Zanda Puče ^{Emerging artist}

Artist's country of origin: Latvia

Zanda Puče (born 1992) graduated from the Department of Graphic Art (MA), Art Academy of Latvia in 2016, ISSP Photography school in 2015 and New Media Art (BA), Liepaja University in 2014. She is working with drawing, printmaking, digital graphics, photography, video and installation. Since 2011 she has participated in numerous group exhibitions in Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Germany, as well as she has organised several solo exhibitions such as “Soil Sounds of Latvia. Alūksne” in 2017. Her exhibitions “EX-libri Art Voyage” and “Hunting” (2016) were rated by the Sigulda region Award for Culture in 2017. She was nominated for the award “Laiks Ziedonim” in the nomination “Regional studies” in 2018. In the “Self Publish Riga 2018” photobook contest my book “Olga” (2018) was awarded of the best photobook from the Baltic states as part of Riga Photomonth in 2018.

She is an artist from Sigulda, in her art projects she combines the approach of contemporary art with the use of modern technology along her personal interest in history and the influence of the past nowadays. She focuses on specific phenomena and testimonies, not only by capturing and reflecting them, but also by creating a living, inclusive sense of belonging, an event that allows one to feel like a part of that space in a specific time. She creates her works of art by using her memory, family values and nature. She does this through photographs, documents and historical objects. Her socially and ecologically oriented art projects always stem from her personal roots – her family tree, her home, her county, revealing a broader and more generalized view of the world. She respects her roots, artistically generalizing this heritage and actively relate to today’s world, which she tries to open up, making people more aware and allowing them to feel a strong connection with the natural and cultural heritage.