Three Artists Residence at Karosta Water Supply Tower During Liepāja Sea Festival

On July 13, from 11:00 to 17:00, the art residencies shall start at the Karosta Water Supply Tower, located at 29 General Baloža Street. This year’s Liepāja Sea Festival will offer an opportunity to witness the creative processes of three artists and meet Alice Builevica, Jūlija Šilova, and Agnese Kaupere, engaging with them and exploring the history and architecture of this tower.

"For this season of the Karosta Water Tower artist residency, I have invited female artists who have made a strong impact in painting and are laureates of various significant Latvian awards. This represents the latest in high-level professional painting in Latvia. These are painters who have only recently obtained their academic degrees but have already strongly established themselves in the art world. I recommend starting to follow their professional careers and to include their works in your collections early on," says curator and creator of the Karosta Water Tower artist residency concept, Egons Peršēvics.

Jūlija Šilova, a graduate of the master’s programme in Painting from the Art Academy of Latvia and BA from the Art Academy of Latvia Latgale branch, excels in oil and charcoal mediums, crafting figurative compositions with a classical touch. Painting in a classical style, Jūlija transforms her personal experiences, feelings, and emotions into captivating visual narratives. Her work often exudes a subtle sense of anxiety, inviting viewers into a contemplative mental space where they can connect with the art on an emotional level, without needing to know its backstory. Jūlija believes that art should resonate with themes that are universally authentic and relatable, allowing for a deep, emotional engagement.

Her MA thesis, “Semantic Saturation,” stands as a significant piece in her portfolio. Through ornamental figurative compositions, Jūlija dives into her mental state, drawing parallels with the concept of semantic saturation syndrome. The interconnected bodies of models in her work transcend their ordinary meaning, evolving into new surreal forms.

This summer, at the Karosta Water Supply Tower, Jūlija will continue to expand her series of ornamental compositions, offering a fresh exploration of her artistic vision.

Agnese Kaupere is a versatile artist who masterfully employs various techniques and materials, weaving her conceptual approach into each piece. Her artistic journey is a dynamic exploration of stepping beyond her own boundaries. Each new series she creates pushes her outside of her comfort zone, treating painting as an evolving process that “moves and flows” through various stages.

The vibrant colours in her works infuse her with energy and exhilaration, while her black-and-white pieces offer a meditative silence. In Latvia, Agnese is celebrated not only as a painter but also as a talented set designer. Since 2013, she has crafted costumes and set designs for numerous performances in Latvian theatres and independent productions.

Her portfolio includes participation in several group exhibitions, numerous solo exhibitions, and she is currently preparing multiple showcases at the Karosta Water Supply Tower. “Being born in Liepāja, my art is inevitably intertwined with childhood memories and dreams, along with a deep connection to Nature. I love working in natural light – the sunlight streaming through the large windows of the Karosta Water Supply Tower is incredibly inspiring. The tower itself, with its high ceilings and vertical staircase platforms, fuels my creativity. Right now, I'm working with acrylics and oils, and experimenting with a wire installation,” shares Agnese, reflecting on her creative process.

Alise Builevica, a painter, graduated from the Art Academy of Latvia with a bachelor’s degree in painting in 2022, and recently completed her master’s in visual plastic arts. Her talent has been recognized with the SEB Scholarship in Painting and the Latvian State Forests Scholarship in Art. Alise has already held four solo exhibitions, including her acclaimed 2023 exhibition “LAIKA” at the LOOK! gallery, where she delves into contemporary themes of belonging, coincidences, and the logic of dreams. Using symbols to convey mental challenges, dream experiences, and the search for balance, her work resonates deeply with audiences. Since 2017, Alise has also showcased her art in various group exhibitions such as “Different Personalities Shared Values” at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Latvia to the European Union in Brussels, “TIPS&TRICKS. TIPS FOR SURVIVAL” at the LOOK! Gallery, "LMA Graduates' Days 2024" at the graduation exhibition at the Art Academy of Latvia, etc.

The upcoming residency at the Karosta Water Supply Tower marks Alise's first venture outside academic settings. She is eager to finish ongoing projects and create new works inspired by her surroundings. “I plan to reflect this stage of my life in my art, capturing elements like the sea and dunes, fleeting human faces, and themes of finding one's place and embracing the unknown future,” Alise shares, looking forward to her creative journey at the Karosta Water Supply Tower.

The Sea Festival's full programme can be found here: Sea Festival Programme

The artist residencies are part of the CreArt 3.0 #stringing_together project, which fosters capacity-building, mobility activities, artist residencies and cultural events across Europe. Led by the Municipality of Valladolid, Spain, this initiative includes partners from Municipality of Aveiro, Portugal, the Municipality of Lublin, Poland, the Croatian Association of Fine Artists "HDLU-Zagreba", the Municipality of Skopje, Northern Macedonia, the Lithuanian Gallery "Artkomas-Kaunas", the French municipalities of Rouen and Clermont-Ferrand, the Italian municipality of Venice, the Czech public foundation "Češke Budejovice", the Finnish municipality of Oulu, the German municipality of Regensburg and the foundation "Foundation Liepāja 2027".

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