Rūta Šipalytė: Cities. Travelling Homes, 2018
Through this project I discuss the impact of global urbanization in Lithuania: changes in time and space ratios; distances becoming shorter; our places of living constantly changing.
“Traveling Homes” are the “inner homes” that I have in my heart every time when traveling around countries, art centers, strolling at airports, or driving on multi-lane highways. When I appear in a new geographical area or in a new sociocultural field, it is important for me to stay close to my “home of my heart”, to maintain my cultural identity and enrich it with new experiences without losing authenticity.
A home, hive or dwelling is typically associated with vitality, cosiness and safety. Within such a context “a home” inside a person becomes alive and travels with us everywhere at all times; it travels in a different human dimension, in alternative reality – within a human heart.
In this project I use a pattern of the flower of rue, as it is a major symbol in Lithuanian traditional culture. My name, Rūta, is the Lithuanian word for the rue flower.
Photo captions
- In The City, detail, 2018.
- Cities. Travelling Homes, solo exhibition view, 2018.
- In The City, 2018, mixed ceramic materials, 25 x 130 x 90 cm.
- On The High Hill and In Bloom, 2018, stoneware, porcelain, silver 925 plated, 13,5 x 26 x 23,5 cm and 26 x 17 x 12 cm. Photo by Raimundas Adžgauskas.
- Longing in the Blossoming Garden, 2018, stoneware, porcelain, 17 x 50 x 20,5 cm. Photo by Raimundas Adžgauskas.
- Cities. Travelling Homes, solo exhibition view, 2018.
- Cities. Travelling Homes, solo exhibition view, 2018. Photo by Laurynas Matulionis.
- Cities. Travelling Homes, solo exhibition view, 2018.
- Something Very Precious II, 2018, mixed ceramics materials, 24 x 90 x 40 cm.
- Here and There, 2017, porcelain, glazes, gas firing, 23,5 x 28 x 28 cm.
- Cities. Travelling Homes, solo exhibition view, 2018.
- Inside, 2018, stoneware, glaze, gas firing, 69 x 30 x 35 cm.
- Travelling Homes, 2016, stoneware, glaze, gas firing, 67 x 50 x 41 cm.
- Always With Me, 2018, stoneware, glaze, 63 x 32 x 38 cm. Photo by Raimundas Adžgauskas.
- Something Very Precious (detail), 2018, porcelain, glaze, 11 x 9 x 9,5 cm.