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Five works of contemporary art were created in regions of Latvia

Imants Ziedonis’ Foundation “Viegli” together with a Donorstate partner from Norway – The Cultural Schoolbag Nordland, Nordland County Council from January 1, 2022 till June 30, 2023 realized the project “„Me, A Human Being in A World”, a tool for fostering contemporary culture processes.” Second project story:

“Imants Ziedonis Foundation Viegli , Ziedoņa klase was implementing a project “Me, A Human Being in the World”, A Tool for Fostering Contemporary Culture Processes” during which it educates the public, especially young people, about contemporary art and culture. In 2022 and 2023, five large-format wall paintings or murals were created in the regions of Latvia – Talsi, Smiltene, Adazi, Daugavpils and Jelgava.

1. In Talsi – wall painting “Kopā”/”Together”, artist Zīle Ziemele

Address: Liela iela 25, Talsi

Video (in Latvian) about creation of this wall paining and talk with artist Zīle Ziemele:

“Getting to know the town of Talsi, its history and the people who have lived and still live here, the focus came to rest upon an unusual and important person for Talsi – Tīcs Dzintarkalns (1874–1937), who has devoted his life to this small town in Kurzeme. The composition of the mural was inspired by the wall paintings in Tīcs’ house Dzintari, depicting various fairy tales and mythological scenes. The author of the wall paintings is the artist Kārlis Sūniņš, better known as a watercolourist, who was also born in Talsi region. The idea of the gradual transition resembling watercolour on the wall in the centre of Talsi has been inspired by this mood,” the author Zīle Ziemele explains her artwork.

The wall painting was created in the style of folk romanticism, where the facade of Talsi Art School is divided into several scenes. The composition of the painting contains various symbols, including a celestial body, reminding us that we live together in the same World – under the Sun, where much is unknown. The work of art depicts the reflection of Talsi ancient castle in the lake, while the clew as the centre of the composition symbolically encompasses the shared experience of mankind in Talsi – both the development as seen by the poet Ziedonis and the weaving tradition essential to Talsi. The artist Zīle Ziemele was advised by regional researcher Imants Tamsons and folklorist Liena Eidone, as well as other active residents of Talsi, the Talsi Regional Museum and the Talsi Art School, which during the work process helped her to become acquainted with the environment and history of Talsi.

2. In Smiltene – wall paining “Par atcerēšanos”/“On Remembering”, artist Luīze Rukšāne

Address: Gaujas iela 1, Smiltene

Video (in Latvian) about creation of this wall paining and talk with artist Luīze Rukšāne:

The mural which adorns the town centre of Smiltene was created by the artist Luīze Rukšāne with an intention to evoke and direct the viewer’s attention to photography as a carrier of memories. “Today, we live in a world full of images, where we often capture things meaninglessly. I am emphasizing what was a new way of remembering a hundred years ago, but has now become a part of the way how we remember,” says Luīze Rukšāne. In earlier times, people’s homes could have various formal portraits of ancestors or relatives – paintings or photographs. The portable camera meant that the fleeting moments of everyday life – vacations, gatherings – could be turned into pictures and collected in a photo album. In addition to marking the emergence of a new type of photography, this era also established an unprecedented way of remembering events. The artist’s mural is a tribute to a photograph capturing the landscape of Smiltene, taken more than a century ago. The photograph serves as a snapshot of an ancient reality, which the artist interprets by placing details in the frame of the painting that originally have not existed either in the real landscape or in the photograph.

3. In Adazi – wall painting “Tādi kā radi”/ “Somewhat like relatives”, artist Ance Eikena

Address: Gaujas iela 30, Adazi

Video (in Latvian) about creation of this wall paining and talk with artist Ance Eikena:

The mural “Somewhat like relatives” is a tribute to families, suggesting that, just like plants in nature, families can be very different. Artist Ance Eikena was inspired by the coat of arms of Ādaži, which depicts a protected plant – water lobelia (Lobelia dortmanna). “The coat of arms depicts lobelia flowers, mom and dad, who are protecting a third – the small, fragile, as yet unblossoming bud – child. I was very moved by the idea of such a family symbol, but I think we all know that life is not always that simple. Family can come in all shapes and forms; all families are complete and important. Sometimes the little bud has to grow up much earlier and learn to take care of himself, without the warmth and care of parents. Sometimes there are grandparents, godparents, friends instead of parents. Children may be adopted, and parents may be divorced. The different and perhaps sometimes incorrect depictions of lobelia blossoms in the mural symbolize different family patterns. They grow side by side and quite different, but each one is acceptable, sufficient and valuable,” says Ance Eikena.

“The work of the artist Ance Eikena is very touching and profound. In such a family-oriented municipality as Ādaži, it is necessary to talk about an inclusive environment and a society open to different families. I am pleased that we can talk about these topics through art. This contemporary art project is a cycle of events, in which we can still expect quite a few surprises,” says Elizabete Pavlovska, head of “Ziedoņa klase” (Ziedonis class).

4. In Jelgava – wall painting “Tiešraide” / “Live Broadcast”, artist Jānis Šneiders

Address: Uzvaras iela 10, Jelgava

Video (in Latvian) about creation of this wall paining and talk with artist Jānis Šneiders:

The mural or wall painting “Tiešraide”/”Live Broadcast” by the artist Jānis Šneiders has been unveiled on the facade of Jelgava Centre Elementary School, Uzvaras iela 10, Jelgava. The mural is dedicated to the theme of nature, reflecting upon the order of the world, where we depend on each other – in this world, we are like relatives.

The mural was technically realized by the graffiti artist “KIWIE” on the approximately 6m x 13m wall of Jelgava Centre Elementary School. The theme of nature depicted in the mural bears a message about birds that have successfully adapted to urban living.

“The small house incorporated in the mural will become an interactive object of anticipation, asking questions – who, when and whether someone will settle inside? The bird-house is specially intended for starlings, and on the opening day we already saw the first curious ones! There is a beautiful contrast between the real sky overhead and the illusory one on the wall, between the changing and the frozen. It is as if the wall is a fragment of the sky – a piece of a cloudy day that has fallen and stuck into the ground,” Jānis Šneiders explains the idea of the mural.

5. In Daugavpils – series of urban objects “Šodien slēgts” / “Closed Today”, artist Miķelis Mūrnieks

Addresses:

• Krišjāņa Valdemāra iela 13 – on the wall of the Daugavpils state city municipality institution “Kultūras pārvalde” (Culture Administration);
• Nikolaja iela 9 on the facade of the art gallery Baltais zirgs (White Horse);
• Rīgas iela 2 at the entrance of the Augšdaugava Regional Council building;
• Saules iela 7, on the facade of the Daugavpils City Children and Youth Centre Jaunība (Youth);
• Cietokšņa iela 61 at the entrance to the Sports Base Boksa zāle (Boxing Hall).

Video (in Latvian) about creation of these urban objects and talk with artist Miķelis Mūrnieks:

The artist has created five compositions of blinds, which are incorporated onto different facades of buildings in the city of Daugavpils, reminiscent of symbolic windows. A window covered with slatted blinds gives hope that one day it might open and let light into the imagined space.

Artist Miķelis Mūrnieks about the series of artworks “Šodien slēgts”/”Closed Today”:

“It has long been observed, that in urban areas residents of the ground floors of residential buildings have chosen to cover their windows to the outside world with security bars, trapping themselves. Paradoxically, in order to protect oneself from the unwanted, alienation from the everyday takes place. In the troubled conditions of the world, the question of how we manage our daily routines in regions where the proportion of ethnic minorities and the influence of the East is greater than in the capital is becoming increasingly urgent. While slogans about the de-Russification of the country are chanted, the question emerges – how dangerous it really is to turn the back on cities with a large proportion of ethnic minorities. Historically, these cultures have shaped the identities of cities and are an inevitable part of regions. The purpose of the compositions of blinds affixed to the facades in the city is to remind us of whether we are able to rationally coexist and integrate ethnic minorities into the everyday life of our nation.”

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