Spārnu Vēdas / Winged Vedas
2024
“Spārnu Vēdas” – a gentle movement of wings in Latvian
“Vēdas” – in Sanskrit: वेद — ‘wisdom’, ‘knowledge’, ‘truth’
Every ancient Indigenous culture across the world has lived in deep connection with nature and its rhythms - being an inseparable part of it since time immemorial, existing in harmony. In Latvia, as elsewhere, people have managed to preserve the wisdom of their ancestors, in which nature holds a sacred place, and humans relate to it with profound reverence.Today’s global situation threatens the survival of these cultures, even though their significance is greater than ever - something most people rarely consider. Integrating ancient wisdom, knowledge, and ethics into our everyday lives can lead us toward a sustainable and beautiful future, fostering awareness of the importance of balance, harmony, and respect for all living beings. Values like humility, honesty, and love are at the core of this perspective.Can we build a society where ancient wisdom and modern knowledge coexist, guiding us toward a brighter future?Beginning in November 2023, Hele spent time in Peru, learning from local cultures both in the Andes and in the Amazon rainforest, while also observing natural processes. Over three months of creative and exploratory work, Hele applied both the knowledge gained from these Indigenous communities and the wisdom passed down by her own ancestors - recognizing deep similarities in their worldviews and connections to nature.While staying in a typical Amazon rainforest cabin, immersed in solitude with nature, Hele discovered a book - a kindred spirit in written form. The book was written by a local resident, Rey S. Saurín Shapijama, who dedicated his life to collecting the myths of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest, dreaming of one day publishing them.Amidst the beautiful symphony of birds, grasshoppers, tamarins, and countless other jungle creatures, the first page is opened. It begins with the author’s statement:“My home is paradise, where humans are woven together with nature.”Nature is speaking to us every moment - waiting for us to listen, to hear, and to share in this awareness.
Spārnu vēdas installation
hand- woven tapestry, 2024, size variablewool, linen, wood, oak
The main character in my installation is an oak tree branch shaped like abird. Oak tree is deeply embedded in the cosmology of Latvian beliefs whereit is seen as a sacred tree linking the earthly and divine realms and are usuallytreated with greatest care, oak trees are seen as the protecters and teachersof deeper values and eternal wisdom. It holds so much.In 2020, I visited a beloved Kaltiņu oak tree near my home, I saw the tree in astate of neglect and sorrow - vandalised by people who did not respect ourculture, values, or the sacred tree itself. It was growing in an environmentpolluted by human activity, falling apart from sadness.This tree had once been protected by the country, since the days ofindependence, thanks to the efforts of Guntis Eniņš, a passionate environmentalist and oak researcher. He fought to save the tree fromdestruction during the Soviet occupation when the regime neglected ourcultural and natural heritage.I wrote to various authorities about the tree’s condition and learned that ithad ended up on private land, where it was no longer cared for. This newsfilled me with deep sadness. To me, this tree is sacred- like a reveredancestor that deserves the utmost respect that carries within it the eternalwisdom and stories of centuries.Four years ago, I brought home a small fallen branch from this sacred oakthat was in this sad state, to care for it and show it the love it deserves. Mywish was to one day present it in a place where people could look up to itagain - learn from it, hear its stories, and connect with its wisdom. Ipreserved the branch and weaved wings with Latvian symbols for it’sprotection, so it could rise to the place it truly belongs - a place where itwould be honored as our great ancestor and everything it carries within.
Rainforest Stories
hand- woven tapestry, 2024, 122x100 cm, wool, linen
Rainforests are living archives, holding within their depths ancientstories of culture and biodiversity. Every tree, leaf, and stream carries a narrative that stretches back thousands of years, preserving the knowledge of indigenous peoples and the evolution of countless species. Their layers of biodiversity weave together a rich tapestry of life, where each plant, animal, and tree carries with it a history of survival, adaptation, and interconnection. These forests are more than just ecosystems; they are repositories of
wisdom where cultural traditions, medicinal plants, and stories passed through generations are intertwined with the very fabric of the land.
Fragment of short film currently in final production
Song of The Fall for Spring to Return
2024, hand-woven tapestry, 65x37cm,wool, linen, organics
..and then from the tears the light fell
, 2024, hand-woven tapestry, wool, linen
