Monika Janulevičiūtė: Artist Talk and “Bench, Vol. I” Book Launch
Bench is sunbathing and sleeping. Usually, for her, the peak of summer, the balmy fall or December feel no different than the early Spring, with its puffy willows, budding cherries and apples.
We are excited to invite you to Monika Janulevičiūtė’s Bench Vol. I a soft launch and research presentation. Monika Janulevičiūtė is a Lithuanian designer and artist. Bench-making for her binds design, craft and art practices together. They become frank, integral and quotidian. Each bench ripples through varieties of material choices, skills and uses – showing an elastic attachment to life. It accompanies the observer and is as energetic, stubborn and capricious as a mule, stray cat, goat or guardian dog.
The volume contains 378 screenshots of benches found in real estate listings – from summer houses, homesteads, barns, garden houses, timber sheds to wash houses and saunas – in provinces and towns of Lithuania. These images capture life and the state of the house, the layers of refurbishments and updates. Life is retained as it is with benches in the margins. Each photograph gives many clues: the entrance bench is both private and common; the kitchen bench is both for work and pastime; the shed bench is for sunbathing and yard chores.
I like him a lot, especially the p.46 bench, the one hiding under the curtain.
Our dog Charlie used to do that. – Emma B.
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About the Artist:
Monika Janulevičiūtė is a Lithuanian designer and artist. For her, bench-making binds design, craft and art practices together. They become frank, integral and quotidian. Each bench ripples through varieties of materials choices, skills and uses, showing an elastic attachment to life.
Extensive Readings: