Standard Reservoirs

The artwork is comprised of ready-mades: three standard concrete well rings, sealed with black plexiglass sheets. In 2014, the sculptor received an invitation to create a sculptural piece for the inner yard on the ground floor of the Contemporary Art Centre. Placing the well rings in this space integrated them seamlessly with the windows framing the courtyard and with the grey paving slabs. Well known for his environmental sensitivity, Urbanavičius found this combination of objects and the chosen location inherently natural. However, they appear just as at home in natural landscapes. It is perhaps not a surprise that these sculptures attracted a stork. For several years, the stork circled the well rings, gazing at its own reflection in the plexiglass, and repeatedly trying to peck at it. Its efforts were futile, of course, but the marks left by its beak remain as a subtle testament to the sensitive connection between the sculptures and the natural world. Vladas Urbanavičius (b. 1951) has been working with concrete since 2000, exploring it as a more cost-effective alternative for his works. This addition expanded his repertoire of materials that were previously deemed ‘non-sculptural’. Rather than manipulating the primary and secondary meanings of objects, he focuses on extracting the form. As the art critic Giedrė Jankevičiūtė says, he removes objects from their original context, granting them a new existence. This transformation is evident in his reservoirs. Stripped of their original purpose, the concrete well rings now confront the viewer with ‘eyes’ crafted from black plexiglass. It is as though an abyss is gazing back, offering only a dim reflection of the viewer.

Text author Jurgita Ludavičienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album THE ART OF MATERIALS. Compiler and text author Jurgita Ludavičienė
© VŠĮ „Lietuvos dailės fondas“

The artwork is comprised of ready-mades: three standard concrete well rings, sealed with black plexiglass sheets. In 2014, the sculptor received an invitation to create a sculptural piece for the inner yard on the ground floor of the Contemporary Art Centre. Placing the well rings in this space integrated them seamlessly with the windows framing the courtyard and with the grey paving slabs. Well known for his environmental sensitivity, Urbanavičius found this combination of objects and the chosen location inherently natural. However, they appear just as at home in natural landscapes. It is perhaps not a surprise that these sculptures attracted a stork. For several years, the stork circled the well rings, gazing at its own reflection in the plexiglass, and repeatedly trying to peck at it. Its efforts were futile, of course, but the marks left by its beak remain as a subtle testament to the sensitive connection between the sculptures and the natural world. Vladas Urbanavičius (b. 1951) has been working with concrete since 2000, exploring it as a more cost-effective alternative for his works. This addition expanded his repertoire of materials that were previously deemed ‘non-sculptural’. Rather than manipulating the primary and secondary meanings of objects, he focuses on extracting the form. As the art critic Giedrė Jankevičiūtė says, he removes objects from their original context, granting them a new existence. This transformation is evident in his reservoirs. Stripped of their original purpose, the concrete well rings now confront the viewer with ‘eyes’ crafted from black plexiglass. It is as though an abyss is gazing back, offering only a dim reflection of the viewer.

Text author Jurgita Ludavičienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album THE ART OF MATERIALS. Compiler and text author Jurgita Ludavičienė
© VŠĮ „Lietuvos dailės fondas“