New York-based Garcia said that he started researching Baltic mythology while on a visit to Finland and Estonia.
At first he read about werewolves and studied several other deities, paying special attention to the demonic Lietuvēns, a sort of an equivalent to the succubus, as well as the dragon. Heroes Kurbads and Lāčplēsis, along with the deities of moon, thunder and the dead have also caught the artist's attention.
"I had never heard about Lietuvēns, I had only seen a painting. I found out about what it means waking up with a heavy feeling or with something pressing down on you at night without you knowing what that is. I found out the for Lietuvēns to leave you have to move one of your toes," he said.
Garcia's sculptures are made from clay and cloth. His own favorite is the devil, a character more comical and benign in Latvian as opposed to Christian tradition.
The sculptures are on show in Aizpute until late August.
