Petras Mazūras is a Lithuanian sculptor, creator of monumental and small-scale sculptures, a representative of the so-called Quiet Modernism in Lithuania who started to create conceptual sculpture during the very first years of the Independence. The artist contributed to the formation of the Lithuanian tradition of sculpture; his works can be seen in many public spaces and his artistic ideas remain relevant to this day. 

From his earliest works, Mazūras has been reflecting on the relationship between art and reality. As soon as the opportunity to create with modern materials became available, the sculptor began to boldly integrate them into his works. In his work, technological solutions are employed to challenge naturalness, a juxtaposition that manifests in both material and form: the sculptor combines synthetic materials and complex engineering structures with natural elements.

After an eight-year hiatus, Mazūras presents a solo exhibition of recent works. The title of the exhibition, “Liugujie labos raitos” (“I wish you a good journey”), borrowed from the old Lithuanian language, reflects the main themes of the exhibition – time, events, road, places. The sculptor transforms the exhibits into artistic time capsules, which are used in the exhibition to tell two stories that are important to him – the nation’s and his own. 

In these works, the artist delves into the concepts and meanings of historical and personal time. Contemporary materials are layered with references to significant historical moments, important episodes in the nation's history, and both ethnic and contemporary symbols, spanning from the formation of the state to today's political attitudes. The sculptor’s works are intertwined with both his cultural and civic identities – through his narrative, Mazūras seeks not only to preserve and update these images but also to draw attention to today’s identity, which tends to distance itself from the signs of the times.

The exhibition is complemented by autobiographical elements – the themes of personal time and memory are developed in parallel – the artist, by telling the story of his family, recreates a work that was constructed in 1963: the traditional forms, fused with modern materials, represent artistic continuity. Experiences and stories are materialized in contemporary sculpture that weaves the signs of the past with today’s issues and touches on themes of personal and collective memory.

Petras Mazūras (b. 1949) is a sculptor who graduated from the Lithuanian Art Institute (now Vilnius Academy of Arts) in 1973. From 1973–89, he taught at the National M. K. Čiurlionis School of Art, since 1989, he has been teaching at the Vilnius Academy of Arts, and from 2001–2018, he was the Head of the Sculpture Department of the Vilnius Academy of Arts and a professor. Since 1974, he has participated in exhibitions in Lithuania and abroad. His works have been acquired by the Lithuanian National Museum of Art, the M. K. Čiurlionis Museum of Art, and the MO Museum, as well as private collectors in Lithuania and abroad. In 2004, the sculptor was awarded the Lithuanian National Prize for Culture and Art.

Petras Mazūras’ exhibition “Liugujie labos raitos” will be on view at the (AV17) Gallery until 30 November.

The project is partly supported by the Lithuanian Council for Culture.