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Evita Vasiļjeva is one of the most talented Latvian contemporary sculptors, who creates sculptures from various materials. Robust and brutal forms interact with fragile, almost ethereal textures: concrete blocks against refined and sharp reinforcement bars, thick rubber against dissolving powder, and all the elements of the outer world against the inner narrative. The artist explains that her works seek to “make more emotionally human that which we call contemporary art, which has become encrusted with cold perfectionism, pushing aside the artist as a psychological being.”The Latvian National Museum of Art
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Evita Vasiljeva (b. Riga, 1985) mainly works with sculpture, installation, and sound. Having grown up in Latvia in the period of post-Soviet transition, the artist often draws on visual and sonic imagery of generic architecture and rough suburban landscapes. She creates sculptures and interactive installations by appropriating materials, usually used for construction, such as concrete, armature, metal profiles, lanterns, and various electrical appliances, and by combining them with household objects: beds and blankets, fridges, microwaves and soap, but also movement sensors which were commonly used in Latvia in the 90s to secure houses.
By manipulating and repurposing a large variety of materials, Evita Vasiljeva invents her own aesthetic, as well as provokes relational dynamics between spaces, architecture, memory, and spectators’ bodies. While her works tackle the issues of anxiety and control, through ways of coexistence within the present moment, they always remain open for multiple interpretations.
In 2022 Evita Vasiljeva has been nominated for the 8th Purvītis Prize for outstanding achievement in visual art of Latvia and exhibited at the Latvian National Museum of Art in a duo exhibition with artist Kaspars Groševs. Recently, the artist has participated at the Lyon Biennial (2022, curated by Till Fellrath and Sam Bardaouil); Una Boccata d’Arte 2023, Italy (Fondazione Elpis, curated by Bruno Barsanti); Intermezzo, Moen, Denmark (Kunsthal 44Moen, curated by Rene Block); Baltic Triennial 14: The Endless Frontier, Contemporary Art Centre Vilnius (2021), (curated by Valentinas Klimašauskas and João Laia); Blue Lagoon House, Cēsis Contemporary Art Centre, duo exhibition with Kaspars Groševs, (2022, curated by Daiga Rudzāte and Žanete Skarule); Publiek Park, in collaboration with SMAK, Ghent (2021); the Salon de Normandy by the Community, Paris (2020, curated by the Community); Muzeum Sztuki, Lodz (2020, curated by Inga Lāce); Kim? Contemporary Art Centre, Riga (2019); Tallinn City Gallery, Tallinn (2018, curated by Kim?); Foundation Ricard, Paris (2018, curated by Barbara Sirieix, Maija Rudovska and Joachim Hamou); P/////AKT, Amsterdam (2017).Her works are included in the collection of the Latvian National Museum of Art and private collections.
Evita Vasiljeva ©
