About the Artist: Kaspars Podnieks

Kaspars Podnieks has devoted his practice, points of reference, and artistic research to his native village of Drusti, Latvia, where he still resides. In fact, he feels so strongly about Drusti that he is also active in the social and political activities as a member of its town council. Podnieks, who exhibited for the first time in 1998, has produced photographs, videos, installations, and performance-based pieces. In his most famous works, Podnieks photographs himself against various landscapes in Drusti, from industrial vistas to the undeveloped forests. In looking at these, it takes a moment to realize that the perspective of the image is askew, and that Podnieks is floating motionlessly above the landscape. He achieves this effect by standing on a small gangway above the ground—in such a way that his body obscures the support structure.