Society is increasingly forgetting the features and traditions characteristic to its nation, thus gradually losing the ability to be identified as a specific nation with its specific characteristics.**
Would a new folk-style costume, as a medium of art, stimulate society's interest in its traditions, educate it or at least draw attention to the problem?

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"The nature, ideals and cultural soul of a nation are most pronounced in its clothing. The clothing of a nation has been affected by its specific geographic conditions, socio-economic situation, welfare and clothing traditions developed over many generations, as well as technical possibilities of implementation. One phenomenon of Latvian material and spiritual culture is its traditional folk costume, which is a medium for passing on comprehensive and deep information." ***

The folk costume's features suggest of its abstract attempts to visualize data and elements found in a specific region.

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While shepherding in a meadow,
I made a woolen shawl,
Meadow flowers-
Reflected in my shawl. ****

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This led to the idea to create new patterns of folk costumes as visualisations of statistical data for each region. The social, technological and economic data, together with the peculiarities of nature and cultural data included and reflected in the regional patterns - visualisations of 21st century, which can be presented as visual identity of the regions. Furthermore, putting these patterns - visualisations on clothing creates the Latvian folk-style costume of the 21st century. Thus these visualisations become not just identity for regions, but also identity symbols for people (representatives) from

the regions. *****

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Assuming that clothing is a medium of identity and communication, and creates an immediate first impression, this type of outfit can serve as inter-communication and mutual recognition among its wearers. It can also facilitate Latvian national awareness and interest in the origins of these costumes - the traditional folk costumes, which in turn contributes to preserving the cultural heritage.

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The same statistical data has been gathered from the five Latvia's planning regions (Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Zemgale, Latgale and Riga region) and has been visualized through computer programming seperately for each region. Depending on the data value, a line has been drawn of a certain colour and thickness, then this line is divided into small lines representing the same statistical data value. The choice of this type of visual technique comes from an inspiration after having visited a number of artisans and craftsmen houses, where all you see is piles and lay-outs of threads. The resulting visual material is used in textile design, creating a line of clothing that identifies specific regions. The obtained visual data serves as basis for newly created in 21st century folk-style patterns for each region.

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* Folk-costume not in traditional way. Basic concept of artwork is taken from traditional folk-costume characteristics, as well as visual elements such as cut in top of linen shirts and "sakta" (brooch)
** No reference is made to the use of ornaments in accessories, but instead about understanding of traditional culture, folk-costume and the correct way of wearing one.
*** Aija Jansone. Latviešu tradicionālais tautastērps un tā valkāšanas tradīcijas (Latvian traditional folk-costume and traditions of its wear).
**** Latvian traditional folk song
***** It should be noted that these visualisations are my subjective view as an artist, as the data, the colours and the method of reflecting them are values and techniques chosen by me.