On February 6, at 5 p.m., the exhibition space of the Druskininkai Crafts Center “Menų Kalvė” will open an exhibition of wooden sculptures by artist Modestas Grigaliūnas, entitled "Retreating from the Sea".
"Retreating from the Sea" is a sacred encounter between the viewer and sculpture, history and memory. It combines Christian mysticism, folk art and existential philosophy.
In the exhibition, the artist talks about heritage, imagination and creative freedom – connections that connect and open a deep human connection with the environment, art, time and God.
The material of the sculptures of folk artist Modestas Grigaliūnas is black oak, which has been lying at the bottom of the Baltic Sea for hundreds of years. His works are characterized by an organic transformation of the material into a symbolic, metaphysical form.
In the exhibition "Retreating from the Sea", we can see how the artist walks the boundary of his nature and a kind of metaphysical reality, and the physical work necessary for the birth of creation, transforms this material into a new reality, draws it into the depths of the sea of human imagination...", - says the exhibition curator, Father Dovydas Grigaliūnas.
Modestas Grigaliūnas is a folk artist and woodcarver. In 1979–1985, he carved about 70 large works at the newly established Orvydai homestead in Salantai, Orvydai homestead, which is included in the Lithuanian Register of Immovable Cultural Properties, and the homestead-museum was recognized as a Lithuanian national value in the nomination “Phenomenon that glorifies Lithuania”. There, you can still see wooden sculptures by folk artist Modestas Grigaliūnas, which have been around for several decades. The author of the exhibition has been a member of the Lithuanian Folk Artists Union since 1990. In 1990–2020, he created about 50 sculptures, reaching 5–7 meters, in various Lithuanian cities and settlements in Samogitia – Klaipėda, Palanga, Šventoji, Nida, Kražiai, Vainūtė; In Aukštaitija – Vilnius city, in Panevėžys district – Velykiai, in Kaunas district – Kulautuva, in Kėdainiai district – Paberžė; in Suvalkija – Ežerėlis; in Dzūkija – Druskininkai, Liškiava, Kabeliai, Ricieliai.
Impressive monumental works are also located abroad: in Israel – Latrun Abbey, in Georgia – Tbilisi. Since 1990, Modestas Grigaliūnas has organized 7 personal author exhibitions. Together with other authors, he has participated in more than 10 joint exhibitions. You can meet and chat with Modestas Grigaliūnas, share philosophical reflections and see his works live at his homestead-house, Ilgoji g. 13, Ricieliai, Druskininkai municipality, tel.: +370 680 80078
Trukmė: until February 28
Kaina: admission to the exhibition is free