“All of us were born here, in the same world and therefore even somewhat like relatives. This is how we should treat each other.”
/Imants Ziedonis, ES, CILVĒKS, PASAULĒ / ME, A HUMAN BEING IN THE WORLD, Riga, 1993/

The main element of the mural is the flowers of water lobelia (Lobelia dortmanna), which can be considered one of Latvia’s natural treasures. This protected aquatic plant is an indicator species of particularly clean lakes, and hence mostly found in the cleanest lakes in Latvia, located in Ādaži regional community – Ummis in Lilaste village of Carnikava municipality and Mazuiks in Ādaži municipality. Since 27 January 2022, this plant also decorates the coat of arms of Ādaži, where two lobelia flowers protect the third one – the small, fragile bud that is yet to blossom. The municipality’s website explains that it is a symbol of the family (father, mother, child), which is a perennial value in Ādaži regional community.

The artist Ance Eikena about the mural Tādi kā radi / Somewhat like relatives:

“I was deeply moved by this family symbol, where the big flowers, two parents, protect and take care of the little bud, the child, but I think we all know families that don’t resemble this family model. Since the mural will decorate the school building, I remembered my school years, when a profound emotional impact was the divorce of my parents and I felt that I and my family were somehow worse just because we did not meet the standards that are not always feasible. I remember classmates who were raised by grandmothers, and a boy who came from a foster family of ten children. Unfortunately, it also very often happens that the little bud has to grow up much earlier and learn to take care of oneself, without the warmth and care of his parents. Sometimes the little ones have to take care of the big ones. A family is a family in so many different variations, just like in nature where no plant is identical to another. I think that the world would be a much better place if we were taught from an early age to be more tolerant and accept the different, – without it, the world cannot move forward at all. This issue of acceptance is very relevant, especially in adolescence, when sometimes it is difficult to accept yourself, you feel inadequate. That’s why I thought it was important to make the lobelia flowers in the mural a little ‘incorrectly’. Side by side, there is a flower which looks like straight out of a book of botany and a complete fruit of fantasy, an interpretation of imagination. And all are acceptable, all are good. Sufficiently. Every family and every young, growing, self-searching person.”

Imants Ziedonis Foundation Viegli educational direction Ziedoņa klase is implementing a project “Me, A Human Being in the World”, A Tool for Fostering Contemporary Culture Processes with the support of the European Economic Area Financial Mechanism for the period 2014–2020 programme Local Development, Poverty Reduction and Cultural Cooperation (project No. EEZ/2021/1/28) ), awarded under the open call Support for the Creation of Professional Art and Cultural Products for Children and Youth.

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