A public art installation “Atmodas līkloči” dedicated to the January 1991 barricades and the Latvian people’s struggle for independence, is located in the square of Daugavpils University.
The sculpture was created by sculptor Ansis Dobičins. The spiral forms the central element of the composition, symbolising unity, continuity and a shared journey through time. The artwork reflects society’s ability to unite and act together at important moments in history, defending freedom and national independence.
The sculpture is made from a granite boulder, combining the natural strength and durability of stone with the transformation created by human hands. Its open inner structure creates a contrast between the solid mass of the stone and a sense of movement. Through this design, the artist expresses ideas of social unity, historical memory, and the continuous flow of time.
The name “Atmodas līkloči” refers to the historical essay “Atbrīvošanās. Atmodas līkloči” (2013) by Anita Liepa, a writer and publicist from Daugavpils. The work tells the story of the difficult and complex path towards the creation of an independent state, marked by doubts and challenges.
The sculpture was created as part of an artistic residency organised by the Rothko Museum, with support from the Daugavpils City Municipality.
The events of January 1991 became an important expression of national identity and the Latvian people’s determination to achieve independence. In January 1991, more than 50,000 people from all over Latvia gathered in Riga to defend their country and freedom. Among them were several hundred people from Daugavpils and the surrounding area. In Daugavpils, the square near the university became one of the key locations of the historical events of the Third National Awakening. On 11 February 1989, people gathered outside the former Daugavpils Pedagogical Institute, where the Latvian national flag was raised.
On 19 January 1991, during the barricades, residents gathered once again in the university square to show their support for the defenders of the barricades and the government of the Republic of Latvia. On 22 August of the same year, another public gathering was held in support of the adoption of the Constitutional Law “On the Statehood of the Republic of Latvia”.