Sergejs Djomins
Education
1997-2001
Latvian Academy of Art – BA in painting
1991-1995
University of Latvia – BA in history
1981-1991
Rīga No. 66 High School
Employment history
2001-2007
Contract worker as a copywriter for advertising agencies:
DDB Latvia
Vilks Studio
Lowe AGE
Balta Communications
Adell Saatchi & Saatchi, etc.
2005-2008
Contract worker for DDB Latvia to adapt advertising texts into Russian for clients such as Hansabanka, Statoil, Tele2, ZZ, Samsung, Philips, Hanzas Maiznīca, Fiat, IKI, and others.
From 2007
Senior archivist at the Latvian State Historical Archive
Creative history
2010 Rīga, Latvia
From May 8, at the LUKABUKA bookshop, the personal exhibition “!HEGEMONS’HYGIENE!GROUNDZERO!HORSE!CHRISTENING!CAVIARFROMBAKU!OSTRTICH!MEAL!WAGONS!CASHDESK!”
London, UK
Winner of the online showdown round at the Saatchi Gallery with the artwork “singer [zinger_machine]”. www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk.
2009 London, UK
Group exhibition at the Art & Escape Gallery – “Launch Exhibition”;
Winner of the online showdown round at the Saatchi Gallery with the artwork “boris&gleb” (shown at Saatchi in January and February 2010). www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk.
2006 Rīga, Latvia
Group exhibition at the Rīga Gallery, “Art on Paper”
2005 Cagliari, Italy
Group exhibition at the Small Bob cafe, “L’eros degli artisti”
2004 Munich, Germany
Personal exhibition at the Galerie St Petersburg, “Djoma”
2003 Rīga, Latvia
Personal exhibition at the Baltic International Academy, “Zapņi” (May 2-28);
6th annual exhibition at the Rīga Gallery, “Small Forms”;
Annual exhibition at the Bastejs Gallery, “I. Zariņš’ Creative Workshop”.
2002 Rīga, Latvia
Prize winner at the annual exhibition “Autumn 2002” of the Arsenāls exhibition hall for “boris&gleb”;
Annual exhibition at the Bastejs Gallery, “Paintings on Boards and Greeting Cards”;
Annual exhibition at the Bastejs Gallery, “I. Zariņš’ Creative Workshop”;
Group exhibition at the Bastejs Gallery, “Still Life”.
2001 Rīga, Latvia
Annual exhibition at the Arsenāls exhibition hall, “Autumn 2001”;
Annual exhibition at the Bastejs Gallery, “I. Zariņš’ Creative Workshop”;
Group exhibition at the Bastejs Gallery, “Mask”.
BIOGRAPHY
Sergejs Djomins was born on April 19, 1974, in Rīga, Latvia, to lawyer Aleksandrs Djomins and economist Ludmila Djomina. The greatest impression in Sergejs’ life was left by his grandfather, Anatolijs, who was a career military officer. Sergejs warmly remembers visiting his grandfather, particularly during the summer, when he could run free in the man’s little garden in Ziepniekkalns.
Sergejs remembers: “I started to go to school at age seven. It was a school for children with special needs, kids with physical and mental disorders. I had been diagnosed with scoliosis, and my parents were told to send me to a boarding school, where I would get all of the necessary assistance. I spent three years there. None of the treatments helped, but I enjoyed myself. I was the best student and athlete, and we were fed very well. At the age of 10, I returned to Rīga and went to a normal high school. I was very disappointed to find that I was among the worst students there. By my graduation in 1991, however, my grades were normal. I was interested in history, so I entered the University of Latvia’s Faculty of History and Philosophy. After four years, I didn’t want to pursue a master’s degree, and there wasn’t much of a chance to find a job, because there is still aesthetic racism in Latvia. Who would offer a job that would be tempting to an ambitious 21-year-old? History was no longer of that much interest to me, and I didn’t think that it was the only possibility in life. The financial situation of my parents allowed me to continue my studies, and I chose to become a jeweller. Those were my first steps in the colourful world of art. I was truly excited by art. A girl told me that I should enter the Academy of Art. I made the choice and didn’t enter the academy. I had to go to preparatory classes to learn to draw. I met alcohol, nicotine and my future wife. She’s had the greatest impression on my life and work. She’s always supported me, and she’s always believed in my talent even when no one else agreed.”
