Dizaina Studija. Telpa Forma Laiks

After you come to your senses at the trough which has been destroyed by the economic crisis, you find yourself disillusioned by the previous value system, and are forced, ready or not, to re-evaluate your attitude towards the surrounding environment, relationships and the meaning of life in general. Then it becomes clear, that it is not possible to continue down the path that has been trodden until now, and that the world is changing, but the question remains – is this for good or evil? Perhaps the crisis provides an opportunity to create a new environment – one in which there is enough room for values, which up until now have been neglected. It is said that hunger and cold encourage thought processes, but a creative approach to the overcoming of various adversities can turn out to be necessary for survival.

This is precisely why this autumn, the Latvian Centre for Contemporary Art presents the project Survival Kit, which is a collection of the ideas of artists from Latvia and abroad on how to deal with uncertainty about the future and how to overcome the difficulties using one’s own resources.
Making use of one of the advantages created by the economic disarray – the conversion of a number of empty, bankrupted shops on Krišjāņa Barona and Tērbatas Streets into short-term art zones – the visitor will be offered the possibility to explore all sorts of opportunities, not just for survival, but also for raising the level of one’s lifestyle by modest means. Amongst these will be a number of enduringly fresh, but undeservedly forgotten design ideas.

Some of the artists have focused on spiritual practices and intangible cultural heritage as saviours in complicated situations. Linards Kulless, in his installation Ja puiku dzimst vairāk nekā meiteņu, tad būs karš ('If there are more boys born than girls, there will be war') invites the viewer to discover Latvian folk knowledge relating to amulets, signs of power and protection, while in turn, Izolde Cēsniece suggests chanting Latvian incantations with the accompaniment of a buddhist prayer mill, creating a local equivalent to other popular foreign spiritual practices. Galka Kūlio, on the other hand, has set up a corner for relaxation and reflection in the time of unemployment – “grandma’s room”, where Jesus’ face, radiating love, shines on the visitor from all of the objects in the room. This space is meant for prayers, although it does not possess the stiff atmosphere of a church.

One of the preconditions for good design is research of the target audience and their specific features. What happiness actually looks like and who provides it – some artists have searched for the answer with an almost sociological approach, for example, Ieva Epnere has photographed people together with things or doing activities that make them happy. One of the conclusions – most often the simple things are those which make us happy.

It is possible that the environment is one of the factors that influence happiness. In this context, Finnish photographer Henrik Duncker’s view of the everyday aesthetics of Latvian country life is interesting – unusual compositions of objects, familiar to the local viewer, which the lens of the foreigner shows in a new light.

From a design perspective, the range of ideas has no shortage of practical solutions for the improvement of daily life and research into alternative business opportunities, which are suitable for the crisis conditions. Monika Pormale and Katrīna Neiburga offer up the street food carts, very popular abroad but rarely seen in Latvia up until now. Furthermore in this business venture of the artists’ – products of the city and country, such as herring with cottage cheese, a jam sandwich with a glass of milk, pumpkin soup or carrot and apple salad – can be acquired for a donation, while having a chat about life and the weather.

An unusual type of undertaking with an innovative approach to clothing design is presented by the Boutique Fashion Recycled created by Ināra Gauja and Ingrīda Zābere, which will be installed in one of the once opulent, but now empty shops.

A noticeable place in the “Survival Kit” is occupied by the so-called Do It Yourself, or DIY strategy, with its most effective examples found in the works of enthusiasts gathered for the Supernova project. Rejecting passive consumerism and time dedicated to earning money, these people invest energy in creating things by hand: the result is not the only important thing, but also the joy and satisfaction gained through the process.

Video interviews with “designers of personal life”, compiled by Kārlis Lesiņš – with people who live in the forest, ecopeople, pensioners or schemers – is not the only work that addresses how unusual survival strategies can be to cope with unexpected life situations. This topic is also addressed by the series of matchbox designs presented by the comic “Kuš!”, which advise on what to do if you are down to the last match. As Russian artist, Vladimir Arkhipov’s collection of unusual domestic appliances suggests that in any situation a global and enduring survival strategy is – “be a poet, make something out of nothing”.

With regard to the survival strategy of the Centre for Contemporary Art, in the near future the focus will be placed on the relationships between the artist and the urban environment. The project Survival Kit is one of the first art events in this context.