About

BIO

Ilze Mazpane is a performance artist from Riga, Latvia, with a background in philosophy, experimental theatre, art education, and creative writing. Ilze creates site-specific durational performances characterized by poeticism, a preoccupation with structure, and minimal means of expression. In her work, she seeks freedom from the tyranny of clock time and therefore explores pure duration (A. Bergson), kairos or the right moment, the right balance (Aristotle), and the concept of flow (M. Csikszentmihalyi).

ARTIST STATEMENT

I am captivated by the subjective perception of time and the concept of ‘kairos,’ the right, opportune moment. This fascination propels me to create site-specific durational performances that culminate in installations designed to dissolve over time. Through repetitive actions, extended duration, and poetic structure, my intent is to invite a more acute, sensitive, and immediate experience and contemplation of time. This could be seen as a potential remedy, or at the very least, a diagnosis for the prevailing anxiety in our era.

My creative process begins with simple yet fundamental questions: What characterizes the place where I currently stand? How does the present moment manifest itself? What narrative does my body communicate about this time and space? And ultimately, what significance can be gleaned from it all? By extracting and melding these responses, I shape a ritualistic experience – a durational act tailored to the environment. Throughout this journey, I remain receptive to a spectrum of emotions that manifest themselves over time in my body, environment and interactions with people: from excitement and healthy curiosity to quiet contemplation and moments of boredom and despair. I am willing to invest a part of myself while equally embracing the gifts bestowed by this creative odyssey. As this process becomes a habitual practice over time, my body assists my mind when fatigue sets in, and vice versa – a dynamic that is both challenging and healing.

I firmly believe in the remarkable power of silence and empathy. Consequently, my work embodies an intimate and sensitive exploration of the symbiotic relationship that arises from contrasts – the interplay between structure and freedom, the juxtaposition of fragility and the resilience inherent in the human body and psyche, and the tension between the desire to capture time and the reverence for its inherent unpredictability. My artistic pursuit poses a question to both the viewer and myself: What intricate connections does this practice forge between the past and future of this place, as well as our own personal narratives? What patterns do we perceive, and what do they reveal about us within this specific time and space?

Performance and Experimental Theatre:

2012-Present: Independent Performance Artist
2006-2012: Performer at Interactive Theatre Studio ‘Laiva’

Other Creative, Educational, and Survival Activities:

2016-2023: Senior Expert at the National Centre for Education of the Republic of Latvia, focusing on the implementation of transversal skills ‘creativity and entrepreneurship’ and art teachers’ professional development
2020-2023: High School Drama and Culture Studies Teacher
2014-2018: Coach (Supervisor) for Art, Literature, Design, and Latvian Language Teachers
2012-2014: Latvian and Literature Teacher
2005-2012: Advertising Copywriter
2011-2012: Literary Academy – Education Programme for Writers
2002-2006: Philosophy Studies at University of Latvia