The Milan Syndrome
Photography exhibition
What lessons have you taken from the changes that have taken place in Latvia and worldwide?
Over this time I have had to cut my spending drastically. I am still a student at the Latvian Academy of Art – where once I only used to have enough money to create art, I now can say I live just for art. There’s no shortage of work, just a shortage of pay. That’s the one thing that makes you rethink not just your values but your life in general. The only solution is to look to abroad – to use residency programmes, seek partners and buyers. Perhaps we need more competent sales managers and curators that would particularly specialize in foreign markets. I only returned from a study exchange two months ago, and I’m still finding the situation here paralyzing.
How does your project for SURVIVAL KIT 2 relate to the theme of the festival?
I am very keen on analogue photography and examining various ‘social forms’ – to be more exact, I’m interested in man and variety, including different forms of living and survival. For the SURVIVAL KIT 2 festival I have prepared a look at the Milan anti-system movement, whose ideology is based on non-participation in the processes of consumer culture.
Why haven’t you left yet?
I have never wanted to leave Latvia for good, because my roots are here. There are things to do here.