Orbita

Orbita (founded in 1999 in Riga, Latvia) is a Latvian Russian-language poetry and multimedia art collective comprising Semjons Haņins, Artūrs Punte, Vladimirs Svetlovs, and Sergejs Timofejevs. The group’s practice is based on the synthesis and interaction of text, sound, and image. While the presence of text is not always essential, the authors’ own poetic works often serve as the starting point for their artistic projects.

Initially, the members were brought together by the idea of creating a shared publication, which resulted in several almanacs and numerous bilingual poetry collections. Alongside publishing activities, Orbita began experimenting with diverse formats, including performative collaborations with musicians that led to the development of “poetry performance,” sound art through audio recordings and installations, and video poetry that merges text with moving images. Over time, the collective expanded its practice to include the creation of art objects and installations.

Orbita has become an influential force in shaping contemporary Latvian poetry and has received widespread recognition both in Latvia and internationally, particularly in Europe and North America. In 2015, the group participated in the exhibition Ornamentalism as part of the Venice Biennale’s parallel programme with the installation Two Sonnets from Laputa. In 2016, they undertook a performance and reading tour in the United States and participated in the 1st Riga International Biennial of Contemporary Art. Orbita has received the Annual Latvian Literature Award, along with multiple awards for book design, and has been nominated twice for the Purvītis Prize.