Publications

Iveta Laure. Reykjavik Stories. 2015

 The idea for “Reykjavik Stories” was conceived in Iceland during a one and a half month stay in Reykjavik’s International Artists’ Residence.
Whilst there, I met many different people, but mostly artists. The time we shared was very inspiring and remained in my thoughts long after my return to Latvia.
I had a wish to immortalize this experience by way of an inter-disciplinary art project.
The concept is based on literary texts contained in the note book which reflect what happened to me or events which I simply imagined to have happened. Events which brought back memories, causing different recollections to which I wanted to give shape through visual art. Importantly these works of art are not literal illustrations of the stories. The objects and stories are not identical in number and the images roam freely, visiting each other’s world.
The stories are about ordinary people, about their lives, the paths they have taken, their chosen goals and the dreams they have dreamed. It is a vision looking at the past, present and future which does not lose its topicality in the course of time. There are several layers of information to the stories and I am especially pleased about the presence of world – famous Latvian  artists. In a strange way it makes one believe that nothing is impossible for anyone. Not in vain was Riga chosen to be the European Capital of Culture in 2014.
The thoughts and feelings expressed in these stories whose protagonists come from different nations are nonetheless common and universally understandable.
Iveta Laure, 2015.

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Love and Silk

            Lauren’s father is Polish, hence her surname of Orchowski. She is the first generation not to speak Polish. However she is very interested in all things Slavic, in the Russian language and of course in Polish people. When I tell her that I like Poles, that they are talented but some in Latvia dislike them for being canny tradesmen. On hearing this, Lauren lets out her loud American laugh – „Yes, yes, that’s right!“ and recounts a story from her family history.

            Lauren’s grandfather had been an excellent pastry-cook. During the Second World War he was in the Allied Army serving on officers. As a recently married young man he was desperately longing to go home on a visit. While waiting for his leave he had sent a letter to his beloved wife asking what she was really longing for by way of a present. To his great surprise it turned out that the young lady wanted an army parachute.

            In order to obtain such a gift he exchanged some of his personal belongings for eggs on the black market. Bearing in mind that it was wartime, he baked an unbelievably delicious and luxurious fancy cake. This gastronomic wonder he presented to his superior officer who was ready to give him the desired parachute.

            When his beloved received the gift a secret was revealed. The parachute was made of silk and the truth was that despite harsh war-time the young lady just longed to wear real silk stockings.

            But that’s not all. This seemingly crazy and impractical idea grew into a pretty good business. It turned out that women being women and, leaving war-time aside, others too wanted to be beautiful and desirable. Lauren’s granny started to make stockings to trade, still carrying on this business even after the war was over.

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