Performance and Hide-and-Seek

Premiere: 1 August 2026
PAiR residency spaces and the urban environment of Pāvilosta. Also performed at the Sansusī Festival and at the University of Latvia Botanical Garden in Riga.


What growls like thunder, but isn’t thunder? What has horns like the moon, but isn’t the moon?
It is Europe’s largest animal — the European bison. But what is a bison? Have you ever seen one? Around Pape, they have trampled strawberry patches, broken into hay barns, and licked the windows of houses at night. These large horned animals once lived across the territory of Latvia. In 2002, a bison reintroduction project was launched in Pape, with the aim of restoring natural meadows. But the bison had other plans. After escaping from the National Park area, they wandered into the territory of local residents. Following several incidents, at least one bison was shot. The others became frightened and fled back into the forest.
Today, only stories remain about the bison, and only the most observant manage to encounter these great animals.

TEAM


Creators and performers: Ildze Jurkovska, Marta Madara Grantiņa


Co-author of the text: Rvīns Varde


Sound design: Ernests Valts Circenis


Producers: Pilna studio, Elza Siliņa


Executive producer: Luīze Dripe

Supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation, PAiR Residency and SERDE.

Photo: Paula Betija Antenišķe