Dace Burkevica Sūna is a Latvian artist living and working in Los Angeles. Below she discusses her journey becoming an installation artist.

In the Beginning

I grew up in Latvia, Rīga. It’s one of three Baltic countries. We spent the winter months in the cultural capital and summers in the cottage by the sea and forest, running barefoot. I was born as Latvia regained independence from the Soviet Union. I still remember standing in the line at the store to get milk or bread. There was a deficit of goods, and it took some time for the country to transition economically.

Revelation

I can vividly remember as a kid discovering a handful of sketches at home. It was easy to tell that they were made very frivolously, but noticeably by someone very skilled. To get to that level of hand-mastery would have taken years and years of practice. I knew then that I wanted to draw like that one day. I held onto the sketches as one of my most precious findings.

Guide

My interest in the art world started with my omīte. She’d take me and my siblings to the museums and classical music concerts, and we’d end each outing with a delicious meal. I can’t be entirely sure if it was the art or the food I was most interested in at the time, but either way, I’m very grateful for those weekend excursions.

My omīte always complimented me on my artistic talent. Encouraging people is gold.

First Work

My first creative works were born in the form of birthday cards. I can still recall a time when my mother was grating beets for soup, she went to move my handmade cards and bled beet juice all over the paper.

When I Grow Up, I Want to Be …

My sister recently found my kindergarten graduation wish, it turns out I wanted to be a painter. Perhaps I knew more then than I know now. Children are wise and more connected to the spirits. I thought about studying architecture or lighting. Ultimately, I ended up studying interior design. I’m pondering going back to school again to obtain a master’s degree. So now I’m here working with light and space.

I like the sound of an installation artist. I will take it. For today.

Process

I dream about what I want to create sometimes. Or ideas come to me during meditation (space out meditations). Sometimes the messages are very literal and obvious, other times you need to be very aware to notice them because they almost don’t exist.

Experiment sessions are my happy place. Playtime of possibilities.
Once ideas come to mind, they need to be sketched. Once they are on paper, they already exist.

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I like going through old sketches in my Moleskins to check in on old ideas.

making,

made,

editing,

next …

Sometimes it takes years before anything materializes. Learning how to create has been thousands of baby steps with millions more to go. It’s a slow process.

Time is weird on paper. Paper-time.

Inspiration

Mother nature.
Cosmos.
Other dimensions.
Awareness.
Seeing.
Research.
Science.
Being alive.
Play.
Deep, deep feelings.
Healing.
Truth.
Simplicity.
Love.

I want to add snow too because I miss it today.

Challenges

Creating art can be hugely challenging; it’s a vulnerable act, and takes a lot to put a piece of yourself out into the world.

Some of my challenges stem from being scared. And creative blocks have been a big one. I’ve been stuttering since childhood; my throat chakra has been blocked – which is the chakra of the expression.

Once I was so stuck in my head, I had to break both of my arms to melt away my fears. There was something very powerful in accepting help. Buddha’s story is very similar. He accepted a bowl of porridge and was enlightened the next morning. I can’t say I’ve found myself to be enlightened just yet. But I like this idea. We think that we need to be strong and independent, but letting in help and love can be as profound as putting it out.

It humbles. It crumbles.

Ego

I would like to be a nonjudgmental creature and appreciate every creative expression that people put out there. What is good and bad, after all? It’s just one side of perception you choose to stand on. And there are so many other sides. That being said, I think it’s very exceptional to attempt to comprehend all of it. Like wow – a big splash of big bang and back. Good luck!

If you can make someone else feel something, that is beautiful. I like beauty and feelings.

In the End

I think we create to cope with mortality. If you want to create something impactful that transcends your existence, start by losing your ego. It seems the design and art worlds are filled with ever-expanding egos. I think about this a lot – how could I create something that is me but not me at the same time? I haven’t figured this out yet.

Everything you will leave behind will sooner or later die. If your actions are pure and loving, those deeds can travel generations forward and backward – that is timeless.

Meaningful Life

A creative life is a meaningful life lived. I guess that, yes, it gives meaning to my life and gives my throat chakra some breathing space.

It makes me stutter less.

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