Džiugas Šukys 'Body Extensions'

About

‘Body Extensions’ is the first solo show of Džiugas Šukys, in which the artist explores physical bodies, their relations with the surroundings and a human. The works shown in the exhibition act as body’s improvements, tools which should help a weak human’s body perform actions that surpass its limits. Yet, the feeling of the absurd is sensed as these heavy, clumsy tools can’t be conveniently utilized or can’t be used at all.

Overstepping the boundaries of one discipline, the artist analyses the concept of objects’ materiality. Artist’s destructive actions in video works and a concrete cube turned into a musical instrument during the performance, let one look upon the exploited objects from a different perspective, as well as reassess their usual functions. The artist is not the ruler of the material and form anymore. Only his curious, active, continuously searching and completely open figure is left.

The starting point of Šukys’s works is the category of weight, a mass unit that encompasses not only form, but also its relations with the surroundings. The external appearance of his sculptures is reminiscent of the modern Lithuanian sculpture tradition and the minimalistic movement, yet they are often conceptual. The author often creates uncomfortable and illogical situations, however, only traces of fruitless attempt are left in the end. An intuitive outlook on the world and a subjectified depiction of personal experience is significant to the artist as well as participating in a ceaseless process of search.

Džiugas Šukys (1995) is a new-generation sculptor, video and performance artist. He received a bachelor’s degree in sculpture from the Vilnius Academy of Arts in 2018. At the moment he is a master's student of the same programme. Since 2016, he has actively participated in group and duo shows in both Lithuania and abroad (Germany, South Korea, Romania, Finland, Poland). He has also taken part in video festivals in Germany and Italy. His works were published on Emergent Art Space website, dedicated to emerging artists from all over the world.

The exhibition is partially sponsored by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.

The exhibition ‘Body Extensions’ at the (AV17) gallery, Totorių Str. 5, will be open until October 10th.