period, people gathered once again in the university square in solidarity with the defenders of the barricades and the government of the Republic of Latvia. The rally on 22 August expressed support for the adoption of the constitutional law “On the Statehood Status of the Republic of Latvia.”