Presenting LV-1079
LV-1079 is Eliza’s Final Major Project for finishing her BA in Hand Embroidery from Royal School of Needlework. LV-1079 is the postcode of her home city and neighborhood in Riga, Latvia; the neighborhood Mežciems has been her home most of her life before going to study abroad to London. The meaning of home has been a theme she explored before FMP but the recent pandemic has escalated the need to identify with home and feeling at home, as that brought her to Mežciems. In the project she explores home, Latvia and politics, how Soviet regime has affected current Latvian society and how Soviet built housing shapes the current generations. Meanwhile in her embroidery she has important ideas being explored as well. Minimalist and brutalist embroidery inspired by the research, metalwork embroidery in the meaning of putting Goldwork embroidery in juxtaposition of Hardware. Concepts of invisible, suspended embroidery within metal frames keeping the traditional “framed up” look even though frames usually are a temporary place for embroidery but in this case, it is permanent and is direct representation of the role that Soviet housing play in modern Latvian society. The designs and initial sampling were inspired by her archive of photos taken in Mežciems of architecture and Soviet living remnants. Sampling with hardware, architecture models and material memories got translated in embroidery and later assembled in compositions, keeping the embroidery utilitarian whilst attaching pieces of hardware with traditional and non-traditional materials at the same time. Her interpretation of her post-Soviet experience in Latvia is seen in a collection consisting of 5 artworks and extensive digital portfolio of visualizations and proposals furthering her concept above traditional embroidery.
In LV-1079 Elīza has included references to her manifesto which reflects her practice and values alongside her favorite embroidery techniques to challenge traditional embroidery in contemporary context. In the collection of 5 frames are included Luneville/Tambour, Goldwork, Traditional Crewelwork techniques and are combined with inconvenient materials like stainless steel and hardware to enhance the emotional impact of Soviet architecture.
XL, Elīza Māra, 2021, stainless steel, silk organza, hardware, bubblewrap, 120x70 cm
L, Elīza Māra, 2021, stainless steel, silk organza, hardware, 90x53 cm
M1, Elīza Māra, 2021, stainless steel, silk organza, silver bullions, 45x45 cm
M2, Elīza Māra, 2021, stainless steel, silk organza, hardware, 45x45 cm
XXS, Elīza Māra, 2021, stainless steel, silk organza, glass beads, 20x20 cm
