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Identity politics: five young Latvian photographers to watch Identity politics: five young Latvian photographers on a quest
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For Latvia, a small country with a complicated past, a search for identity has persisted since the breakup of the Soviet Union 24 years ago.For Latvia, a small country with a complicated past, a search for identity has persisted since the breakup of the Soviet Union 24 years ago.
That quest runs through the work of a number of young Latvian photographers today. Ignoring the trend for highly manipulated digital imagery, they are united by what could be called “local poetics” – a lyrical and dreamy tone present in Latvian art for decades.That quest runs through the work of a number of young Latvian photographers today. Ignoring the trend for highly manipulated digital imagery, they are united by what could be called “local poetics” – a lyrical and dreamy tone present in Latvian art for decades.
Interested in depicting personal narratives, the lives of their communities and their surroundings in nature, the photographers contemplate and question what it means to live in Latvia, and ruminate on the country’s past and present.Interested in depicting personal narratives, the lives of their communities and their surroundings in nature, the photographers contemplate and question what it means to live in Latvia, and ruminate on the country’s past and present.
Iveta VaivodeIveta Vaivode
Iveta Vaivode is a young photographer who traces her family roots, returning to a place where she believes her grandmother lived – a small, sparsely inhabited village called Pilcene in Latgale, Latvia.Iveta Vaivode is a young photographer who traces her family roots, returning to a place where she believes her grandmother lived – a small, sparsely inhabited village called Pilcene in Latgale, Latvia.
The series Somewhere on the Disappearing Path captures not only the rural people she met along the way but also the natural surroundings of Latgale, the poorest region of Latvia where strong Catholic beliefs hold sway.The series Somewhere on the Disappearing Path captures not only the rural people she met along the way but also the natural surroundings of Latgale, the poorest region of Latvia where strong Catholic beliefs hold sway.
Andrejs StrokinsAndrejs Strokins
Andrejs Strokins’s series People in the Dunes is devoted to Bolderāja and Daugavgrīva, peripheral neighbourhoods of the capital, Riga. Once significant, they now find themselves degraded and marginalised.Andrejs Strokins’s series People in the Dunes is devoted to Bolderāja and Daugavgrīva, peripheral neighbourhoods of the capital, Riga. Once significant, they now find themselves degraded and marginalised.
Strokins’s photographs are tinged in a soft, mellow tone, and the viewer never finds out much about the lives of the people as Strokins keeps his distance, capturing a feeling of remoteness.Strokins’s photographs are tinged in a soft, mellow tone, and the viewer never finds out much about the lives of the people as Strokins keeps his distance, capturing a feeling of remoteness.
Viktorija EkstaViktorija Eksta
Performance is an important aspect in Viktorija Eksta’s work. In the series God, Nature, Work, Eksta staged various scenes with a young woman, played by the photographer herself, in an old, abandoned house – sewing, dressing, reading, washing herself and doing housework alone.Performance is an important aspect in Viktorija Eksta’s work. In the series God, Nature, Work, Eksta staged various scenes with a young woman, played by the photographer herself, in an old, abandoned house – sewing, dressing, reading, washing herself and doing housework alone.
The photographs, inspired by Latvian writer Anna Brigadere’s autobiographical trilogy of the same name, show a young woman in picturesque chiaroscuro interiors, stand in opposition to how young females see themselves today.The photographs, inspired by Latvian writer Anna Brigadere’s autobiographical trilogy of the same name, show a young woman in picturesque chiaroscuro interiors, stand in opposition to how young females see themselves today.
Eksta’s work points to the social changes of the last century, the new lifestyles and social dynamics that have remade Latvian identities.Eksta’s work points to the social changes of the last century, the new lifestyles and social dynamics that have remade Latvian identities.
Ilze VanagaIlze Vanaga
Ilze Vanaga is, in her own words, an “old school artist” interested not only in what she captures but the manner in which she presents it. In the series European Borderlines – Katrina, Vanaga turns to her own childhood for inspiration, and her photographs come accompanied by notes scratched in pencil, kids’ stickers and cut-outs from old magazines or books, all presented in the form of a photo album.Ilze Vanaga is, in her own words, an “old school artist” interested not only in what she captures but the manner in which she presents it. In the series European Borderlines – Katrina, Vanaga turns to her own childhood for inspiration, and her photographs come accompanied by notes scratched in pencil, kids’ stickers and cut-outs from old magazines or books, all presented in the form of a photo album.
The images are mainly portraits of the artist taken in the 80s, when children were expected to pose obediently and seriously for photographs. Vanaga’s album holds memories that the last children of the Soviet Union can all identify with.The images are mainly portraits of the artist taken in the 80s, when children were expected to pose obediently and seriously for photographs. Vanaga’s album holds memories that the last children of the Soviet Union can all identify with.
Evita GozeEvita Goze
In the series Imaginary Homelands Evita Goze is interested in “a wish to remember, a longing for an impossible permanency and at the same time, a desire for movement and faraway lands”.In the series Imaginary Homelands Evita Goze is interested in “a wish to remember, a longing for an impossible permanency and at the same time, a desire for movement and faraway lands”.
Related: Searching for the soul of Latvia – in picturesRelated: Searching for the soul of Latvia – in pictures
Her main subject of interest is people – her friends and acquaintances – who she portrays in an intimate way, but also at a slight remove. In this way, Goze’s work also resembles fashion photography – the detail and staged expressions, the steadiness bordering on coolness.Her main subject of interest is people – her friends and acquaintances – who she portrays in an intimate way, but also at a slight remove. In this way, Goze’s work also resembles fashion photography – the detail and staged expressions, the steadiness bordering on coolness.
A version of this article first appeared on The Calvert Journal, a guide to the new eastA version of this article first appeared on The Calvert Journal, a guide to the new east