Square of Mind, 2024

Decorative concrete, extruded polystyrene (XPS)

This work offers an artistic reflection on the contemporary real estate market in Vilnius (Lithuania) — its actors, the accelerated transformation of urban space, and the resulting uniformity. Viewers are confronted with a metaphorical “square meter pulled from our minds”, highlighting the mental and cultural dimensions of commodified space.

The piece is part of the ongoing research project White Darkness (2023–2025), which examines the tension between safeguarding the unique landscape of Vilnius’s historic centre and the pressures of real estate development. Through this practice, the artist calls for reflection on the city’s development trajectory, principles of coexistence, and culture of memory.

The artwork consists of an object and a creative text:

I am a square meter. Blank, gray, concrete.

Nature never shaped me. My material is artificial. I was born inside your head.

The true essence of value often lies beyond me. Yet you price me, sell me, buy me.

“How much per square?” You measure and weigh through me. You build me, embed me into landscapes, displace others in my name.

You desire me. You go into debt for me. You believe I bring safety.

You think in my terms. I occupy your mind — you are m i n e.

Installed in June 2025 at Apiece, a one-work vitrine gallery situated in a public square, the work engaged directly with the urban environment it critiques. By embedding contemporary art in everyday space, the installation emphasized the urgency of the questions it raises about Vilnius’s changing cityscape.

The project was also included in the official programme of Vilnius Culture Night 2025 (#culturenight).