Chambers of Reminiscence

Sculptor Andrius Erminas is mostly known for his conceptual, sensitive, and associative sculptural objects and installations. Celebrating his 50th anniversary, the artist presents his latest works in the solo show, Chambers of Reminiscence, where he further develops topics that have been important to him throughout the career, such as concepts of individual experience, authorship, remembrance, success, and failure. The exhibition speaks about how achievements are usually celebrated and commemorated, but their cost is often overlooked. They are eternalized in various objects that fill the environment around us creating a museum of memories. Trophies that are supposed to reflect a person’s pride, in this exhibition, are eliminated and used to reflect human vanity instead. The artist presents site-specific and ready-made works using his favorite materials, such as wood, cardboard and bones. These works together with light designing create an atmosphere encouraging one to reevaluate the significance of one’s achievements and trophies. Some of the most important creative principles employed by A. Erminas are the use of visual references alluding to specific historical events, the construction of a fictional narrative, and the transformation of old, easily recognizable everyday objects into new symbolic sculptural pieces. Using unexpected interconnections, A. Erminas changes both the meaning, and the inner characteristics of objects, turning them into symbols filled with tension, philosophic ideas, and personal experiences. In his works, one can find references to interpersonal, existential themes, reflections on dialectical opposites such as life and death, culture and nature, tradition, and modernity. Lithuanian sculptor, Andrius Erminas was born in 1971. He graduated with bachelor’s degree in fresco-mosaic studies and master’s degree in sculpture at the Vilnius Academy of Arts. A. Erminas’ creativity has earned him various national scholarships for art and culture, as well as prizes and grants for his exceptional skills as an encouragement for their future development. He actively takes part in group and personal exhibitions and art projects both in his home country and abroad – the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Israel, Austria, Bulgaria, and Germany. His artworks have been acquired by private collectors and are part of the permanent collection of the modern art Museum MO in Vilnius. The project is partly supported by the Lithuanian Council for Culture. The exhibition Chambers of Reminiscence will be open at the (AV17) Gallery, Totorių str. 5, until the 9th of June 2022.