Doctoral studies

Kipras Dubauskas

“Hazelnut” island as sculpture park as wild plants garden

Initiation of sculpture park and wild plants garden on the island in Neris river. New cultural point of attraction in the suburbs of Vilnius will be open for the public during the cold season (October - March), during the warm season it is available only for the researchers. Three dimensional sculptural objects are visible on both shores of the river and reached by recreational paths that are situated within the area. Main artistic research statement is an effort to draw attention to invasive plant species and their influence on “local” and endangered species that are growing on the river banks and to understand how my artistic practice could be useful for biodiversity studies. The control of invasive plants is a complex or altogether unmanageable process and the recommendations of the plant management service are harmful to the environment, so the aim is to draw attention to the thinking of the problem by involving the local dwellers and to look for alternative measures through the methodologies inherent in artistic research.

Methodologies used in the artistic research (since 2021) - environmental monitoring, documentation and keeping a journal, involving specialists from different fields, initiating artistic and ecological actions and rituals, and exhibiting sculptures / architectural interventions (already created or newly created from local raw materials (materials)) that would address the problems of artistic research in a marginal public space.

Working relations and consultations are maintained with the employees of the Lithuanian Nature Fund, the Green Policy Institute and members of the Geographical Society. Coastal management works are initiated every year, collected materials are recycled and used for further research. One of the aim is to secure the approval of the Vilnius city municipality for the further course of the project, involvement and support from local entrepreneurs (Ignitis, Gasta (Gariūnai sand quarry), DEPO, Darnu group) is being sought, education and participation of local residents. In order to attract volunteers for the project, educational tours are conducted, a psychogeographical map reflecting the attributes of this unique area and a website are also being created.

In addition to all this, infrastructure is being developed on the island and its premises (floating research station and winter port, solar and wind power stations, small architectural elements), thanks to which researchers and volunteers can stay on the island / laboratory under the open sky for a longer time. Preliminary opening date is during the Indian summer of 2025.