INDRĖ BUTKU
I rarely share my sketchbook with anyone – it is more often filled with anger, fear and confusion than with the beauty of life. So far, only a few people have flipped through those pages I filled with sketches throughout 2024. But during an event, when the women sitting next to me asked if they could take a look, I handed it over and turned away, as if I were having a blood test. “I am an anarchist in the furniture industry,” I introduced myself. Perhaps because, unlike the usual expectations, the furniture I create is comfortable for the body but challenges the eye – especially for those looking for forms that conform to established aesthetic norms. Sitting next to me were representatives of the Klaipėda Drama Theatre. They invited me for a conversation and eventually offered me the opportunity to be part of the international theatre festival “TheATRIUM” by creating an art installation for it.
The idea for the installation began to take shape during the meetings with the theatre – the location became clear at the very first one. When one of my theatrical mentors expressed a wish to sit outside for a cup of tea, I took it as a creative assignment. The chosen space is between the Klaipėda Drama Theatre and the city itself: between performance and everyday life, between imagination and habits. I want “TheATRIUM” visitors to linger in this in-between state for as long as possible: to share their thoughts with each other, to strike up a conversation with a stranger, or to allow themselves to wander freely in reflection. Perhaps, in doing so, one might find a way to tame the beast they have encountered.
I aimed to create a space infused with freedom, a moment of respite, and lightness that define this festival. At the same time, I sought to evoke theatricality through the use of unusual materials and elements that spark engaging and open conversations. While creating the installation, I immersed myself in a natural environment: I stayed at a homestead near a forest, drew drinking water from a spring, and bathed in cold showers. The forest and the Minija River flowing nearby had a powerful influence on the creative process during this period.
*To create the installation, I chose used corrugated cardboard and natural materials. Anything that will not be used for other purposes will be recycled after the festival, while the natural elements will be returned to the forest.
More information about the author indrebutku.lt
Back 
