New sculpture reignites old debate: is Kaunas becoming an open-air gallery or a sculpture hodgepodge?

A new sculpture in Kaunas has reignited discussions about whether the city is evolving into an open-air gallery or turning into a chaotic mix of artworks. The piece, Vytautas Narutis’s sculptural composition Promises, was installed this spring in Kaunas’s Ąžuolynas park as part of the Kaunas Accents programme, sparking criticism and even mockery on social media.

Art historian Dr. Almantas Bružas argues that the controversy stems not from the artwork itself but from its placement. While he acknowledges that the public is accustomed to taking significant locations seriously and may struggle to understand ironic works, he believes the sculpture would fare better in a more suitable setting. He cited Vilnius’s Krantinės Arka as an example of a piece that faced rejection due to its critical and ironic tone in a prominent location.

Arvydas Žalpys, director of the Meno Parkas gallery, welcomes the contemporary work but notes that the Kaunas Accents programme lacks professional cohesion. Meanwhile, the Green Ąžuolynas association stresses that the park should not become an art gallery, as its primary value lies in its natural environment.

Kaunas Accents has been running since 2017, inviting sculptures, design objects, light installations, and street art to adorn the city’s public spaces. Bružas criticises the lack of a clear plan, stating that sculptures currently appear randomly across Kaunas. He warns that, given Kaunas’s UNESCO-listed modernist heritage, new artworks must be selected with great care, as they become long-term fixtures in the cityscape.

While some Kaunas Accents pieces have drawn scepticism, Bružas highlights successful examples, such as Timotiejus Norvila’s (Morfai) series of benches and Tadas Vosylius’s Fisherman above Laisvės Alėja, which subtly complements its surroundings. However, he emphasises that not all works meet international standards, despite ambitions to turn Kaunas into a world-class open-air gallery.