"Display of 'The Sea is Silent, Yet I Return' by Madara Kvēpa at the ISSP Gallery in Riga"
Madara Kvēpa's latest solo exhibition, "The Sea is Silent, Yet I Return," is set to open at the ISSP Gallery at Berga Bazārs on August 7 and will run until September 19. The exhibition, which is supported by Riga City Council, the State Culture Capital Foundation, and VPT Grupa, invites visitors to delve into the artist's empathetic engagement with the natural world.
Kvēpa's work, which is rooted in ecological sensitivity, focuses on the formation of relationships with nature—its elements, rhythms, and silences. The exhibition aims to evoke an understanding and sensitivity toward nature’s often overlooked or silent features, fostering a thoughtful and emotional response to ecological themes.
The artist questions whether empathy for nature can be trained, and her work serves as a testament to this investigation. Kvēpa documents her encounters with pine trees, stones, wind, tides, algae, and sand through analogue photography and diary entries, offering a nuanced and intimate portrayal of her interactions with the natural world.
The exhibition addresses the impact of climate change on Latvia's coastal landscape, emphasizing the need for attentiveness to ecological presence and change. Through her artwork, Kvēpa invites viewers to reconsider their interactions and emotional bonds with the natural world, underscoring themes of empathy and attentiveness.
Liāna Ivete Žilde serves as the curator for the exhibition, and Ieva Stalšene is the scenographer. On September 6, as part of the White Night cultural programme, visitors will have the chance to experience the exhibition together with the artist. A special sound and music performance, 'Hearing the Sea Speak,' created for the exhibition by Reinis Semēvics and Michael Holland, will enrich the evening.
Madara Kvēpa, born in 1996, is a visual artist pursuing a professional doctoral degree at the Art Academy of Latvia. Her artistic expression in the exhibition focuses on time and slow return, reflecting a deep exploration of ecological sensitivity and the natural world's subtle dynamics.
Kvēpa has taken part in group exhibitions, including 'Utopias' at the Riga Photomonth (2022) and 'Vesels' at the 2021 Cēsis Art Festival. The most recent solo exhibition she participated in was 'Field Studies in Ancestral Memory' at the gallery Myymälä2 in Helsinki, Finland (2023).
Closeness to nature offers solace and shelter, while also serving as a reminder of our responsibility and deep interconnection with the environment. By engaging with Kvēpa's work, viewers are encouraged to reflect on their own relationship with nature and consider their role in preserving and protecting the natural world.
