Artūrs Vobļikovs is a Latvian artist based in London, working as an animator and illustrator. He holds a master’s degree in clay animation from the Royal College of Art.
In October this year, his book Varžacis (Corns) was published by Valters un Rapa. An original, richly illustrated, comic-style narrative, the book explores how a Latvian sees Latvia while living abroad. It is a personal, artistic and social story, offering an insightful and, at times, vivid portrayal of what Riga and Latvia mean to the author himself. Artūrs Vobļikovs’s sharp observational eye and imaginative perspective are accompanied by a keen sense of humour, evident from the very first page, where he writes: “I dedicate this book to my physics, chemistry and mathematics teachers, whose lessons over the course of twelve years helped me develop my drawing skills.”
In Varžacis, the artist uses his distinctive perspective to portray familiar events, processes, scenes and everyday things in a witty and visually engaging way. Yet this rich array of cultural references and everyday realities is seen through Artūrs Vobļikovs’s own artistic lens. The book combines collage, photography, illustrations and text, with hints of Latvian national romanticism. Varžacis can be read and explored from any page, with each spread revealing something previously unnoticed yet meaningful. Its details and characters build a portrait and narrative of a Latvian living abroad, making the book a significant contribution to the broader story of the Latvian diaspora and return migration.
At the heart of the book are Riga, Jūrmala and the Latvian countryside. Here, reality merges with what was once planned, while carefully laid-out schemes blend with fantasy. The artist presents his own proposed map of the Riga Metro, complete with lines and stations, alongside shopping, celebrations, nature and other familiar aspects of Latvian life that resonate with the hearts of Latvians everywhere.
“When everyday experiences, such as shopping before the Midsummer celebrations, visiting the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum or spending an ordinary day in the countryside, become something beyond reach, the distance from one’s homeland, home and loved ones begins to make itself painfully felt — much like corns,” says Artūrs Vobļikovs. “Love for Latvia and the desire to carry its name out into the world are also reflected in my animated films. My 2024 film Anomālija (Anomaly) won Royal Television Society awards for Best Animation, Best Script and Best Production Design.”
Artūrs Vobļikovs is an internationally award-winning animator. In September this year, Daina Šulca, remigration coordinator for the Riga Planning Region, met the artist at the Latvian
Embassy in London during a gathering of representatives from diaspora organisations and schools. At the time, Artūrs spoke about and shared his richly illustrated sketchbook, which became the foundation for Varžacis, now published in Riga and available to readers.
Artūrs Vobļikovs describes his book as follows: “A visual novella about longing and overcoming it, told from the perspective of a Latvian living in the London diaspora.”
For information about returning to Riga and the Riga Region, contact Remigration Coordinator Daina Šulca.
Tel.: +371 26614179
Email: koordinators@rpr.gov.lv