In Vilnius, next to the old Vingria waterhole (the oldest sources of Vingria), near modern art MO Museum, a new object of art in public spaces appeared - the work "Water Lilies" by Severija Inčirauskaitė-Kriaunevičienė, a well-known artist not only in Lithuania, but also internationally.
The object of modern art is an industrial water tank, embroidered with motifs of freshwater plants using the archaic cross technique, representing the historical Vilnius watershed and Vingria springs, which for many centuries were the vital artery of the capital, supplying residents and flower gardens with clean water.
The piece is one of the Vilnius city municipalities in 2018 initiated and supported by the winners of the "Kuriu Vilnius" program. The municipality, with the help of a commission of experts, selected 120 winners from 19 innovative, bright, unique urban art projects- of the most unique art projects that will enrich the city of Vilnius.
"Vilnius is the capital of creativity, where original ideas turn into real projects with the help of the city. A few years ago, the program "Kuriu Vilnių" that we initiated, which finances art projects in unexpected spaces, attracted a lot of talent and revitalized neglected city spaces. The "Water Lilies" that appeared in the neighborhood of the MO Museum, at the historical site of Vingria springs, tell an interesting story of this space - "educate" the viewer", says the Mayor of Vilnius Remigius Šimašius.
The initiator and sponsor of the art object is Irmantas Norkus, the managing partner of the Cobalt law firm in Lithuania, the project architect is Tomas Grunskis.
"Water Lilies" is a reference to a historically important but forgotten location in the city
The artist's work, created from an industrial water tank, embroidered with motifs of freshwater plants, points to a historically important place in the city. Natural Exercise sources from the beginning of the city's development until the 20th century. Clean drinking water was supplied to the residents of Vilnius - it was supplied for the daily needs of the city's people, and it supplied more than one city sauna.
The initiator and sponsor of this work of art, Irmants Norkas, found Severija's choice to use a modern work of art to mark not great personalities, heroes or events, as is usually the case in public spaces, but a significant place related to the everyday life of ordinary people.
"Vingria springs are mentioned as the oldest and most watery place in Vilnius, so it was undoubtedly important in the life of the townspeople. It is a pity that the territory of the waterhole is currently not accessible to the residents of the capital, and the springs flow underground and run into the city's sewage system. With this piece, we wanted to make sense of a little-known historic place in Vilnius and reveal how important it was to the residents of the capital. I think that a piece of contemporary art in a public space, reminding a place that served the citizens, is relevant and creates a new historical context. I am very happy with the cooperation with Severija and the excellent result", says I. Norkus.
Excess or lack of water - an increasingly acute problem of the 21st century. ecological problem
By combining different water-related aspects: a specific water location, an industrial water tank and motifs of a water plant - the water lily, the author of the work draws attention not only to the problems of the historical place, memory, but also the interaction of natural nature and human activity. According to the author of the work, the excess of water, and elsewhere, on the contrary, its lack, is an increasingly acute ecological problem in different regions of the world in the 21st century.
"Corrosion-affected, submarine-like, industrial water tank, embroidered with motifs of freshwater plants, speaks about the points of tension between natural nature and human activity, and also brings to the fore questions of memory and oblivion in the history of the city." The cistern is a universal container, which is increasingly used to transport not water, milk or ghee, but slurry, harmful chemicals or oil products. In a country that does not have a lot of precious fossils, pure water and culture created by people are key useful resources", says Severija Inčirauskaitė-Kriaunevičienė about the ecological relevance of the work in today's context.
She also reminds us that contemporary art is not always comfortable. Sometimes creates ambiguous situations. Like the dual nature of water. Water is both a source of life and a destructive, all-destroying element.
"Water Lilies" is the first initiative born during the contemporary art fair that moved to public spaces
The work "Water Lilies" is an initiative born during "ArtVilnius", the largest contemporary art fair in the entire Eastern European region. "I'm glad that when celebrating the 10th anniversary of ArtVilnius, the creation of this work became one of its jubilee highlights. The idea born two years ago at the fair between the two creators of the artwork has already turned into reality. Such a project, the initiative of which would have originated during the fair and later moved to the public spaces of the city, is the first. This is a very important step in promoting public interest in contemporary art, as well as integrating Vilnius into the most significant European contemporary art scene. In the public space of the capital, unlike in other cities of the world, there are very few objects of contemporary art, and even more so - created by women artists, so Severija's work is unique in this aspect as well", said Diana Stomienė, the head of the art fair.
The author is a valued artist not only in Lithuania, but also in international museums and collectors
Severija Inčirauskaitė-Kriaunevičienė is also well known in the international context due to her exceptional visual expression. She often participates in important exhibitions abroad and in Lithuania, her works have been purchased by important museums in Sweden, Canada, Great Britain, Latvia and private collectors. A few years ago, she had the opportunity to work with the famous street art creator Banksy, at whose personal invitation Severija participated in the outstanding "Dimaland" project in Great Britain. Severija is also a teacher at the Vilnius Academy of Arts.
"In my work, I usually use utilitarian metal household objects (such as cars, military helmets, metal dishes, buckets) and conceptually combine them with cross-stitch embroidery, which creates new meanings every time it is placed on a different object. Cross-stitching would seem to many to be an extremely old-fashioned, archaic technique, but its resolution works on the principle of a digital pixel image," says the author about her work.
