‘Somersault’* – is a choreography of a moving objects, in this exhibition combining multiple types of mediums: sculpture, video, ceramics and performance art. The artist analyses a relationship between body and object, emphasizing a physical sensation, rather than a mental one. Movement is necessary for this sensation to appear: objects communicate with each other, as well as create new relations with surroundings by moving or being moved. Sculptural objects, displayed in the exhibition, look like in motion, therefore together they create a dynamic installation. The installation is complemented with ceramic works, where the painted lines were directed by a human’s movement, a trajectory of hands’ gestures. The artworks transform the space, thus creating a dynamic entirety, where a visitor becomes a part of this relationship with surroundings. By stepping into the installation, a visitor fills a peculiar empty space, which is designated for him to move in. Therefore, by analysing the installation, a visitor himself starts creating a choreography within the space.
By complementing the installation with video performances, the artist tries to set the usually static sculpture in motion, to activate it, as well as to create the sensations of a movement. These performances are based on dance theorist Rudolf van Laban analyses of movement, which explore size, weight, balance and direction of body versus object. In the exhibition space sculptural objects from a performance ‘Spell action’ become a light, yet frozen sculpture, while during the performance they actively take a part in the action and start drawing new trajectories in the space. On November 27th the exhibition will be complemented by a performance ‘Spell Action’, which will be presented at the Vilnius Contemporary Art Centre by two performers. During the performance, the dancers will employ mobile sculptural objects by the use of choreography to explore space and question the objects’ origin and function.
Rūta Butkutė (b. 1984) is a Kaunas-born artist currently living and working in Amsterdam. She studied at Vilnius Academy of Arts, Gerrit Rietveld Academy and Rijksakademie in Amsterdam. Butkutė actively organises solo exhibitions (in Cultuurcentrum Strombeek in Grimbergen, Kaaistudios and Rosas P.A.R.T.S in Brussels, Fons Welters gallery in Amsterdam, Teruhiro Yanagihara gallery in Japan, Art Rotterdam in Netherlands, etc.) as well as participates in group shows (in Gemmente museum in the Netherlands, Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven, etc.). The artist has also participated in various residencies (Arita Residency in Japan, Swing residency in New York) and was awarded with several individual scholarships.
The exhibition ‘Somersault’ will be open until November 30th in (AV17) gallery (totoriu str. 5, Vilnius).
Photography: (AV17) gallery