Duke Vildaugas
17 September 2010, 6pm. The opening of the sculpture “Duke Vildaugas” will take place at the Užupis Art Incubator (UMI), Užupio g. 2. The author is Artūras Maksimilianas. The sculpture was made by
made of concrete and iron and will be displayed on the eaves of the facade of the UMI, above the Galera Gallery.
The author of the idea “Duke Vildaugas” is a well-known citizen of our city,
Stasys Urniežius. In the history of the GDL, the little-known Duke Vildaugas said
S. Urniežius attributes it to the descendants of Duke Gediminas.
More about this can be found on the Internet -http://server.uzupiozinios.lt/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=50&Itemid=69 ,
Or just ask S. Urniežius, who is known as the Duke, about it when you meet him in Vilnius, Pilies Street.
Since the idea of “Duke Vildaugas” is best represented by the author himself, it is impossible to avoid depicting him in the sculpture. It should be stressed that the representation of Urnie is only a way of expressing the idea of “Duke Vildaugas” and not a monument to him himself.
This sculptural idea inevitably intertwines two characters: Duke Vildaugas, who lived “in those times”, and his representative, Stasys Urniežius, from the present-day Pilies Street.
The symbols and attributes used in the sculpture also come from both characters and are united by the single idea of “Duke Vildaugas”.
In everyday life, it is common to see S. Urniežius with the indistinguishable and instantly recognisable
hat, pipe, book, beer bottle and the well-known piece he performs, “America”.
Duke Vildaugas, heard mainly from the stories of S. Urniežis, is vaguely understood by us, and it is known that he is descended from the Gediminas and that his coat of arms should depict a wolf.
Nevertheless, the author of the sculpture is convinced that the idea of “Duke Vildaugas” is worth implementing in Užupis, near the “Galera”, a much-visited place in our city, where Stasys Urniežius often likes to visit.
The sculpture “Duke Vildaugas” is part of the ongoing project “City Stories”.
The City Stories project was conceived in 2007 and launched in 2008.
The idea of the project “City Histories”:
The aim of the project is to reflect the key moments and prominent characters in the history of Vilnius City. These could be true stories and “unreal” events that happened in Vilnius, famous and fictional characters, without necessarily emphasising their portrait quality. Artists have the right to create their own story, which does not necessarily correspond to real events in the past
Significant historical events in the history of the State of Lithuania and the city of Vilnius are conveyed in each artist’s work through his or her individual approach to the chosen moment in history, connecting with the spirit of our time.
This project is an alternative art phenomenon.
Project author Artūras Maksimilianas ©
Stasys Urniežius reads his poems in Užupis Galera
