Elena Narbutaite

Elena Narbutaitė (b. 1984 Vilnius, Lithuania) lives in Vilnius. Narbutaitė’s sculptures combine influences from life,writing, music history, and conversations with scientists. She likes the nature of discovery, which is different from invention. By presenting the unexpected, Narbutaitė aims to create social situations in which the audience can collectively experience surprise or confusion. 

Throughout Liverpool Biennial 2016, a jingle made by Narbutaitė, Kevin Rice and DES can be heard throughout the city, transmitted as an ice-cream van’s musical announcement. 

Swimsuits with tiger and leopard cut-out patterns designed by Costa in the 1980s, and produced with Narbutaite in 2016, are the core component in an interspecies transformation photo-shoot performance on 9 July inspired by the Adelphi Hotel. The final images will be published in local and international fashion magazines, and displayed in Mr Chilli restaurant.

Recent group exhibitions include venues such as Escola De Artes Visuais do Parque Lage, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (2015); Marco Museo de Arte Contemporanea, Vigo, Spain (2015); Art Department Di Tella University, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2014); Lithuanian and Cyprus Pavilion at the 55th Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy (2013).

Elena Narbutaitė at Liverpool Biennial 2016

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Sun Kiss Feline, 1982 - 2016
Swimsuits, performance, digital prints
Commissioned by Liverpool Biennial
Performed at the Adelphi hotel swimming pool on 9 July 2016 and exhibited at Mr Chilli Restaurant

Feyons, 2016
Laser
Commissioned by Liverpool Biennial
Exhibited at Cains Brewery

School Bells, 2016
Sound
Commissioned by Liverpool Biennial
Played through an ice cream van driving around Liverpool

Sketches for Sun Kiss Feline, 2016
Digital prints
Commissioned by Liverpool Biennial
Exhibited at Mr Chilli Restaurant