Deconstruction of Zalgiris identity by Laima Kreivyte, 7md, weekly, 2006
2
"Deconstruction of Zalgiris identity" Prepared by Laima Kreivyte, 7md weekly, 2006 Ugnius Gelguda‘s audiovisual installation “Zalgiris” highlights constructions of collective identity. Author consciously doesn’t indicate which event is more important. Zalgiris battle in 1410, when united army of Lithuanians, the Polish, Russians, Czechs and Tartarians defeated Teutonic Order or Kaunas’ basketball team, which smashed Central Army Sports Club (CSKA) of Moscow. In the huge projection, which reminds monumental wall painting we see rampageous youth without any signs of recognition. They can be either basketball’s or football’s fans, just without attributes of beloved team. This is also important. Author doesn’t document, he creates generalized portrait of youth, without identifying exact time or place. The masses are united rather by common enemy, not common work. It is not accidental that aggressive poses of rampageous youth are accompanied by sounds of battle with tang of swards. Zalgiris – is one of the most important symbols of Lithuanian national identity and collective commonness. That’s why this performance is not about the contemporary battle, but about mechanisms of power, which crank patriotic rhetoric of the struggle. Artist consciously refuses empty rhetoric and denudes mechanism of collective identity itself. This audiovisual installation forcibly shows how collective commonness, hostility, involvement and alienation are created and how historical battles become repeating mythical rituals of underground. Thereby changeable conception of identity is uncovered – from inherent subjects, such as native language and land to free choice such as multinational basketball team. His rhythmic reminds battle scenes of renaissance painter Paolo Ucello, magnificent compositions of classical battle – pieces and video gymnastic of new
description
Deconstruction of Zalgiris identity by Laima Kreivyte, 7md, weekly, 2006
Transcript of Deconstruction of Zalgiris identity by Laima Kreivyte, 7md, weekly, 2006
"Deconstruction of Zalgiris identity"
Prepared by Laima Kreivyte, 7md weekly, 2006
Ugnius Gelguda‘s audiovisual installation “Zalgiris” highlights constructions of collective identity. Author consciously doesn’t indicate which event is more important. Zalgiris battle in 1410, when united army of Lithuanians, the Polish, Russians, Czechs and Tartarians defeated Teutonic Order or Kaunas’ basketball team, which smashed Central Army Sports Club (CSKA) of Moscow. In the huge projection, which reminds monumental wall painting we see rampageous youth without any signs of recognition. They can be either basketball’s or football’s fans, just without attributes of beloved team. This is also important. Author doesn’t document, he creates generalized portrait of youth, without identifying exact time or place. The masses are united rather by common enemy, not common work. It is not accidental that aggressive poses of rampageous youth are accompanied by sounds of battle with tang of swards. Zalgiris – is one of the most important symbols of Lithuanian national identity and collective commonness. That’s why this performance is not about the contemporary battle, but about mechanisms of power, which crank patriotic rhetoric of the struggle. Artist consciously refuses empty rhetoric and denudes mechanism of collective identity itself. This audiovisual installation forcibly shows how collective commonness, hostility, involvement and alienation are created and how historical battles become repeating mythical rituals of underground. Thereby changeable conception of identity is uncovered – from inherent subjects, such as native language and land to free choice such as multinational basketball team. His rhythmic reminds battle scenes of renaissance painter Paolo Ucello, magnificent compositions of classical battle – pieces and video gymnastic of new
brutalists, such as Jane and Louise Wilson. Every generation rewrite its tales about titans: there was Vytautas with sward erect by Janas Matejka, there was fallen knight and mess of bodies by Sarunas Sauka. Contemporary “Zalgiris” is not the battle of knights and titans. It is phenomenon of club – culture, which soundtrack reminds mystical fighting movies.
