/.../ It’s always fun to climb the neatly constructed architecture of a wooden castle imitating an ‘ethno-tech’ observation tower to get a glimpse of the breathtaking, iconic panorama of Lithuanian fields, forests and rivers. But once you’re back down to earth, questions reluctantly arise: what are the mechanisms at work here? Why do we need that ascent above the earth and that all-encompassing look from above? How does this shape our relationship with landscapes, nature and our land? /.../

Architektūros fondas continues the virtual micro-exhibition series and presents a text by Jurij Dobriakov "The Meta-narratives of Nature" and "The Inevitable Landscape" series by Julija Račiūnaitė. This is the second micro-exhibition from the "Building Narratives" series, which, in its “physical” form, took place at the cultural centre SODAS 2123 on 22-26th of October 2020, during the Vilnius Gallery Weekend. 

About “Building Narratives”

 In the micro-exhibition series, we present works developed within Architektūros fondas programme "Building Narratives" in 2019–2020. Creatives of the  “Building Narratives” programme explored the relations between architecture and narrative, when buildings aren’t shaped by mortar and concrete anymore – crucial and sometimes the most important ingredient is narrative. Whether it is purely a PR product or an organic construct it creates perceptions and shapes the way we see and understand our environment. Hearing, reading or assembling a narrative from smaller pieces helps us to determine if something is good, useful and even beautiful. At the same time, changing narrative has the power to change perceptions of our environment. Bad can become good, ugly-beautiful, all without any changes in physical structure.

As a new narrative has the power to transform architecture on its own, it becomes extremely important to understand how different ways of talking about architecture can shape its future. Therefore Architektūros fondas was seeking to discover personal narratives and encourage the creatives to get involved in this affair. Programme merged the ongoing projects of Architektūros fondas and their methods, while looking for common ground among podcasts and publications platform Aikštėje and Future Architecture platform creatives.

"Building Narratives" is also a part of the Future Architecture platform and European Architecture programme 2020, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union. Architektūros fondas' strategic partner is Lithuanian Council for Culture. Partner – Kaunas 2022 programmes "Modernism for Future" and "All as One".