Photos – courtesy of Evgenia Levin ©
Mindaugas Navakas’ is one of Lithuania’s foremost contemporary sculptors, celebrated for his innovative approach to sculpture, often characterised by imposing, monumental forms. His work pushes the boundaries of abstract sculpture, exploring the potential of materials and scale, while deeply engaging with cultural contexts. Since the late 20th century, Navakas has significantly contributed to the evolution of Lithuanian sculpture, introducing new ways of artistic expression that have shaped the contemporary art landscape. His work inspires fresh interpretations and remains a vital part of today’s cultural discourse. His sculptural pieces are featured in public spaces across Lithuania and internationally, becoming integral elements of urban environments.
Navakas’ solo exhibition “The Carp and the Dragon” presents his latest creations in hard-paste porcelain. These works reveal the artist’s profound interest in materiality and its social and cultural connotations. By working with hard-paste porcelain, a medium with a long tradition in Oriental ceramics, and shaping it into forms reminiscent of Western aesthetics, Navakas highlights the tensions between civilisations, as well as the cultural and aesthetic contrasts between East and West. Known for his subtle irony, the artist contrasts porcelain, traditionally associated with fragility and refinement, with its mundane uses in the Western world. Through his sculptures, he contemplates the philosophical dichotomies of East and West, heaven and earth, culture and nature, rethinking their relationships and influences. His work captures the fragility of tradition, exploring themes of insecurity and the impermanence of cultural values in the modern world. The unexpected forms and materials create a tension that invites viewers to confront the anxieties and uncertainties of the present. Navakas’ “The Carp and the Dragon” encourages reflection on the distinct identities of Oriental and Western cultures, offering a space for dialogue between these two worlds.
Born in 1952, Mindaugas Navakas has been an active figure in the art world since 1977, exhibiting in Lithuania and internationally. He taught for many years at the Sculpture Department of the Vilnius Academy of Arts. His works have been showcased at prestigious events such as the first Gwangju Biennale in 1995, and in 1999 he was the first artist (alongside Eglė Rakauskaitė) to represent Lithuania at the Venice Biennale. Navakas has received numerous awards, including the Herder Prize (1995), the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Art (1999), and the Baltic Assembly Prize (2004). His sculptures are held in national museums and private collections worldwide.
Mindaugas Navakas’ solo exhibition “The Carp and the Dragon” is open until the 21st of November at the (AV17) Gallery (Totorių str. 5, Vilnius).
