How the Earth Arose I

Tempera, watercolour, paper, 20x27 cm, 1989-90 /// This legend is significant because it tells about the beginnings of the earth in the traditional Latvian interpretation. From the beginning, there was only water and air, shown in the illustration with a light blue tone in the background. God wanted to create the earth and asked the Devil to bring a handful of mud. The devil agreed, but he stuffed his mouth full of mud as well. When the mud, enchanted by God, began to swell, the Devil had to spit it out - those are the mountains. God is the image of good and light in Latvian oral art, which is confirmed by its representation in the illustration.