Title: Contemporary visual artists from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania: up/rooted in mobile careers and impacts on feelings towards home(land)

Authors: Emma Duester

Addresses: USC-SJTU Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China

Abstract: This paper explores the changing and continuous patterns of geographic mobilities and homes across contemporary visual artists' careers. It exposes the impacts of mobile careers on feelings towards mobile work and home(land). This longitudinal study draws upon two sets of interviews with 15 visual artists from Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia at the emerging stage in their careers in 2013 and at the established stage in their careers in 2021. This longitudinal study highlights the adverse career challenges for Eastern European visual artists, including having to leave their homeland and having to work across Europe to progress and maintain their careers. While the 'established' career stage is often associated with fulfilment and satisfaction, this study finds that it can become laden with ambivalent feelings towards this mobile career. This new knowledge can be used to consider policymaking around career sustainability and to ensure artists' well-being.

Keywords: artists; mobile careers; home; transnational practices; longitudinal research; Europe; Estonia; Latvia; Lithuania.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMBS.2024.145441

International Journal of Migration and Border Studies, 2024 Vol.8 No.3/4, pp.339 - 356

Received: 31 Jul 2023
Accepted: 12 Apr 2024
Published online: 01 Apr 2025 *

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