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WASHINGTON—After a lifetime of unrecognized potential and a quiet death eight years ago, the works of Latvian artist Visvaldis Ziediņš recently gained international attention. Ziediņš' private art collection premiered in the United States on Friday, June 12 at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center. The exhibit, “Travels in the Imagination,” marks the first time Ziediņš art has been showcased in the United States.
Art and Diplomacy
As the host of the exhibition’s opening-night event, Latvia’s Ambassador to the United States Andris Razans pointed out the collection’s inventive style and monumental recognition in the United States. These factors showcase Latvia’s heightened promotion of human rights and extended diplomatic relations since gaining independence more than 20 years ago. Remarking, “art comes as a very important and very visible tool we can use to promote our relations,” Razans welcomed the exhibition as an opportunity to deepen the relationship between Latvia and the United States.
The Artist
Visvladis Ziediņš’ life, spanning from1942 to 2007, transpired in a provincial Latvian town during consequential segments of Latvia’s history: the Nazi regime, Soviet occupation, and liberation. Refusing to create official art that served the Soviet state, Ziediņš worked largely in obscurity as a member of the non-conformist art movement. After attending the Latvian School of Applied Arts from 1959 to 1964, Ziediņš rejected attending the Latvian Academy of Art, which would have prepared him to work as an official artist for the Soviet regime. Instead, he utilized his education to work independently. As an unofficial artist, Ziediņš worked as a set designer and department store window dresser for financial support. During his spare time, he privately created over 3,000 pieces of work and wrote voluminously in his journal, which focused on his relationship with art.
The Exhibit
When he died, Ziediņš’ massive art collection remained in the artist’s studio, unrecognized. Upon invitation by a family friend, Ieva Kalnina and Ivonna Veiherte, curators of the exhibition, visited his studio in 2009. There, they discovered his enormous talent and eclectic style. When exploring his studio in Latvia, Kalnina and Veiherte observed the artist’s intense interest in maps and outer-space. Noting his cosmic-thinking-style, the exhibit adopted the title “Travels in the Imagination.”
Upon entering the exhibit, a desk covered in natural history specimens, books, and art tools captures guests’ attention. The desk is a reconstruction of his working space in Latvia. The desk’s mass array of unusual supplies reveals two key qualities about Ziediņš—his unique implementation and manipulation of common items into his artwork and his eagerness to explore various subjects and techniques.
Ziediņš’ sculptures and paintings, organized thematically, are composed of uniquely altered and implemented conventional items—driftwood, old tools, sea rocks, crushed cans, marmalade bottles, and discarded packing materials. Ziediņš’ pieces explore innovations of his time and reflect the artist’s interests inside and outside Latvia. One featured work in the exhibit, from the 1980s, intertwines handlebars, a crushed tin can, and an aluminum spoon.
Further highlighting the artist’s individuality, the exhibition includes a video from one of four paid exhibitions Ziediņš hosted during his lifetime. In the video, Ziediņš discusses and showcases pieces from his exhibition in 1992, including a piece that features a dead frog.
Timeline
The DC exhibition, which concludes on July 26, offers attendees a look at one of Europe’s transformed states, Latvia, by honoring an artist whose work and talent was not recognized during his lifetime.
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The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
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From Latvian Obscurity to DC Recognition: An Artist’s Journey
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June 27, 2015
WASHINGTON—After a lifetime of unrecognized potential and a quiet death eight years ago, the works of Latvian artist Visvaldis Ziediņš recently gained international attention. Ziediņš' private art collection premiered in the United States on Friday, June 12 at the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center. The exhibit, “Travels in the Imagination,” marks the first time Ziediņš art has been showcased in the United States.
Art and Diplomacy
As the host of the exhibition’s opening-night event, Latvia’s Ambassador to the United States Andris Razans pointed out the collection’s inventive style and monumental recognition in the United States. These factors showcase Latvia’s heightened promotion of human rights and extended diplomatic relations since gaining independence more than 20 years ago. Remarking, “art comes as a very important and very visible tool we can use to promote our relations,” Razans welcomed the exhibition as an opportunity to deepen the relationship between Latvia and the United States.
The Artist
Visvladis Ziediņš’ life, spanning from1942 to 2007, transpired in a provincial Latvian town during consequential segments of Latvia’s history: the Nazi regime, Soviet occupation, and liberation. Refusing to create official art that served the Soviet state, Ziediņš worked largely in obscurity as a member of the non-conformist art movement. After attending the Latvian School of Applied Arts from 1959 to 1964, Ziediņš rejected attending the Latvian Academy of Art, which would have prepared him to work as an official artist for the Soviet regime. Instead, he utilized his education to work independently. As an unofficial artist, Ziediņš worked as a set designer and department store window dresser for financial support. During his spare time, he privately created over 3,000 pieces of work and wrote voluminously in his journal, which focused on his relationship with art.
The Exhibit
When he died, Ziediņš’ massive art collection remained in the artist’s studio, unrecognized. Upon invitation by a family friend, Ieva Kalnina and Ivonna Veiherte, curators of the exhibition, visited his studio in 2009. There, they discovered his enormous talent and eclectic style. When exploring his studio in Latvia, Kalnina and Veiherte observed the artist’s intense interest in maps and outer-space. Noting his cosmic-thinking-style, the exhibit adopted the title “Travels in the Imagination.”
Upon entering the exhibit, a desk covered in natural history specimens, books, and art tools captures guests’ attention. The desk is a reconstruction of his working space in Latvia. The desk’s mass array of unusual supplies reveals two key qualities about Ziediņš—his unique implementation and manipulation of common items into his artwork and his eagerness to explore various subjects and techniques.
Ziediņš’ sculptures and paintings, organized thematically, are composed of uniquely altered and implemented conventional items—driftwood, old tools, sea rocks, crushed cans, marmalade bottles, and discarded packing materials. Ziediņš’ pieces explore innovations of his time and reflect the artist’s interests inside and outside Latvia. One featured work in the exhibit, from the 1980s, intertwines handlebars, a crushed tin can, and an aluminum spoon.
Further highlighting the artist’s individuality, the exhibition includes a video from one of four paid exhibitions Ziediņš hosted during his lifetime. In the video, Ziediņš discusses and showcases pieces from his exhibition in 1992, including a piece that features a dead frog.
Timeline
The DC exhibition, which concludes on July 26, offers attendees a look at one of Europe’s transformed states, Latvia, by honoring an artist whose work and talent was not recognized during his lifetime.
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The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
