ONION OF IDENTITY
with AIGARS BIKSKE
WORKSHOP PROGRAM
The workshop aimed to dive into the dynamic interplay between place, identity, and the human form as participants explored the ever-evolving tapestry of society and the individual. It offered a comprehensive investigation into the contexts of place and the multifaceted aspects of identity. Participants engaged in research that examined the human figure not only as a physical entity but also as a profound metaphysical subject. They partook in life model studies, exploring the intricate layers of identity through the “onion of identity” concept. This hands-on approach culminated in a captivating photo session titled “Stories Told by Young People,” where the models crafted were captured against the vibrant backdrop of the city. The cityscape and the models merged to become the canvas, creating powerful visual narratives that reflected identity and cultural differences.
the working GROUP
No information available at this time.
Pedagogical Approach — Fact Sheet
Workshop title: Onion of Identity
Author/coordinator: Aigars Bikše
Duration/time span: 4 days
This workshop approached identity as a layered, sculptural process, unfolding its personal, cultural, and political dimensions to explore how individuals are shaped by and resist systems of power, particularly in the context of the post-Soviet condition, imperial legacies, and colonial histories. Set in the historic town of Kuldīga, participants engaged in site-specific and performative interventions that asked pressing questions: Who are we in public space? What voices do we carry? What histories do we inherit or challenge? Through acts of sculpture, movement, and reflection, students gave material form to identity amplifying silenced narratives, confronting invisibility, and reasserting presence within the shared European landscape.
Context and program
Materials and methodologies
This workshop investigated identity as a layered sculptural process, combining professional sculpting clay, a variety of wooden sculpting tools, and traditional wooden sculpture stands with experimental, socially engaged methodologies. Participants explored how form emerges not only from material manipulation but also through dialogue and exchange, most notably via one-to-one interviews with local residents of Kuldīga. These personal encounters became both conceptual material and emotional catalyst, informing the gestures, textures, and shapes emerging from the clay. The physical act of sculpting (e.g. pressing, carving, building) mirrored the symbolic act of uncovering personal, cultural, and political identities, revealing how individuals are shaped by systems of power and how they resist, adapt, or reinterpret those forces. The integration of intimate conversation and tactile making foregrounded a sculptural practice rooted in listening, empathy, and reflection.
Who are we in public space? What voices do we carry? What histories do we inherit—or challenge?
Key issues
Results and observations
The workshop culminated in a site-specific exhibition held at Studija, a newly designated art space in Kuldīga’s industrial zone (Kaļķu ielas kvartāls). The raw, concrete environment (approximately 80 square meters) offered a compelling contrast to the intimate and often vulnerable subject matter, and served as a powerful conceptual frame for interrogating themes of spatial belonging, visibility, and identity construction. The surrounding cityscape was not only a backdrop but an active reference point in the works, reinforcing the tension between individual and place, self and structure.
Participant dynamics were notably collaborative and reflective, with students engaging critically with both their materials and their methodologies. The integration of theoretical discussion with embodied practice facilitated a deeper understanding of identity as multi-dimensional and performative. The use of the life model fostered empathy and heightened awareness of representation and power, while the exhibition context underscored the role of space and audience in shaping meaning.
Ultimately “Onion of Identity” succeeded in bridging theory and practice, encouraging participants to approach identity as something to be explored, not defined; expressed, not fixed. The workshop demonstrated the potential of sculpture as a method of critical inquiry, and of artistic practice as a vehicle for social understanding in contemporary European contexts.
Hofstede, Geert, Gert Jan Hofstede, and Michael Minkov. (2010). Cultures and organizations: Software of the mind, Intercultural Cooperation and Its Importance for Survival. New York: McGraw-Hill.
References
Information provided and reviewed by each workshop coordinator. Content may be revised or updated.