Horizontal Axis

Artūras Raila (b. 1962) is one of the most conceptual of contemporary Lithuanian artists, known for his involvement in social performances and interdisciplinary projects. However, during the period of the Sąjūdis movement, as a student in the Sculpture Department at Vilnius Academy of Art, he collaborated with Algis Lankelis and Deimantas Narkevičius to create sculptural objects that could be loosely classified in an ethnographic context. This was linked to the widespread interest in ethnic culture and the collective search for our roots, which was palpable at that time. The artists were intrigued by ethnographic artefacts and the shapes of household utensils, endeavouring to recreate and transform recognisable everyday objects into abstract sculptural works. Horizontal Axis is a wooden sculpture with a smooth matt surface which he created during his studies. It comprises two horizontal forms intersecting at the ends, resembling a pair of pliers. The abstract form, characterised by the rhythmic interplay of horizontal lines, evolves into a dynamic shape reminiscent of a household utensil. This piece served as the inaugural work of a series of sculptures that Raila exhibited at the Artists’ Palace in Vilnius (now the Lithuanian President’s Office) in 1989.

Text author Jurgita Ludavičienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album THE ART OF MATERIALS. Compiler and text author Jurgita Ludavičienė
© LATGA, Vilnius 2025

Artūras Raila (b. 1962) is one of the most conceptual of contemporary Lithuanian artists, known for his involvement in social performances and interdisciplinary projects. However, during the period of the Sąjūdis movement, as a student in the Sculpture Department at Vilnius Academy of Art, he collaborated with Algis Lankelis and Deimantas Narkevičius to create sculptural objects that could be loosely classified in an ethnographic context. This was linked to the widespread interest in ethnic culture and the collective search for our roots, which was palpable at that time. The artists were intrigued by ethnographic artefacts and the shapes of household utensils, endeavouring to recreate and transform recognisable everyday objects into abstract sculptural works. Horizontal Axis is a wooden sculpture with a smooth matt surface which he created during his studies. It comprises two horizontal forms intersecting at the ends, resembling a pair of pliers. The abstract form, characterised by the rhythmic interplay of horizontal lines, evolves into a dynamic shape reminiscent of a household utensil. This piece served as the inaugural work of a series of sculptures that Raila exhibited at the Artists’ Palace in Vilnius (now the Lithuanian President’s Office) in 1989.

Text author Jurgita Ludavičienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album THE ART OF MATERIALS. Compiler and text author Jurgita Ludavičienė
© LATGA, Vilnius 2025