This year, the symposium brought together as many as 20 sculptors in Kaunas – 14 artists from abroad and 6 Lithuanian creators. From August 17th at Vytauto St. 2B, Garliava, stone here turned into different stories about Kaunas, its architecture, people, and the city’s cultural identity.
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“It is pleasing that it was actually not so difficult to attract creators to come to Lithuania. We received more than 150 applications because after the first symposium, the news about us spread quite widely. All participants carve better than machines, working from Monday to Saturday without sparing themselves, because they see the meaning and love what they do,” said Rebeka Bruder, chairwoman of the Kaunas branch of the Lithuanian Artists’ Union.
One of the artists participating in the symposium is Lithuanian sculptor Algimantas Šlapikas. His work becomes a reference to heritage preservation.
“I like pure, laconic form, so I polished the entire surface. The title of my work is ‘Code 1932.’ It is like the image of a lock and at the same time elements of the Kaunas central post office, which is a symbol of Kaunas modernism. The word ‘code’ is related to opening the lock. Since heritage is protected, these two words beautifully intertwined into one for me,” said A. Šlapikas.
For the first time in Lithuania, the work is presented by Greek-origin sculptor Vasilis Vasili. Mostly working with stone, the artist combines architecture, geometry, memory, and the flow of time in his work. In Kaunas, he was impressed not only by modernist architecture but also by the art visible in the city’s public spaces.
“This is my first time in Lithuania. When I arrived here, it was a surprise – the city is very beautiful, with interesting architecture. I was also surprised by how much art I saw walking the streets of Kaunas. It is my dream as an artist to see art living in the present,” said V. Vasili.
Kaunas modernism history is also immortalized in the work of Kaunas sculptor Gediminas Pašvenskas. His sculpture recalls one of the most important stages in Kaunas sports history – the victories of Lithuanian basketball players in 1937 and 1939, when the national team became European champions.
“This is a dedication to the Kaunas modernism period, remembering what happened in the basketball world – Lithuanians won in 1937 and 1939, becoming European champions. This is a dedication to our great victories,” presented G. Pašvenskas his work.
The artist is participating in the symposium for the second time and is especially happy this year to have the opportunity to place his work in his hometown.
“I participated last year as well, but this year it is especially nice because the space is better, more participants from different parts of the world. It is nice to meet, chat, share thoughts. But it is especially nice to place a work in my hometown because I am from Kaunas myself,” the author rejoiced.
This year, Italian sculptor Alessio Ranaldi also joined the symposium, creating stone sculptures for more than two decades at international symposiums in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and America. Balance, tension, and transformation are important in his work – the artist seeks the moment when a massive and hard material seems to lose its hardness and gains a sense of movement.
“I was very curious to come to Lithuania and place my work specifically in this country. I am now halfway through my sculpture. My idea is to make something that looks like a very heavy material but at the same time make it flexible. My goal is to find the contrast between hardness and softness,” emphasized A. Ranaldi.
The artist was also impressed by Kaunas itself. “I also really like Kaunas. I see many young people here, it is beautiful, green – just super,” said the Italian sculptor.
This year’s symposium in Kaunas stands out not only for the number of participants but also for different artistic interpretations. Some creators look at Kaunas modernism through architectural forms and history, others through the prism of sports, city culture, or personal relationship with the environment.
This fall, 20 granite sculptures will enrich the city’s open-air art gallery. The works will not only decorate public spaces but also tell different stories about the city and its cultural heritage.
The event is organized and funded by the Kaunas branch of the Lithuanian Artists’ Union (LDS) together with the Kaunas city municipality.
The international sculpture symposium runs until September 13th. The creative process can still be seen at Vytauto St. 2B, Garliava.
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