Exploring the Interplay of Landscape, Identity, and Belonging Through Artistic Practice
Artists Gundega Melberga and Gabriele Emīlija Aidulis have been collaboratively investigating the complex relationship between place, identity, and the feeling of “home” through a series of creative workshops and performances. Their work, rooted in personal experiences of migration and displacement, examines how landscapes shape our sense of belonging and how societal changes impact those connections.
From Rotterdam to Kuldīga: A Shared Exploration
The collaboration between Melberga and Aidulis began four years ago although both were studying in the Netherlands – Aidulis at Arnhem University of the Arts and Melberga at the Piet Zwart Institute in Rotterdam. Their shared experiences of living and working “between” countries – Lithuania, Latvia, the Netherlands, and Germany – sparked a conversation about the significance of home and belonging. This initial dialogue led to the performance “Experience at home” at the Riga Cinema Museum two years ago, a project that resonated with the museum’s own impending relocation.
Investigating Gentrification and Change
Melberga’s return to Kuldīga, Latvia, for six months provided a new context for their research. She observed parallels between the changes occurring in the modest town and those in the larger metropolis of Rotterdam, noting similar processes of gentrification – the reconstruction and restoration of degraded urban areas, often leading to displacement of original residents. “It seemed interesting to compare Rotterdam with 600 thousand inhabitants and small Kuldiga. The processes in both are similar,” Melberga observed.
Workshops as a Research Method
In Kuldīga, the artists employed workshops as their primary research method, aiming to connect with local residents and explore the meaning of home and belonging through intuitive, bodily expression. Participants were invited to engage with the themes through movement, drawing, sound, and writing. One workshop focused on movement and spatial perception, encouraging participants to explore their feelings through physical expression and drawing with their eyes closed. Another workshop centered on reading and writing, using sound and improvised poetry to articulate associations with home.
Addressing Concerns of Displacement
Conversations during the workshops frequently touched upon the topic of gentrification and its impact on the community. Melberga noted a sense that the processes in Kuldīga were still in their early stages, offering an opportunity for positive change through inclusive dialogue and community involvement. “At the workshops, I got the feeling that the processes in Kuldīga are still at the very beginning and they can still be turned in a positive direction. Changes can be introduced together, involving local people,” she emphasized.
Future Directions
The materials gathered from the Kuldīga workshops will inform future choreography and a planned publication documenting their work. The artists intend to return to Kuldīga to present a performance based on their findings. Similar workshops are too planned for Rotterdam and Lithuania to facilitate a comparative study of experiences across different landscapes. The ongoing research seeks to understand how individuals navigate feelings of belonging and displacement in a rapidly changing world.