Pretext Street: Naming a Nameless Klaipėda Street, 2024
street name plate; 700 x 150 mm
marine buoy; 1,7 x 10 m
M-8 unnamed street between Šimkaus g. 15/17 and Puodžių g. 20/22
The composite term ‘port city’ also reflects the urban structure of Klaipėda: it is a city of two parts, which usually do not meet – the port area is separated from the urban area by a fence. While exploring Klaipėda, Tomas Martišauskis discovered marine buoys in the harbour area. The artist’s idea of borrowing a buoy from the harbour and transferring it to the city’s public space is an artistic gesture as an attempt to connect the city with the harbour, perhaps becoming a pretext for further cooperation. The artist drew a straight line on the map between the Klaipėda State Seaport Authority and the Klaipėda Cultural Communication Centre, and the middle of the line coincided with the nameless street that runs between the 15th and 17th houses of S. Šimkaus Street and the 20th and 22nd houses of Puodžių Street. Martišauskis proposes that this street be given the name of ‘Dingsties’ (Pretext) to symbolically mark the possibility of cooperation between the city and the port.
Paulina Pukytė
Tomas Martišauskis is a sculptor and art researcher based in Vilnius and Palanga, with more than 20 years of creative experience. In 2006 he graduated from the Vilnius Academy of Arts with a Master’s degree in sculpture, and in 2020 he defended his PhD project there. Since 2000, he has had solo exhibitions in Lithuania, Germany and Iceland, as well as participated in international group exhibitions and art projects. In 2013, he became a member of the Lithuanian Interdisciplinary Art Creators’ Union (LTMKS). Since 2015 he has been working as a teacher at the J. Vienožinskis Art School. His work has been recognised with prestigious scholarships and international residencies.
Organiser: Klaipėda Culture Communication Centre.
Funded by the Lithuanian Council for Culture and Klaipėda City Municipality.