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Arterritory photo stories about artists. Diāna Tamane

Arterritory.com


08/12/2016

Translation from Latvian: Laima Ruduša

Photo: Evita Goze

kim? Contemporary Art Centre opens its new exhibition cycle on December 8th with four exhibitions, one of which is Belgium-based Latvian photographer Diāna Tamane’s exhibition Message: 147 of 494, a version of a portrait of today’s post-Soviet society. It is made up of an installation based on the artist’s personal family stories. 

Diāna Tamane will graduate from HISK institute this year, so we went to visit her in Ghent to take a look at her studio and to ask “a dozen daily questions”.

Best moment of the day?

A coffee break under the sun with a good friend.

Why do you work in the arts?

For freedom.

Name a film, concert, exhibition, or book that has left an indelible mark.

Chantal Akerman’s films and Clarise Lispector’s books. This year, an important happening for me was Song Dong’s exhibition in Dusseldorf.

Where do the current ideas for your work come from?

From daily events and my family album; from long walks, feelings that overflow, and from awkward situations. 

Which artworks would you like to own?

My friends’ work.

What do you do when you’re not making art?

I make art all of the time. When I’m not making art, I go to sleep.

Do you sleep a lot?

If I sleep, then I sleep a lot; preferably, nine hours.

Do you collect anything?

I try to avoid things, but sometimes I can’t help myself and I buy a book.

One of the main things in your studio.

Silence and light.

What do you like to eat? And what don’t you like?

I like water, rye bread, buckwheat, vinaigrette, lentils, avocados, fried onions, garlic, pumpkin soup, dark chocolate, and freshly squeezed juice. I haven’t eaten meat or fish since the age of four.

What did you want to be when you were a kid?

I don’t remember exactly, but I told my parents (maybe to calm them down), that I want to become a Ninja Turtle from the cartoon series – because they always eat pizza.

Name three creative people with whom an evening will always be a certain success.

The same artist friends with whom I have the best moments in the day, and whose work I’d like to own.