On Friday, September 25, in the community room next to the Purmsāti Library, as part of the “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” programme, a meeting took place between artist Anda Lāce and students from Mežupe Elementary School.
The event was part of Anda Lāce’s residency, which took place throughout the year in Purmsāti, with the artist regularly visiting Mežupe Elementary School. Over the course of several sessions, students were invited to experiment with large-format drawing, movement exercises, and the depiction of emotions. From conversations, movements, and various ideas, a large-format drawing titled “House with Wings” gradually took shape – and everyone was invited to step inside!
The residency is part of the Liepāja 2027 programme and is based on bringing Zenta Mauriņa’s creative legacy to life through various inclusive art practices. Once again, the artist began the meeting with an excerpt from Mauriņa’s book “Domu varavīksne” (“Rainbow of Thoughts”), which describes the “Commandments of Mental Hygiene.” The first of these reminds us that we must build our inner home every day – if we do not build it continuously, it will soon crumble into ruins.
At the closing session of the residency, each participant also drew their own house – one capable of lifting us above the everyday and the ordinary. The house with wings became a symbol through which we could talk about friendship, togetherness, and what helps us rise above. In the creative process, what mattered was not only the finished work but also the opportunity to be together, to listen to one another, and for each person to find their own way to participate.
In her artistic practice, Anda Lāce has long focused on themes of humanity, empathy, and togetherness. Her performances, paintings, installations, and other forms of artistic expression are often created in close collaboration with others.
This residency furthered the artist’s interest in creative processes in which diverse experiences, abilities, and perspectives become part of a collaboratively created work of art.
About the Artist
Anda Lāce earned a master’s degree in painting from the Art Academy of Latvia and studied at Manchester Metropolitan University as part of an exchange program. She has been participating in exhibitions in Latvia and abroad since 2003.
Since 2010, Anda Lāce has been staging independent performances, most often in close collaboration with composers of contemporary academic music. The artist’s paintings, performances, experimental installations, sculptural works, and other pieces are interconnected, complementary forms of artistic practice.
Since 2019, Anda Lāce has been the curator of the socially responsible Sansusī Well-being Residency Programme, and she also leads masterclasses, both in collaboration with the Latvian Center for Contemporary Art and as part of various projects. She works with people of all ages, encompassing a wide range of physical and mental abilities, and themes of humanity and empathy recur in her art. The artist’s works are held in the collection of the Latvian National Museum of Art and in private collections across Europe.
The project “Zenta Mauriņa Summer School”, in which artists Anda Lāce, Kristīne Brīniņa, and Eva Vēvere are providing inclusive residencies in collaboration with communities of people with disabilities in the South Kurzeme region, is implemented by the foundation “Colorize” and with financial support from the foundation “Nodibinājums Liepāja 2027”. The project curators are Māra Žeikare un Lība Bērziņa.
The programme of “Liepāja – European Capital of Culture 2027” is implemented by the Liepāja 2027 Foundation, with funding allocated by the City of Liepāja, the South Kurzeme and Kuldīga municipalities, and the Ministry of Culture. The “Liepāja 2027” programme is supported by its main partner in environmental education and sustainability, AS “CleanR Grupa”, Jsc; its main partner in air mobility and international communications, AS “airBaltic Corporation”, legal partner: Sorainen Law Office, Ltd., Jsc; and its land mobility partner, SIA “Lux Express Latvia”, Ltd. Media partners: VSIA “Latvijas Sabiedriskais medijs”, Ltd. and AS “Kurzemes Radio”, Jsc.
Photo by: Vika Daugina
Information prepared by:
Māra Žeikare
Representative of the foundation “Colorize”
E-mail: mara.zeikare@gmail.com
