Intersections . Small-Scale Architecture

May 30, 2023 - September 10

National Gallery of Art

Konstitucijos pr. 22, LT-08105, Vilnius

Paroda

The exhibition Intersections – second in the series of Small-Scale Architecture outdoor events by the National Gallery of Art (NGA) is conceived to promote architectural expression and to encourage both architects and the public to take a closer look at architecture, its internal dynamics, its aims and significance to society and culture. This-year event has been realized in cooperation with architect Darius Čiuta and the studio Office De Architectura (Jautra Bernotaitė, Andrius Ropolas and Paulius Vaitiekūnas). The title of the exhibition Intersections is a metaphor for architectural creation, the expression of which does not depends entirely on its creator’s aspirations, but encounters on the way numerous circumstances, over which the architect has no command. Two architectural outdoor installations produced for the event represent their creators’ different takes on the nature of their profession.

The object The Tallest Flagpole, designed by architect Darius Čiuta, conveys the image of a growing structure that signifies creative determination, courage and hope. Darius Čiuta for his project has used a 330-metre-long steel rope, which by 3.5 m exceeds the height of Vilnius Television Tower which is transformed, on national occasions, into a flagpole. It is a poetic artist’s encouragement to his peers and visitors to resist in their creative solutions the pressure of circumstance and limitations of pure rationality.

The installation NGA. Impossible Architecture implemented by the creative team of the architecture studio Office De Architectura is based on a compliance analysis of the functional elements of the current exterior of the NGA building to current national Construction Technical Regulations, leading to the conclusion that ‘today the construction of the gallery we see would not be possible.’ Reflective tape, marking the elements of the pavement around the structure, on the steps, windows and elsewhere, identifies instances of defiance of the active technical regulations. This way the creators of the installation challenge the relentless attempts at regulating and coding, as a practice overriding creativity and jeopardising the possibility to design truly unique spaces best meeting the specific needs of each location and community.

The exhibition will be accompanied by curator moderated public discussions with the architects participating in the project as well as creative workshops by NGA educators for different age groups.

Exhibition curators are architect Mindaugas Reklaitis and art researcher Giedrius Gulbinas

The project is financed by the Lithuanian Council for Culture

Partner: The Design Week

Sponsors: Exterus, Fundermax

Media sponsor: Centras magazine / interjeras.lt