Ieva Epnere's Solo Exhibition 'Sea of Living Memories' Explores Soviet Legacy in Latvia

Ieva Epnere, an artist from Riga, showcased her inaugural solo exhibition in the U.S., titled 'Sea of Living Memories,' at Art in General in Brooklyn from September 17 to November 5, 2016. Curated by Zane Onckule from kim? Contemporary Art Centre in Riga, the exhibition officially opened on December 8, 2016. Epnere's art reflects on Latvia's Soviet past, focusing on military families and isolated coastal cities, influenced by her upbringing in a bilingual Russian-Latvian household and her father's service in the Soviet navy. The exhibition includes three HD videos, a 20-minute docufiction film called 'Potom (Later)' featuring actor Ģirts Krūmiņš, a wool tapestry, and archival pigment prints. Filming took place in Liepāja from February to summer 2016, delving into themes of memory, identity, and non-citizenship in post-Soviet Latvia. Epnere mentioned that her project was shaped by recent developments in Ukraine and heightened Russian military presence. Ksenia Nouril interviewed Epnere in New York on October 12, 2016, where she elaborated on her artistic approach and the political backdrop of her work.