Zile Liepins
Opening Reception: May 1, 7:00–10:00pm
Artist Talk (with Vid Ingelevics): May 30, 2:00–3:00pm
May 1 – 31, 2015

"Liepins’ images offer a particular view of everyday life in Latvia, a country emerging from Soviet oppression and one that is adapting to its recent EU status. The subtle moments captured by this series offer a nuanced portrait of a place, held together by a collection of personal anecdotes, cultural symbols, unmarked backdrops and blurred references." – Noa Bronstein, curator

https://www.zilezile.com/CATALOGUE*****

Zile Liepins is a photographer and graphic artist based in Toronto. Her documentary work incorporates photography, text and design to tell stories that focus on everyday moments and details to reflect a larger narrative. She earned a BA in Visual Studies and French from the University of Toronto and studied Applied Arts in Paris, France. In 2014, she was recognized with the SF Graduate Thesis Production Award in Documentary Media and was one of five MFA students selected for an AIMIA / AGO Photography Prize residency with shortlisted artist Elad Lassry. No One Says Anything, Everyone Remembers Everything has been selected for a 2015 Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival featured exhibition.

No One Says Anything, Everyone Remembers Everything examines everyday life in the transitory political present of Latvia, a country emerging from the remnants of the Soviet Union and adapting to a new European identity, with one eye uneasily fixed on its Russian neighbour. Latvia, a historically perpetually-occupied territory, regained independence from the USSR in 1991, joined the European Union and NATO in 2004, and the Eurozone in January 2014. This influence of opposing powers creates a layered and often conflicted national and cultural identity.

The title expresses the way individuals in small Latvian communities silently and publicly face each other after privately reconciling trauma. Expanding this social occurrence to the entire country, the title refers to a larger and more difficult history of war, deportation, labour camps, separation, immigration and torture under the KGB. At the same time, the images emphasize the quiet rhythms of mundane activities, personal trials and ambiguous landscapes. Shot in Latvia over two years, the work functions as a coded visual language of cultural symbols and personal references that creates a rich portrait of a place and time.

Curated by Noa Bronstein.

*****

No One Says Anything, Everyone Remembers Everything is also one of 11 films and 7 exhibitions in DOC NOW, a multimedia festival celebrating the work of established and emerging documentary practitioners from Ryerson University's Master of Fine Arts program in Documentary Media. You can see my colleagues' work from May 1st to June 28th at various locations throughout Toronto. docnow.ca