Scarecrow

“Scarecrow” is a public sculpture by artist Beatričė Mockevičiūtė, created specifically for Akee. The project was selected and implemented in 2023 following an open call for artists to explore, play with, and speculate on the theme of the scarecrow as an image associated with rural landscapes. The sculpture consists of several parts and is made from dolomite, a rock quarried in the Pakruojis region.

The artist embodies the theme of deterrence through methods close to her creative practice—by following traces, revealing only fragments, and thus enticing us to come closer. This sculpture features imprints of human bodies carved into large stone blocks. Real people—those present in and guarding this area, moving through it, engaging in activities, and leaving their marks—served as prototypes for the scarecrow. These imprints invite interaction: one can settle into them, try them on, sit in the carved stones, touch them, and use them in various ways. At the same time, they mark specific spots—such as a place to watch the sunset or a cozy patch of grass where people spend time. In this way, the artwork showcases not only itself but also the space it inhabits, functioning as a map of landmarks that highlights important points within the territory.

“Scarecrow,” as a trace left in material, encompasses multiple layers of time and matter. The dolomite from which the sculpture is made dates back to the Devonian period, which began over 400 million years ago. During that time, a shallow sea may have covered the present-day Aleknaičiai area, teeming with shell-bearing marine life and amphibians ready to venture onto land. Thus, within these stone blocks, extracted from the earth and transformed into sculpture, there may still be traces of such ancient life forms—preserved in the rock’s imprints and cavities. Continuing this cycle of emergence and disappearance, the artist has left traces of humans in this material—just as temporary, like signs for future life forms that might appear or evolve in this territory after us.

Beatričė Mockevičiūtė is a young-generation artist whose work focuses on sensing what often remains transparent and ephemeral in everyday life. Since 2013, she has participated in exhibitions in Lithuania and abroad, with her works showcased in institutions such as the Contemporary Art Centre, MO Museum, and the Lithuanian Composers’ Union House in Vilnius, Fondation Fiminco in Paris, Vejle Art Museum in Denmark, among others. In 2021, she realized a public sculpture in Vilnius’ Paupys district, part of her ongoing series “Asukas.”

Curator: Asta Vaičiulytė
Project funded by: Lithuanian Council for Culture
Project sponsors: MB “Lairent,” AB “Klovainių skalda” (part of the “Milsa” group)

Photos: Vilius Vaitiekūnas