When it freezes. Artist Dace Dēliņa-Lipska talks about wartime painting and exhibition in Liepāja / Article

The large-format work ‘Winter’, included in the joint exhibition of Liepaja artists ‘Fragile Age’, has been on the wall for a long time in the creation phase, reveals artist Dace Dēliņa-Lipska. A creative freeze set in which prevented me from painting: “I was working on a cycle which was dedicated to four seasons. There is a work for each season. When the war started in Ukraine, at that time winter work was in the process of creating. My creative process really stalled. The work went through the cycle: from despair, confusion, disbelief that something like this is possible, from the feeling of death and a completely uncertain outcome in this situation, up to when I was not looking for the strength to continue and of course the whole world watched this situation with bated breath, hoping for the best”.

Each stroke of light in the painting led to the victory of good, emphasizes artist Dace Dēliņa-Lipska. From black to white background in the painting, just like in a winter blizzard: blue, green and yellow brush strokes rush into the darkness.

“In this work there is a tension between two forces, which are contained in these dark and light strokes. You have to live with the hope that good will win, because otherwise the despair would be too great,” says the artist. “The work really stood still for a long time. I couldn’t touch it. It seemed that at a time when such serious things were happening in the world, there was no need to make art. Probably professions like medicine would have been much more useful. The answer is to me came in the nicest way, because the cycle was originally made to be exhibited in the Rundāle Palace, where I had an exhibition this summer.After the exhibition opened, a little boy from Ukraine came to me, who was like a refugee and He came to Latvia with his mother. He visited the palace and was extremely overwhelmed by the works – he said he would like to be an artist”.

“Eternal Garden” – that was the name of the exhibition of the works of Dace Dēliņa-Lipska, which was on display at the Rundāle Palace this summer. Two of the works will be visible in the Liepāja Museum.

“In Liepāja Museum, this exhibition entitled “The Fragile Era”, which brings together artists from Liepāja, this name very accurately describes the inner feeling of many of us. What we were able or wanted to stick to: external stability, is now unstable and fragile. It remains to look for strength in yourself and find it in those values ​​that perhaps in stable, rich, successful years do not seem valuable enough. Beauty is what I try to hold on to. Art is also a process that transforms the world, yet I would like to say that beauty will save the world!” continues Dace Dēliņa-Lipska.

The artist’s works, which were created earlier, are currently moving from Liepāja to Kihnu Island in Estonia. The exhibition at the Kihnu Museum was able to take place thanks to the support of the Liepāja Culture Board.

Dace Dēliņa-Lipska says, “On display is a cycle of paintings that were created several years ago when I went on art expeditions both to our suites and to Kihnu Island and elsewhere in Estonia. Currently, the painted wives from Kihnu are in their rightful place, in the Kihnu Museum. I am happy that the works were able to travel so far by ferry across the sea. It is an even greater joy that the ancient bond between Liepāja and Kihnu was somehow restored. i learned that in history the Kihnu sailors of Liepāja wore both fabrics and colors of fabrics and scarves. Libau scarves are known on Kihnu island. They are ancient traditions that connect Liepāja and Kihnu.

Dace Dēliņa-Lipska’s exhibition will be on display at the Kihnu Museum until the end of January. On the other hand, the public will be able to visit the collective exhibition of Liepaja artists “Fragile Age” created by the Liepaja Museum until December 11th.

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