Fifth volume of ‘Articulations’ delves into unfulfilled tomorrows

DATE: Saturday 24 February, 16:00.
LOCATION: Arts Printing House (Šiltadaržio g. 6, Vilnius), Studio II.
PARTICIPANTS: Isabel Mallet, Marijn Ottenhof, Tra My Nguyen, moderator Žygimantas Kudirka.

Humanity’s perpetually bold, utopian promises continually fall flat, even according to the questionable metrics defined and defended by those in power. ‘Future’ has often meant technological advancement, but also connotes a consolidation of wealth and benefit, rather than a de-centralisation of privilege.

This fifth volume of Articulations, and the first for 2024, presents three artists contending with how the hopes and detritus of unfulfilled tomorrows inspire action and revolt. In this frame, Rupert’s residents Isabel Mallet, Marijn Ottenhof, and Tra My Nguyen will each showcase an aspect of their interdisciplinary practice and respond to the subject in a conversation with this edition’s moderator Žygimantas Kudirka.

Isabel Mallet will first share excerpts of her recent studies in the history of metallurgy, considering its relationship with capitalism and other economic systems. Tra My Nguyen will then present a performative exploration of the significance, symbolism, and socio-cultural impact of plastic, particularly in Asia and among Asian diasporic communities. Finally, Marijn Ottenhof will create a first draft of an audiovisual project which aims to give a therapeutic shape to solastalgia, processing the deep emotions felt in reaction to the global climate emergency. The event will conclude with a casual discussion led by moderator Žygimantas Kudirka on the promise, disappointment, and what optimism remains for what is to come.

The event will be held in English.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

ISABEL MALLET synthesises revelatory experiences of architecture through photography, sound, performance, writing and film. She runs the online magazine Form IV and is the current poetry editor of Field Notes, London. She is based in New York City, US.

MARIJN OTTENHOF is a visual artist, musician and DJ living and working in Antwerp BE. At Rupert she is working on the first stages of a new video piece; ‘The Lyricism of Failure’, on the notion of climate grief.

Andrei Tarkovsky, Stalker (1979)

TRA MY NGUYEN is a Berlin-based artist whose multidisciplinary practice encompasses sculpture, moving image, textiles and fashion. Drawing upon diasporic perspectives, her work re-contextualises material culture within global modernism. She engages with speculative narratives to explore the intersection of gender, labour, migration, and technology within the current neoliberal order.

Photo: Prototype, courtesy of the artist

ŽYGIMANTAS KUDIRKA is a writer, artist and performer in the fields of interactive poetry, artificial languages, and avant-garde rap trying to find a universal dialect that could be understood by plants, animals, babies, and the future links of evolution. His works take on unexpected forms, including alternate reality audio guides, radio plays created for the interior of cars, hacking the media, or interactive experiences.

Articulations is a cycle of seasonal public events that provide opportunities to discover Rupert’s artists-in-residence and their work.

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Curator: JL Murtaugh.

Coordinator: Rugilė Miliukaitė.

Communication: Aistė Marija Stankevičiūtė.

Graphic design: Jonė Miškinytė.

Editor: Evelina Zenkutė.

Sound: Arnas Tamulionis.

Lights: Jurij Koroliov.

Rupert is financed by the Lithuanian Council for Culture and sponsored by Vilnius City Municipality, Tech Zity.

SPECIAL THANKS TO Žygimantas Kudirka, Viktorija Šiaulytė, Tautvydas Urbelis, Karolina Augevičiūtė, Arts Printing House.