An exhibition titled "The Charm of Flowers" will open at Rundāle Palace in Latvia to mark the palace's 290th anniversary. It explores the history of exotic garden flowers in Europe, their popularity in the Duchy of Courland-Semigallia, and the symbolic meaning of flowers in 17th- and 18th-century art. The show features works from major European museums including the National Art Gallery named after Boris Voznyatsky in Lviv, Het Loo Palace Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and the National Art Museum named after M. K. Čiurlionis. A key highlight is the multimedia installation "Tulipomania" by Dutch artist Joost Agassi, which offers a contemporary take on the 17th-century Dutch tulip mania.
The exhibition matters because it connects art history, horticulture, and economic history in a single immersive experience, while also drawing attention to the cultural heritage of the Baltic region and the historic Rundāle Palace. By bringing together loans from multiple European institutions and incorporating a modern digital artwork, the show demonstrates how historic palaces can remain relevant as venues for interdisciplinary cultural programming. It also underscores the enduring fascination with flowers as both artistic subject and economic phenomenon.