VILLA LITUANIA
The project VILLA LITUANIA for the Lituanian Pavilion at the 52nd Biennale di Venezia is comprised of a large-scale sculptural model that synthesizes elements of the proposed pigeon loft to be build in Rome and Villa Lituania, the former Lithuanian Embassy to Italy; newly created video works that tell the story of the Villa Lituania project and the history of the Embassy; a trophy room for the pigeon races; and an installation of pro-test archive, documenting the protest activities against the encroachment by neo-liberal government and corporations on public space.
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PIGEON PAVILION MODEL / 2007
MDF / 3.5 X 5 X 4.5 M
The 1:1 scale model integrates the neo-classical style of the Villa Lituania and the structure of racing pigeon’s traveling cases.
It is a proposal for the pigeon loft the artists are currently negotiating with municipal authorities to build in Rome.
AMBASSADOR IN EXILE / 2007
DVD / SINGLE-CHANNEL PROJECTION / 11:26 min.
Kazys Lozoraitis recounts his experience of time growing up in Villa Lituania as the son of a renowned Lithuanian diplomat.
Lozoraitis also distinguished himself as an Ambassador in exile (during the Soviet annexation of Lithuania).
After Lithuania’s independence (1991) Lozoraitis served as Ambassador of the Lithuanian Republic to the Holy See.
DEFENDING THE LOFT / 2007
DVD / SINGLE-CHANNEL PROJECTION / 7:48 min
The video narrates a story about a well-known pigeon loft in Vilnius.
Located at the foot of the Vilnius TV and Radio Tower the loft was caught in the Soviet military blockade of the communication tower in 1990 (when the Gorbachev government made the decision to try and get the break-away state back), and the loft’s owner broke the lines daily to look after his birds.
REHEARSAL AT THE PALACE OF CULTURE AND SPORTS / 2007
DVD / SINGLE-CHANNEL PROJECTION / 7:31 min
The Vilnius Palace of Culture and Sports is a landmark building in the Lithuanian capital. Like many soviet-era buildings, however, its fate is uncertain. The vast open space in front of the building is used by pigeon fanciers for training.
CALLING THE RUSSIANS / 2007
DVD / SINGLE-CHANNEL MONITOR / 1:37 min.
The artists’ documented on video (and in copied written correspondence) communication with the Russian Department of Foreign Affairs seeking permission to build a pigeon loft in the grounds of Villa Lituania in Rome (where the Russian Consulate in Rome operates).
ARCHITECTURE WORKSHOP (HEART & HEARTH)
DVD / SINGLE-CHANNEL MONITOR / 1:18 min.
The artists have re-animated a popular 1960s Lithuanian television song-clip „Heart and Hearth” to become an anthem to Villa Lituania.
The tune is about some sort of ‘domestic bliss’ or ‘cottage in the country’ that starkly contrasts soviet-era popular culture with that
produced in the west at a similar time.
DEFENDING THE VILLA. GRAFFITI / 2007
DVD / SINGLE-CHANNEL MONITOR / 5:48 min.
DEFENDING THE VILLA. THE LATVIANS / 2007
DVD / SINGLE-CHANNEL MONITOR / 1:58 min.
Well-known Lithuanian broadcaster who works for the Vatican radio, Saulius Kubilius, walks through Rome documenting sites associated with 30 years of pro-Lithuanian and pro-Villa Lituania graffiti.
He also recounts an episode in which a group of Latvian émigré’s seized upon the symbolic potential of Villa Lituania as a protest-site (moreover, there are no important Latvian buildings in Rome). 
download .zip 8.7 MB
AMBASSADOR’S SONG / 2007
DVD / SINGLE-CHANNEL MONITOR / 3:32 min.
True ambassadors of LIETUVA (LITUANIA) stand in front of the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vilnius and sing a gentle protest song in the form of the popular folk hit „Una Paloma Blanca”.
VILLA LITUANIA TROPHIES / 2007
CRYSTAL, DIMENSIONS VARIABLE
The conceptual starting point for the production of the trophies was the acquisition of a number of pieces of crystal from the Villa Lituania collection. The heavy-cut crystal is very reminiscent of the type of crystal produced in Belarus under the soviet planned economy (still available today). Better crystal was sourced from Czechoslovakia – reflected in the design of the trophies based on a Czech anti-tank defense known as a ‘Czech Hedgehog.
The three-pronged structure also reflects that pattern of a pigeon’s claw print. The four small trophies will be awarded to the victorious pigeon trainers at the conclusion of the exhibition.
VILLA LITUANIA INTERNATIONAL PIGEON RACE / 2007
LIMITED EDITION: BOOK BAGS, DIPLOMAS, PINS, POSTERS
/ MIXED MEDIA, DIMENSIONS VARIABLE
Using the pigeon motif, and to mark the special political action in the form of the international pigeon races, the artists have collaborated with designers to produce a range of design objects that are part memento, part political marker, and comprise an important element of the project’s conceptual domain.
PIGEON FANCIER’S WATERPROOF (FEMME & HOMME)
/ 100% TYVEK, DIMENSIONS VARIABLE
(with Sandra Straukaite and NODE, Berlin)
